1908 Toro Creek Bridge; Fort Ord National Monument

I had arrived in Monterey early enough in the day after taking Signed County Routes G16 and G20 to check another National Monument off my list with Fort Ord. I turned east on California State Route 68 off of G20 to access the Badger Hills Trailhead in Fort Ord.

Fort Ord was an Army reserve created in 1917 which occupied much of the terrain between the Monterey Peninsula and the city of Salinas. The majority of Fort Ord closed in 1994 which left most of the land unused. The majority of the training grounds of Fort Ord became a National Monument in 2012 and has become a popular hiking destination in Monterey County. Even though some areas of the former base are off limits due to unexploded ordinance much of the troop roads can be access on foot.

At Toro Creek there is a pedestrian bridge that has been built in the same location of as the 1908 Toro Creek Bridge.

Next to the new bridge is various pieces of the 1908 Toro Creek Bridge. According to the plaque on the walking path the 1908 Toro Creek Bridge was in use until 1940. By 1933 Toro Creek Road would have become part of Legislative Route 117 which in turn eventually became CA 68.

The views from the top of Guidotti Road are pretty nice with much of the Monterey Peninsula, Santa Lucia Range, Salinas, Fremont Peak, and much of the Gabilan Range fully observable.

Comments

Former US Route 50 and the Pioneer Route Lincoln Highway on Johnson's Pass Road

Johnson's Pass Road is one of the oldest highway corridors in California. Johnson's Pass was part of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road as it was completed during 1856 over the Sierra Nevada. The pass would later be incorporated into the Pioneer Branch of the Lincoln Highway in 1913 and US Route 50 in 1926. Johnson's Pass Road would be bypassed by a new alignment of US Route 50 over Echo Summit in 1938. A replacement of the Meyers Grade east of Johnson's Pass would be opened to traffic in 1947. Johnson's Pass Road remains accessible to traffic and is still signed by the Lincoln Highway Association. Pictured as the blog cover is the view from the top of Johnson's Pass Road overlooking modern US Route 50 and Lake Tahoe. Part 1; the history of Johnson's Pass Much of the history of what become the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road is discussed in the September 1950 California Highways & Public Works during its Centennial Edition. The or...

Abandoned US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon

Within the Truckee River Canyon in the Sierra Nevada range numerous abandoned portions of US Route 40 can be found alongside modern Interstate 80. This segment of highway was opened during 1926 as a bypass of the Dog Valley Grade which carried the early North Lincoln Highway and Victory Highway. The corridor of the Truckee River Canyon State Highway would be assigned as US Route 40 when the US Route System was commissioned during November 1926. During 1958 the segment of Interstate 80 between Boca, California and the Nevada state line was complete. When Interstate 80 opened east of Boca numerous obsolete portions of US Route 40 were abandoned. Some of these abandoned segments have been incorporated into the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail. Part 1; the history of US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon The Truckee River Canyon for centuries has been an established corridor of travel known to native tribes crossing the Sierra Nevada range. The first documented wagon crossi...

Former US Route 50 and the South Lincoln Highway from Folsom east to Placerville

The corridor of Folsom of Sacramento County east to Placerville of El Dorado County has been a long established corridor of overland travel dating back to the California Gold Rush. The Folsom-Placerville corridor was once part of the path of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road which became the first California State Highway and later the South Lincoln Highway. In time the South Lincoln Highway's surface alignment was inherited by US Route 50. The Folsom-Placerville corridor also includes the communities of; Clarksville, Shingle Springs and El Dorado. Part 1; the history of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road, South Lincoln Highway and US Route 50 through Folsom-Placerville Folsom is located on the American River/Lake Natoma of eastern Sacramento County. That lands now occupied by the City of Folsom were part of Rancho Rio de los Americanos prior to the finding of gold at Sutter's Mill during 1848. During the California Gold Rush the lands of Rancho Rio de los Americanos were p...