Pacific Coast Highway

Pacific Coast Highway, British Columbia, California, Oregon and Washington State

British Columbia

California

California State Road 1 also runs alongside the ocean on its run through the southern part of Los Angeles, but we haven't driven on this section. Through the northern part of Los Angeles the road runs some way from the coast.

At Santa Monica California State Road 1 rejoins the ocean and runs alongside it for some considerable distance except for a brief stretch through Oxnard. There are numerous bathing beaches here. When we drove along this road some years ago a number of offshore oil or gas rigs could be seen but I don't know if they are still there.

At the little town of Gaviota the road leaves the ocean for quite some time until Morro Bay, except for a brief section near Pismo Beach. This inland stretch is relatively uninteresting.

Progressing northwards the country becomes wilder and towns less frequent until the most spectacular part of the road is reached from just south of Big Sur to Monterey. The road hugs the side of the coastal mountains here, with excellent views. This far north the weather on the coast is often cloudy, rainy and cool even in summer. One can often see how the coastal mountains catch the rain from clouds rolling in from the Pacific.

From Monterey to San Francisco the scenery is pleasant but not so spectacular.

At Santa Cruz the Boardwalk is probably worth a stop. It's a seaside promenade with various rides, amusements, gift shops and snack food kiosks. Parking may be difficult in the summer especially at weekends.

California State Road 1 merges with US101 to cross the Golden Gate Bridge. A few miles north of the bridge it heads west past Muir Woods National Monument and Mount Tamalpais back out to the ocean.

Going north from here the country gets bleaker and wilder, and often so does the weather even in summer. We have only driven as far north as Stewarts Point and so can't report in detail on what you'll find beyond there, except to say that California Road 1 merges with US101 and runs some distance from the coast for quite a way until reaching Eureka. North of Eureka the road passes through Redwood National Park and several associated California State Parks.

Smith River National Recreation Area, inland a bit and just south of the Oregon border, might well be worth exploring.

Oregon

Just south of Astoria is the place where the members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition made their winter camp before starting their return journey.

At Astoria there is a magnificent toll bridge over the Columbia River to Washington State.

Washington State

Because of the various inlets, the road is somewhat convoluted, with diversions required to fully explore as much of the coast as possible.

In the north, the coast road progresses around the Olympic Peninsula and Olympic National Park. You can then take a car ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria (Vancouver Island, British Columbia) or alternatively head round towards Seattle.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California - inland between San Diego and Los Angeles

Avenue of the Giants, California - through the Redwood National Park and associated State Parks in Northern California just south of the Oregon border

California State Road 2 over the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles

Canadian Rockies National Parks

Cascade Mountains, northern California, Oregon and Washington State

Coast Ranges, British Columbia, California, Oregon and Washington State

Columbia River, Oregon and Washington State

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon - in the Cascade Mountains

Garibaldi Provincial Park, British Columbia - northeast of Vancouver

Golden Gate Bridge, California - immediately north of the city of San Francisco

Golden Gate Recreation Area, California - in and around the western part of San Francisco Bay

Hells Gate, British Columbia - on the Fraser River east-northeast of Vancouver

Hells Gate - on the Idaho/Oregon border

Humboldt Redwoods State Park, California

Icefields Parkway, Alberta - between Banff and Jasper

Joshua Tree National Park, California - east of Los Angeles

Kings Canyon National Park, California - immediately north of Sequoia National Park

Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada - some distance east of San Francisco (there is a road right round the lake which is said to be scenic)

Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

Lava Beds National Monument, California

Manning Provincial Park, British Columbia - east of Vancouver

Mount Hood and the Hood River area, Oregon (east of Portland)

Mount Rainier National Park, Washington State

Mount Shasta and the surrounding area, California

Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington State

Mount Tamalpais, California - just north of the Golden Gate Bridge

Muir Woods National Monument, California - just north of the Golden Gate Bridge

Newberry Crater National Volcanic Monument, Oregon

North Cascades National Park, Washington State

Olympic National Park, Washington State

Oregon Caves National Monument, Oregon

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Oregon

Pacific Rim National Park Preserve, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Point Reyes National Seashore, California

Redwood National Park and the associated State Parks, California

Sequoia National Park, California - inland between Los Angeles and San Francisco

Smith River National Recreation Area, California - just inland, just south of the Oregon border

Strathcone Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Wells Gray Provincial Park and Recreation Area, British Columbia - on the Kamloops to Jasper road (access to most of this park appears to be by unpaved road only)

Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area, California - north of San Francisco, near I-5's route

Yosemite National Park, California - some way east and slightly south of San Francisco

Scenic Roads