California's Most Scenic and Roads and Byways

Arroyo Seco Historic Parkway - Route 110

The 9.5-mile parkway connects Los Angeles with Pasadena, extending through Arroyo Seco's historic arts and crafts landscape. The route passes through Chinatown and Elysian Park, the Cypress Park neighborhood, early 20th century landmarks (including Lummis House, Heritage Square, and the Southwest Museum), the Highland Park neighborhood, South Pasadena, and ends on Colorado Boulevard in the heart of historic Old Town Pasadena.

Start and Endpoint: From Los Angeles to Pasadena along Arroyo Seco Parkway (110 Pasadena Freeway).

For further information, contact: Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority

Big Sur Coast Highway - Route 1

For 72 miles from Carmel south to San Luis Obispo County line, Route 1 follows some of the most spectacular and highly scenic shoreline to be found along CA's coast. It offers views of steep fog-shrouded sea cliffs and rugged canyons, redwood forests, and pristine coastline. Areas of interest include Los Padres National Forest, the Southern Redwood Botanical Area, Limekiln and Julia Pfeiffer Burns state parks, and the Big Sur area. Designated an "All-American Road."

Start and Endpoint: From north to south, follows Route 1 from Carmel to Ragged Point at the Monterey County line. The County line also marks the northern endpoint of the San Luis Obispo North Coast Scenic Byway.

For further information, contact: Big Sur Chamber of Commerce

Death Valley Scenic Byway

The 81.5-mile byway provides a great opportunity to explore Death Valley National Park, including landscapes of parched salt flats, colored volcanic rock, and sand dunes. Visitors can get out of their vehicles at several vista points/scenic overlooks and hiking trails. Dante's View, just off the main road, offers a viewpoint of Badwater, the lowest elevation in the United States at 282 feet below sea level, all the way up to Telescope Peak, the highest point in the park at 11,049 feet.

Start and Endpoint: From the eastern entrance of Death Valley National Park, roughly 13 miles west of Death Valley Junction on Highway 190, to the western boundary of the park.

For further information, contact: Death Valley National Park

Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway

The 61-mile byway winds through untouched wilderness in the High Sierra past alpine meadows, lakes, pine forests and scenic vistas, ranging in elevation from 3000 to 8500 feet. The land surrounding the byway features two state parks, Stanislaus National Forest, and various designated wilderness areas. Six-thousand-acre Calaveras Big Trees State Park is home to two groves of Giant Sequoia, the most northern stands in the United States.

Start and Endpoint: On SR 4 and SR 89 between Arnold and Markleeville in east-central California.

For further information, contact: Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway Web Committee

San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway

The 57-mile route includes coastal scenic views and spectacular ocean vistas, as well as various cultural and historical sites. Points of interest include: San Luis Obispo, one of California's oldest communities (founded in 1772), Montaña de Oro State Park, Morro Bay, Estero Bay, Harmony Valley, San Simeon State Park, the Hearst Castle, and the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse. Designated an "All-American Road."

Start and Endpoint: From south to north, follows Route 1 from San Luis Obispo to Ragged Point at the Monterey county line. The County line also marks the southern endpoint of the Big Sur Coastal Highway, another "All-American" Road.

For further information, contact: City of San Luis Obispo

Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road

This is one of the most spectacular passages over the Sierra Nevada. The 64-mile route is the highest automobile pass in California with over one mile in elevation change from west to east. Crossing the valleys and ridges of Yosemite National Park, the byway offers spectacular views of towering granite peaks, pristine lakes, wildflower-covered meadows, and lush evergreen forests with Giant Sequoia groves. Highlights of the drive include the 9,945-foot Tioga Pass, Tuolumne Meadows, Crane and Big Oak Flat, the Merced and Tuolumne Sequoia Groves, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, Yosemite Valley, Mariposa Grove, and Historic Wawona.

Start and Endpoint: Traverses Yosemite National Park in an east/west direction from SR 120 at Tioga Pass to the western entrance of the park at Big Oak Flat.

For further information, contact: Yosemite National Park

Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway - California

The 500-mile scenic byway features dramatic volcanic landscape, from Crater Lake in Oregon to Mount Lassen in California. The 360-mile California section includes diverse scenery, passing through or near dense forests, wetlands and habitat areas, grasslands, farms and ranches, and timber resource lands. Forests and mountains along the byway are home to hiking trails, including the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, ski slopes, and fishing and kayaking in mountain streams and lakes. Areas of interest include Lassen Volcanic National Park, Hat Creek, McArthur-Burney Falls State Park, the McCloud Waterfalls, and 14,162-foot Mount Shasta, the tallest volcano in California. Designated an "All-American Road."

Start and Endpoint: Byway includes sections in northern California and southern Oregon. In California, byway runs from Mount Lassen in Northern California to the California-Oregon border.

For further information, contact: Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway

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