Road of the Month: Lockwood Valley Rd, SoCal
This month’s Road of the Month is once again back in SoCal, but with a more relaxed route. Just west of the famed Grapevine (the mountain pass between Bakersfield and Los Angeles) lies a road that barely even makes it onto the map. The little road is truly a path from nowhere, to nowhere. There are no big towns at the beginning, middle, or end of it – only some small farms and ranches. Since it’s so out of the way, very few people head this way for recreation. Hence, there is little traffic and even fewer patrols. Interested yet?
229 miles, 5 hours - be ready!
Calling Lockwood Valley a road is a misnomer, because it can turn ugly at times. I personally drove this road on a sunny day in late February, and runoff from the mountains had turned it into a creek crossing in spots. The road even surprised me with a 100ft wide river flowing across the pavement – it was so large that I briefly considered turning around. If you’re in a low vehicle – or a motorcycle – try to avoid this road after heavy rains. Just over the next crest could be a washout.
Look on the bright side, though. If the past week has been nice and sunny, then a bonus is in store: Supercar Sunday. This event takes place every Sunday morning from 7-10am at the Westfield Promenade Mall in Woodland Hills (the start point). Unlike Cars & Coffee in Irvine, this event tends to cater to the “late” crowd, with nicer cars arriving in the 8 o’clock hour. It is also a heavily weather-dependent event – while a few regulars show up every Sunday, the cloudless sun brings out the most exotic supercars. This show is a great way to get excited about a drive through the mountains!
Beautiful exotics from 2/28/2010 Supercar Sunday. Clockwise from top left: Enzo Ferrari, Ferrari F40, Porsche Carrera GT, Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. These cars all drove in under their own power - not fresh off a trailer!
After you’ve gotten your fill of high-end cars, head over to Nat’s West Cafe for a bite before heading out. It’s not that far out, and it’s on the same road that you’ll be taking down to the famous Pacific Coast Highway. Although the PCH will be traffic laden and not have many corners, the ions from the ocean will be refreshing. Rejoin the 101 North for a little ways before cutting off again on Highway 33 towards Ojai. This road brings you into the upper elevations, with short tunnels to remind you that this is truly a road carved into the side of a mountain.
Highway 33, north of Ojai, CA.
Lockwood Valley Road climbs into some more rugged terrain, where its elevation results in some beautiful scenery. Take it all in, but remember to look for water along the way. You’ll end up at the small mountain community of Frazier Park, just west of Highway 5. Take the 5 south back into the LA basin, and drop by Din Tai Fung (the end point) for some amazing xiaolongbao. It’s the perfect way to cap off a wonderful day of auto-touring.
Lockwood Valley Road summit