Lake Hughes Road
Elizabeth Lake Canyon
CODE LS
Drive at a Glance
Route
Castaic to Lake Hughes
County
Los Angeles County
Region
Liebre Mountains
Road character
Twisty canyon road with sharp curves.
Services
Gas and Food available in Castaic and Lake Hughes
Roadway advisory: Trucks NOT recommended due to sharp curves and steep grades. Not advisable during heavy rain or snow.
About the Drive
Lake Hughes Road starts in Castaic and follows Elizabeth Lake Canyon for most of the journey to the Lake Hughes area. It was built by the California Conservation Corps in 1936 with improvements made in sections in the 1960’s. The narrow middle section of the canyon is quite deep as well, which makes for a greater potential for rockfalls and flooding during the rainy season. This road also offers a scenic alternative to I-5. The northern terminus is along the San Andreas Fault, which created the valley that Lake Hughes and Elizabeth Lake are located.
Explore the Drive
Southern Section — Castaic to Narrows
This section was built to bypass Castaic Lake in the late 1960’s. This road rejoins the old road at the base of the narrows of Elizabeth Lake Canyon. It is fairly high speed with wide shoulders.
Central Section — The Narrows
After entering Elizabeth Lake Canyon, the road narrows and curves sharpen. It is also a very scenic segment. Many campgrounds are available alongside the road through this area.
Northern Section — Canyon Creek to Lake Hughes
The northern section of the road is more open and developed. Many ranches and houses can be seen alongside as you wind along the west side of the canyon.
