Pacheco Pass
Encyclopedia
Pacheco Pass, elevation 1300 ft (396.2 m), is a mountain pass
located in the Diablo Range
in southeastern Santa Clara County, California
. It is the main road over the hills separating the Santa Clara Valley
and the Central Valley.
As with most passes in the California Coast Ranges, it is not very high when compared to those in other mountain areas within the state. The road that traverses Pacheco Pass is State Route 152
, which runs for 106 miles (170.6 km) between SR 1 in Watsonville
and SR 99
. Pacheco Pass Road, the western section between Gilroy and the pass itself (a distance of approximately 14 miles), is single-lane state highway
in each direction and is the site of many accidents. Congestion over Pacheco Pass often forces traffic to take the longer route via the Altamont Pass
.
. In the 1850s, an informal variant name for the pass was Robber's Pass attributed to the frequent hold-ups
experienced by travelers using the route.
stagecoach route which connected the Saint Louis, Missouri with San Francisco
from 1858 until 1861. Other stage lines used the route thereafter until completion of the railroads within the state.
and Los Banos
in the Central Valley.
Where Pacheco Pass Road switches to the two-lane highway west of the pass itself lies Casa de Fruta
, an extensive trading post. Originally a site devoted to selling locally produced fruit and nuts to travelers, Casa de Fruta has expanded to include a delicatessen, truckstop, RV park, and other facilities. A rural locale named Bell Station
is along the route.
On the eastern slope of the pass lies the San Luis Reservoir
, which stores water for the Central Valley Project
and the California State Water Project
. The San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay
operate as a pumped storage hydroelectric plant. The entrances to the San Luis Reservoir state recreational area and Pacheco State Park
require caution entering or exiting because there are no stop signs or traffic lights and two lanes of heavy traffic in each direction.
There is a windfarm
located at the top of the pass. The turbines can be seen from Dinosaur Point Road, which is used for street luge
, and can approached fairly closely from the eastern side of Pacheco State Park. The wind farm is fairly small compared to the ones at Altamont
, San Gorgonio
and Tehachapi
Passes.
The Pacheco Pass American Viticultural Area
is nearby.
will take between the Bay Area and the Central Valley.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
located in the Diablo Range
Diablo Range
The Diablo Range is a mountain range in the California Coast Ranges subdivision of the Pacific Coast Ranges. It is located in the eastern San Francisco Bay area south to the Salinas Valley area of northern California, the United States.-Geography:...
in southeastern Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County is a county located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 it had a population of 1,781,642. The county seat is San Jose. The highly urbanized Santa Clara Valley within Santa Clara County is also known as Silicon Valley...
. It is the main road over the hills separating the Santa Clara Valley
Santa Clara Valley
The Santa Clara Valley is a valley just south of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California in the United States. Much of Santa Clara County and its county seat, San José, are in the Santa Clara Valley. The valley was originally known as the Valley of Heart’s Delight for its high concentration...
and the Central Valley.
As with most passes in the California Coast Ranges, it is not very high when compared to those in other mountain areas within the state. The road that traverses Pacheco Pass is State Route 152
California State Route 152
State Route 152 is a state highway that runs near the latitudinal middle of the U.S. state of California from Watsonville to Route 99 southeast of Merced...
, which runs for 106 miles (170.6 km) between SR 1 in Watsonville
Watsonville, California
Watsonville is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 51,199 according to the 2010 census.Located on the central coast of California, the economy centers predominantly around the farming industry. It is known for growing strawberries, apples, lettuce and a host...
and SR 99
California State Route 99
California State Route 99 , commonly known as Highway 99 or, simply, as 99 , is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California, stretching almost the entire length of the Central Valley...
. Pacheco Pass Road, the western section between Gilroy and the pass itself (a distance of approximately 14 miles), is single-lane state highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
in each direction and is the site of many accidents. Congestion over Pacheco Pass often forces traffic to take the longer route via the Altamont Pass
Altamont Pass
Altamont Pass, formerly Livermore Pass, is a mountain pass in the Diablo Range between Livermore in the Livermore Valley and Tracy in the San Joaquin Valley in Northern California...
.
Names
The pass was named for Francisco Perez Pacheco of the Rancho Ausaymas y San FelipeRancho Ausaymas y San Felipe
Rancho Ausaymas y San Felipe was a Mexican land grant in present day San Benito County and Santa Clara County, California a consists of two square leagues given in 1833 by Governor José Figueroa and two square leagues given in 1836 by Governor Nicolás Gutiérrez to Francisco Perez Pacheco...
. In the 1850s, an informal variant name for the pass was Robber's Pass attributed to the frequent hold-ups
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
experienced by travelers using the route.
History
Pacheco Pass was the site of one of the stage stations on the route of the Butterfield Overland MailButterfield Overland Mail
The Butterfield Overland Mail Trail was a stagecoach route in the United States, operating from 1857 to 1861. It was a conduit for the U.S. mail from two eastern termini, Memphis, Tennessee and St. Louis, Missouri, meeting Fort Smith, Arkansas, and continuing through Indian Territory, New Mexico,...
stagecoach route which connected the Saint Louis, Missouri with San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
from 1858 until 1861. Other stage lines used the route thereafter until completion of the railroads within the state.
