Places of Interest and Historical Sites

Fort Tejon State Historical Park
Fort Tejon Historical Association
(webpage)

At Fort Tejon State Historical Park, visitors can witness life at this U.S. Army post of the far west. Visitors are invited to view the Living History demonstrations of everyday life. You can also experience the excitement of a Civil War battle at this historic fort. Re-enactors portray soldiers of the Union and Confederate armies as they present mock battles, skirmishes and demonstrations of the tactics used in the eastern United States during the Civil War. For more information, please call the Fort at 661- 248-6692.

Ridge Route Communities Historical Museum
(webpage)
3515 Park Drive, Frazier Park

The Museum has recently opened at its new location, just east of the Frazier Park Post Office. The Museum features an extensive collection of photographs, artifacts and research materials that chronicle the rich and colorful history of the Mountain Communities area. Books on local and regional history are available for sale. The Museum is open on Thursday through Sunday, 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. For information, call 661- 245-7747

The Old Ridge Route - Tours

Built between 1913 and 1915, and paved in 1919, the Ridge Route was the first mountain highway built in California and carried traffic until 1933. Considered an engineering marvel of the day, the road opened up travel and commerce between Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley and spawned a cottage industry of gas stations and restaurants along its twists and turns. Tours, which start near Gorman, are provided by Jack & Sidney Kelley. Contact them at sbkelley@bak.rr.com
for information.

San Andreas Fault Tours

The Mountain Communities have a number of fascinating geologic features related to the San Andreas Fault. Occasionally, geologic tours of the region are conducted by the Bureau of Land Management. For information call 661-391-6000.

Area History

Old Ridge Route
(webpage)
Ridge Route Communities Historical Society

Historical Information for Ridge Route Communities
(webpage)
Ridge Route Communities Historical Society

Ridge Route
(webpage)
Bakersfield Californian-owned page, includes links to purchase "The Ridge Route Book" and video of Ridge Route tour with LA personality Huell Howser.

Fort Tejon
(webpage)
Fort Tejon Historical Assoc.

Area Maps and Directions

*Mapquest map* to our Mountain Communities (opens a new window)

(Online, printable maps coming soon)

Directions to Greater Frazier Mountain:

From Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley - Take Interstate 5 North to about 35 miles north of Valencia. Get off about 1/2 mile past Tejon Summit on the Frazier Park/Mt. Pinos off-ramp.

From Bakersfield, Northern California - Take Highway 99 or Interstate 5 South. Continue past the junction of Highway 99 and Interstate 5 for approximately 15 miles up the Grapevine. Get off about 3 miles past Lebec off-ramp on the Frazier Park/Mt. Pinos off-ramp.

From Ventura, Santa Barbara - Take Highway 33 North through Ojai for approximately 35 miles to Lockwood Valley Road. Head east on Lockwood Valley Road for approximately 25 miles through Lockwood Valley to Frazier Mountain Road. Lake of the Woods, Frazier Park, Lebec, Gorman are to your right, Cuddy Valley, Pinon Pines, and Pine Mountain Club are to your left. (An alternative route, which has been reported to be both somewhat shorter and faster, is to take Highway 126 to Interstate 5 through Castaic and up to Frazier Park.)

From Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo - Take 101 to Highway 166 east. Continue for approximately 100 miles to Interstate 5. Take Interstate 5 south. Continue past the junction of Highway 99 and Interstate 5 for approximately 15 miles up the Grapevine. Get off about 3 miles past Lebec off-ramp on the Frazier Park/Mt. Pinos off-ramp.

Directions to Mt Pinos:
From I-5, go west on Frazier Mountain Park Road 7.2 miles. At the "Y" in Lake of the Woods, stay to the right (northwest) onto Cuddy Valley Road. Continue on Cuddy Valley Road 5.2 miles to another "Y" and turn left (southwest) onto Mount Pinos Highway. Continue 8.8 miles to the end of the highway at Chula Vista Campground parking lot (Mount Pinos Winter Sports Area.) Parking is limited. Parking is available at a few other areas along the highway. If you park on the downhill (south) side, you must not obstruct traffic. No parking is allowed on the uphill (north) side of the highway.

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