Enjoy a No-Construction Zone

Perhaps only hikers appreciate the Cuesta Grade these days.

Some motorists think the steep pass north of San Luis Obispo is the worst stretch of U.S. 101 between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Cars move too fast, trucks move too slowly and the turns are too sharp, they say.

To address the problem, Caltrans embarked on a $48-million project that includes reconstructing a three-mile section of the grade, scheduled for completion late next year. Some drivers fear the work will increase the speed differential between cars and trucks, making the road more dangerous. Local environmentalists are concerned that a high-speed corridor will encourage suburban sprawl north of San Luis Obispo.

Standing above the Cuesta Grade and its controversies are East and West Cuesta ridges, two trails that are delights for hikers. Fortunately no changes are planned for the dirt roads that serve as gateways to intriguing and little-known areas of the southern Santa Lucia Mountains and Los Padres National Forest.

Panoramic views from the ridge tops include the coast from Morro Rock to the Pismo dunes, the hills of Montana de Oro State Park and the Los Osos Valley.

West Cuesta Ridge Road (sometimes called “TV tower road” by locals) starts at the top of the Cuesta Grade and ascends steeply to the Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area, home to groves of Sargent cypress. The road is open to vehicles but, with its abundant potholes, is used mostly by hikers and mountain bikers.

The effects of a 1994 fire that blackened the landscape are still evident. The Sargent cypresses, however, benefited from the blaze. The heat melted the hard resin on the trees’ cones, releasing thousands of seeds. Young cypresses have grown alongside elders in handsome groves atop the ridge.

At the bottom of West Cuesta Ridge Road, note the beginning of another trail, Stagecoach Road. It’s a 2.8-mile walk (one way) through a shady canyon parallel to U.S. 101 and San Luis Obispo Creek. The road could serve as a leg stretcher for weary motorists, but most people probably will want to skip it.

A more compelling counterpart to West Cuesta is the hike along East Cuesta Ridge Road, which begins on the other side of the freeway. This dirt path curves along the Santa Lucia Wilderness among old oaks and across slopes splashed with lupine and California poppies.

After about two miles, you will get superb views of the coast. Three miles out, a left-branching spur road leads a quarter-mile up to Mt. Lowe, which is topped with a communication tower.

From Mt. Lowe, hike three-quarters of a mile farther to a signed junction with Lopez Canyon Trail. This path descends into the wilderness and to Big Falls in the canyon bottom.

Directions to the trail head: Start at East Cuesta Ridge. From U.S. 101 in San Luis Obispo, drive five miles north. Near the top of the Cuesta Grade, look for a pullout on the right and park. Climb over a locked vehicle gate to join East Cuesta Ridge Road.

Be careful when exiting and entering the highway’s construction zone. Also use caution when deciding where to park. Heavy equipment frequently is being operated or is parked near the trail head. If you encounter construction, ask workers to recommend the safest parking place.

To reach West Cuesta Ridge Road, drive a mile farther north on U.S. 101 and go over the Cuesta Grade summit. Turn left at the first safe opportunity. Double back on the highway to a parking area at the base of the signed road. Again, be extremely careful entering and exiting U.S. 101.

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For more of John McKinney’s tips, visit www.thetrailmaster.com.