Nearby features
There are no major communities between GilroyGilroy, California
Gilroy is the southernmost city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 48,821 at the 2010 census. Gilroy is well-known for its garlic crop and for the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, featuring various garlicky foods, including garlic ice cream. Gilroy also produces...
and Los Banos
Los Banos, California
Los Banos is a city in Merced County, California, near the junction of State Route 152 and Interstate 5. Los Banos is located southwest of Merced, at an elevation of 118 feet . The population was 35,972 at the 2010 census, up from 25,869 at the 2000 census...
in the Central Valley.
Where Pacheco Pass Road switches to the two-lane highway west of the pass itself lies Casa de Fruta
Casa de Fruta
Casa de Fruta is a large roadside attraction located in an unincorporated area of Santa Clara County, just west of the Merced County line, in the Pacheco Valley of Northern California, along State Route 152. Casa de Fruta was founded as an orchard by the Bisceglia brothers, who were Italian...
, an extensive trading post. Originally a site devoted to selling locally produced fruit and nuts to travelers, Casa de Fruta has expanded to include a delicatessen, truckstop, RV park, and other facilities. A rural locale named Bell Station
Bell Station, California
Bell Station is an unincorporated area located along State Route 152 between Casa de Fruta and Pacheco Pass near the southeast extent of Santa Clara County, California....
is along the route.
On the eastern slope of the pass lies the San Luis Reservoir
San Luis Reservoir
The San Luis Reservoir is an off-stream artificial lake in the eastern slopes of the Diablo Range of Merced County, California, approximately west of Los Banos on State Route 152, which crosses Pacheco Pass and runs along its north shore. The reservoir stores water taken from the San...
, which stores water for the Central Valley Project
Central Valley Project
The Central Valley Project is a Bureau of Reclamation federal water project in the U.S. state of California. It was devised in 1933 in order to provide irrigation and municipal water to much of California's Central Valley—by regulating and storing water in reservoirs in the water-rich northern...
and the California State Water Project
California State Water Project
The California State Water Project, commonly known as the SWP , is the world's largest publicly built and operated water and power development and conveyance system. The SWP was designed and is operated by the California Department of Water Resources...
. The San Luis Reservoir and O'Neill Forebay
O'Neill Forebay
O'Neill Forebay is a forebay to the San Luis Reservoir created by the construction of O'Neill Dam across San Luis Creek approximately west of Los Banos, California, on the eastern slopes of the Pacific Coast Ranges of Merced County.-Background:...
operate as a pumped storage hydroelectric plant. The entrances to the San Luis Reservoir state recreational area and Pacheco State Park
Pacheco State Park
Pacheco State Park is a California State Park in the Diablo Range, located mostly in western Merced County, California but extending into southeastern Santa Clara County and entrance located near Hollister in San Benito County....
require caution entering or exiting because there are no stop signs or traffic lights and two lanes of heavy traffic in each direction.
There is a windfarm
WindFarm
WindFarm is wind energy software used to analyse, design, optimise and visualise wind farms. It calculates and optimises the energy yield subject to natural, planning and engineering constraints. WindFarm has the wind modelling software MS-Micro integrated. MS-Micro is based on the same...
located at the top of the pass. The turbines can be seen from Dinosaur Point Road, which is used for street luge
Street luge
Street luge is an extreme gravity-powered activity that involves riding a streetluge board down a paved road or course. Street luge is also known as land luge or road luge...
, and can approached fairly closely from the eastern side of Pacheco State Park. The wind farm is fairly small compared to the ones at Altamont
Altamont Pass
Altamont Pass, formerly Livermore Pass, is a mountain pass in the Diablo Range between Livermore in the Livermore Valley and Tracy in the San Joaquin Valley in Northern California...
, San Gorgonio
San Gorgonio Pass
The San Gorgonio Pass el. cuts between the San Bernardino Mountains on the north and the San Jacinto Mountains to the south. Like the Cajon Pass to the northwest, it was also created by the San Andreas Fault...
and Tehachapi
Tehachapi Pass
Tehachapi Pass is a mountain pass crossing the Tehachapi Mountains in Kern County, California in the United States. The route over the pass connects the San Joaquin Valley to the Mojave Desert...
Passes.
The Pacheco Pass American Viticultural Area
American Viticultural Area
An American Viticultural Area is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States distinguishable by geographic features, with boundaries defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau , United States Department of the Treasury....
is nearby.
California High-Speed Rail
Pacheco Pass has been tentatively selected as the route that the proposed California High-Speed RailCalifornia high-speed rail
The California High-Speed Rail project is a planned future high-speed rail system in the state of California and headed by the California High-Speed Rail Authority . Initial funding for the project was approved by California voters on November 4, 2008, with the passage of Proposition 1A...
will take between the Bay Area and the Central Valley.