Southern California mountains are home to some breathtaking highways carved out through dramatic landscapes, but these scenic treasures are at the mercy of extreme weather that can render them impassable for months or longer.
Two major roads in Southern California’s mountains are especially prone to damage: Rim of the World Drive in the San Bernardino Mountains and the Angeles Crest Highway in the San Gabriel Mountains.
The history of these state highways and the populations they serve provide insight into why they were built and the maintenance challenges they face.
Geological conditions are particularly volatile in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains, where monsoonal downpours can cause the rocky slopes to crumble and wash away, leaving sections of roadway damaged or missing.
This circa 1916 photo shows some of the steep switchbacks on the Rim of the World Highway that required frequent rest stops to let overheated engines cool down. (From the collection of Mark Landis)Wildfires also have had a dramatic impact on the highways. The Station fire in 2009 and the Bridge fire in 2024 have created large “burn scars” that make slopes vulnerable to debris flows during storms.
Rim of the World Drive in the San Bernardino Mountains began as a patchwork of logging and wagon roads built as early as 1852 to serve the early lumber and tourist industries in the area. In the late 1800s, Big Bear Lake and Little Bear Lake, later renamed Lake Arrowhead, were built, and resort communities began to spring up.
As the resorts became more popular and automobiles became more practical, John N. Baylis, owner of the Pinecrest resort, championed a plan to build “one good road” to connect the mountain destinations.
In 1915, the plan came together when several unpaved mountain roads were cobbled together to form the circular 101-mile Rim of the World Drive. The iconic name came from a contest sponsored by the San Bernardino Board of Supervisors. The winner was awarded $25.
The Rim of the World’s original route primarily followed today’s highways 18 and 38, and it climbed to elevations over 7,000 feet. Redesignated as the Rim of the World Scenic Byway in 1968, the 110-mile route is no longer circular and it now includes highways 138, 18, and 38.
A map from a brochure circa 1915 shows the original circular route of Rim of the World Highway and the location of the most popular resorts of the time. (From the collection of Mark Landis) Construction work on the Angeles Crest Highway, near Vincent’s Gap west of Wrightwood, in the late 1930s. This photo shows some of the steep and often loose terrain on the highway that makes it susceptible to flooding and landslides. (Photo courtesy of Terry Graham) Crews inspect repairs to a section of Highway 38 on Dec. 23, 2025, in the San Bernardino Mountains that had washed out in a September storm. (Courtesy of Caltrans) One of the sections of the Angeles Crest Highway severely damaged during the December 2025 storms. The highway had just fully reopened at the end of August after a yearslong section closure. It is now closed indefinitely. (Photo courtesy of Caltrans) This circa 1916 photo shows some of the steep switchbacks on the Rim of the World Highway that required frequent rest stops to let overheated engines cool down. (From the collection of Mark Landis) The portion of Highway 38 in the San Bernardino Mountains that gave way during an intense storm on Sept. 18, 2025. (Courtesy of Caltrans) Construction continues on Highway 38 in October 2023 after storms washed out parts of the highway in the San Bernardino Mountains. (Staff file photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 7A map from a brochure circa 1915 shows the original circular route of Rim of the World Highway and the location of the most popular resorts of the time. (From the collection of Mark Landis) ExpandToday, the population in the San Bernardino Mountains communities served by the Rim of the World route is about 63,000, with thousands of seasonal tourists adding to that number. The highway is now a critical artery for residents and tourists.
Monsoonal rains and heavy downpours plague the roadway, especially the Highway 38 section. One of the longest closures on record began when remnants of tropical storm Mario struck the area on Sept. 17, 2025, and Highway 38 was closed until Christmas Eve. Caltrans continues to do roadwork in the area, and the highway still sees some work closures.
Crews inspect repairs to a section of Highway 38 on Dec. 23, 2025, in the San Bernardino Mountains that had washed out in a September storm. (Courtesy of Caltrans)First conceived around 1912, the Angeles Crest Highway was a scenic highway, created to carry tourists and outdoor enthusiasts across the San Gabriel Mountains from La Cañada to the Cajon Pass.
Construction of the Angeles Crest Highway began in 1929, and the only resort in the path of the road was the fledgling community of Wrightwood, established in 1924.
The 66-mile highway features cliff-hugging curves, two tunnels blasted through granite ridges, and it climbs to 7,900 feet at Dawson Saddle.
The project was finished in October 1956. Angeles Crest Highway was designated as a National Forest Scenic Byway in 1990, and is known as Highway 2.
Today, the population in the San Gabriel Mountains served by Angeles Crest Highway is only about 5,000, primarily in Wrightwood. Tourists expand the population significantly on weekends and during the winter snow season.
While there are no communities between La Cañada and Wrightwood, the corridor features numerous campgrounds and recreation areas.
In addition to seasonal snow closures, Angeles Crest Highway is highly susceptible to damaging monsoonal flood damage. Long sections of the road are steep and remote, so closures can last for years.
One of the sections of the Angeles Crest Highway severely damaged during the December 2025 storms. The highway had just fully reopened at the end of August after a yearslong section closure. It is now closed indefinitely. (Photo courtesy of Caltrans)In the winter of 2004-05, rockslides caused major damage to 17 sites along a 10-mile section of the road. Then in 2006, a massive slide took out a section of the road just west of Vincent Gap, completely closing the highway.
The steep terrain at the slide site was so unstable it could not be repaired, and instead it had to be bridged. The road was finally reopened in May 2009.
Angeles Crest Highway remained open with sporadic closures until severe storms in the 2022-23 season led to slides and washouts. After $7.9M in repair work, the road was reopened in August 2025.
The massive storm of December 2025 once again washed-out major sections of the highway, causing Caltrans to close the route between Newcomb’s Ranch and Big Pines.
“To prioritize the safety of motorists and crews, SR-2/Angeles Crest Highway is currently closed indefinitely,” according to Caltrans District 7 spokesperson Monica Ruvalcaba. “Damage varies along the corridor, and crews are actively assessing the roadway and performing emergency repairs. While we don’t anticipate reopening in the immediate future, work is underway, and we will provide updates to the public as soon as a clearer timeline is available.”
The scenic highways that began as recreational tourist routes have become the primary arteries into the region’s mountains, and they provide essential evacuation and firefighting routes during emergencies.
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Today, the Angeles Crest Highway serves as the primary access to a vast section of the interior of San Gabriel Mountain National Monument, created in 2014. Without this vital artery, the 4 million people who visit the monument each year will lose their most direct link to parts of this national treasure.
Mark Landis is a freelance writer. He can be reached at [email protected]
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