Hawkins Road (The Rollercoaster Road of Stanislaus County)

Hawkins Road is an approximately 4.5 mile north/south rural highway located in Stanislaus County. On paper the corridor appears to be mostly straight and uninteresting. This apparent straightness is deceiving as the roadway barrels over extremely hilly and dip filled terrain.

Hawkins Road is known to many Stanislaus County locals at the "Rollercoaster Road." The road is a favorite used by cyclists and distance runners for the purposes of an easy to access training corridor. Property records indicate Hawkins Road was constructed during the early 1950s to serve rural almond farming properties.

An overview and drive along Hawkins Road

Hawkins Road is a relatively modern corridor and was constructed during the early 1950s. Property records indicate of Stanislaus County indicate the homes along the corridor were constructed between 1955 and 1967. Most land parcels along the roadway are comprised of almond farms.

Hawkins Road first appears on the 1953 United States Geological Survey map of Montpelier.

Hawkins Road spans 4.5 miles from Keyes Road (County Route J16) north to Lake Road (formerly La Grange Road). The corridor is almost completely straight which would give one a deceptive impression about what type of roadway it is. Hawkins Road barrels over the hilly terrain through a series of large dips and is known to Stanislaus County locals as the "Rollercoaster Road." The roadway is popular amongst cyclists and distance runners for the purposes of training.

Northbound Hawkins Road begins at County Route J16/Keyes Road.

Below is the view along the extremely hilly northbound drive along Hawkins Road to Lake Road. Most of the hills along the corridor crest at an elevation of 270 feet above sea level.

Comments

Former California State Route 180 in Centerville

Centerville is one of the oldest communities in what is now Fresno County having been founded as Scottsburg in 1854. The Centerville community has historically been tied to the history of the Stockton-Los Angeles Road and the Squaw Valley Road. The Squaw Valley Road would later be known as Dunlap Road and became a component of California State Route 180 in August 1934. By the 1940s the corridor was renamed Kings Canyon Road in reference to Kings Canyon National Park. For the majority of the life of California State Route 180 in Centerville, it has not strayed far from Kings Canyon Road. This changed in 2020 when California State Route 180 was relocated onto the Kings Canyon Expressway. This blog serves as an overview of the history of California State Route 180 and general evolution of highways in Centerville. California State Route 180 can be seen passing through Centerville and Minkler below on the 1935 Division of Highways map of Fresno Count...

New River Gorge National Park & Preserve - Thurmond

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is best known for whitewater rafting and other forms of adventure tourism. Yet, found in the hollows and isolated valleys are quiet farms and former coal mining towns. Well off the beaten path and isolated from much of its surroundings, Thurmond provides a unique view into Central West Virginia's industrial past. Thurmond began as a railroad town in the late 1800s. Sparked by the arrival of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad and the local coal industry, Thurmond quickly grew into a sizeable transportation and coal center. When it incorporated as a town in 1903, Thurmond was a full-fledged community - home to two banks, two hotels, and many other services and stores. A CSX freight train passes the old coaling tower in Thurmond. It was here that many steam locomotives would refill and refuel. Thurmond was home to a C&O railyard which serviced the numerous steam engines passing through the narrow valley. Thu...

Buc-ee's - The Overzealous Beaver

If you've followed this website long enough, you know that we're not that impressed with Buc-ee's. I shrugged when I visited the St. Augustine, Florida location in April 2022 . It may have rustled a feather or two, but I did say I wasn't opposed to going to one again. In fact, a few months later I did in Denton, Texas. An old high school friend mentioned that they liked Buc-ee's for filling up their RV because of the space and the numerous gas pumps. So, when I helped my brother move from Baton Rouge to Denver, and the U-Haul needed to be filled up, I must admit Buc-ee's was the perfect spot. I have not been to a Buc-ee's since then. Recently, Buc-ee's has brought lawsuits against three smaller convenience store brands that have caught national attention. Two in Ohio and one in Georgia. Teddy's Market's logo is the key to a legal battle between Buc-ee's and the small Georgia chain. Teddy's is fighting back, calling Buc-ee's a...