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Shell Creek Road

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Shell Creek Road is an 11-mile rural highway corridor located in the La Panza Range of eastern San Luis Obispo County.  This highway corridor originates at California State Route 58 (Carissa Highway) and largely follow Camatta Canyon north to San Juan Road.  Shell Creek Road has significant ties historically back to Rancho San Juan Capistrano del Camote and modern San Juan Ranch.  The highway largely is known for large super blooms in Spring seasons following significant wet weather.




Part 1; the history of Shell Creek Road

Shell Creek Road passes through Camatta Canyon in the La Panza Range of San Luis Obispo County.  Said canyon is mostly known in modern times for the rare and endangered purple amole which is endemic to the area.  The roadway is often popular for flower enthusiasts during Spring blooms.  The northern extent of Shell Creek Road approaching San Juan Creek passes through the Shandon wine region. 

Camatta Canyon was part of Rancho San Juan Capistrano del Camote.  Said Rancho was granted by then Mexican Governor Pio Pico to Tomas Herrera and Geronimo Quintana on July 11, 1846.  Rancho San Juan Capistrano del Camote was something a rarity in Alta California as it was largely used to herd sheep.  Herrera and Quintanta raised a calvary of approximately 30 men which fought on the Mexican side at the Battle of Natividad on November 16, 1846.  

Following the Mexican loss in the Mexican-American War much of Alta California would become the American State of California.  Herrera and Quintana filed a patent for Rancho San Juan Capistrano del Camote with the Land Commission on August 14, 1852.  Their claim was rejected by the Land Commission on December 26, 1854, due to the Rancho having been obtained four days after the conquest of Monterey by the United States. 

Following a series of 1858 murders the lands of Rancho San Juan Capistrano del Camote would be declared public land in Federal Court on August 8, 1860.  A considerable portion was purchased by Robert Flint in 1874 which was incorporated into San Juan Ranch.  San Juan Ranch formed the basis for the development of Camatta Canyon and still exists in modern times.  

Modern Shell Creek Road can be seen on the 1915 United States Geological Survey map of Cholame.  The road is shown crossing San Juan Creek and being aligned south through Camatta Canyon (then spelled Commatti Canyon).



The southern extent of Shell Creek Road can be seen branching away from Camatta Creek along Shell Creek on the 1922 United States Geological Survey map of Pozo.  The Shell Creek Road corridor can be seen terminating at what is now California State Route 58. 


Shell Creek Road can be seen as a minor local highway south of US Route 466 and California State Route 41 near Shandon on the 1935 Division of Highways map of San Luis Obispo County. 





Part 2; a drive on Shell Creek Road

Northbound Shell Creek Road branches from California State Route 58 (Carrisa Highway) near Wilson Corner.



Shell Creek Road briefly follows Shell Creek which merges into Camatta Creek and Camatta Canyon.






Shell Creek Road winds through Camatta Canyon amid numerous ranching and winery parcels. 















Shell Creek Road crosses a ford of San Juan Creek and terminates at a mutual intersection with San Juan Road/Gillis Canyon Road/Cammati-Shandon Road.





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