Signed County Route G1

In December of 2016 I visited Signed County Route G1 and Fremont Peak State Park in San Benito County.

Signed County Route 1 is a 5.42 mile long highway traveling south from California State 156 in San Juan Bautista. CR G1 is routed along the San Juan Grade/Salinas Road (the original alignment of US 101 incidentally) to San Juan Canyon Road. CR G1 follows San Juan Canyon Road to the boundary of Fremont Peak State Park in the Gabilan Range. While CR G1 technically terminates San Juan Canyon Road continues south to the foot of Fremont Peak. Given the vista of the downhill grade leading out of Fremont Peak was absolutely massive I decided to take my photo album heading northbound.

CAhighways.org on Signed County Route G1

Fremont Peak is the high point of the Gabilan Range at 3,455 feet above sea level. Fremont Peak was surveyed by John C. Fremont in 1846 to access its military value. Fremont Peak has a massive overlook of Monterey Bay which served a strategic importance overlooking a potential beach head.

San Juan Canyon Road begins at the parking lot below Fremont Peak.

San Juan Canyon Road carries the a San Benito County Road designation of "2" on it's Postmiles.

I couldn't find anything in regards to the grades on G1 but the first five miles north have be above 10% pretty handily. The road is most dicey on the ascent since you're on the western slopes of the mountains which are pretty sheer. The steep grades roughly are from 2,700 feet to 1,100 where most of the houses begin to appear.

The next five miles along San Juan Canyon Road are through shaded canyons which were frosted over on the ascent.

CR G1 makes a quick dip over to Salinas Road/San Juan Grade where the only northbound shield is located.

CR G1 northbound ends at CA 156.

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