State Route 173 (California)
Encyclopedia
State Route 173 runs from State Route 138 near the west end of Silverwood Lake
in the Summit Valley south of Hesperia
to State Route 18
south of Lake Arrowhead
, USA. It is the only California state highway with an unpaved segment, which is a one-lane jeep trail on the Northwestern face of the San Bernardino Mountains directly east of Summit Valley and northwest of Blue Jay
. The route starts at the Mojave River Forks, skims the easterly and southerly sides of Lake Arrowhead and meets State Route 189, Lake's Edge Road, at the south entrance to the Lake Arrowhead mall. The route runs entirely in San Bernardino County, mostly in the San Bernardino National Forest
.
Although the jeep trail portion of the road is not barricaded, the "Road Closed" signs are often left in place year-round in an attempt to deter motorists who may not realize how treacherous the road is, and to limit Park Service liability for the National Forest portion of the trail. Officially, the jeep trail portion of the road is passable by non-4WD vehicles, but this is not always practical due to seasonal washouts and debris flow blocking passage.
. However, it has not been designated by Caltrans as a scenic highway.
SR 173 begins at SR 138 just inside the Hesperia
city limits and travels east along the shore of Silverwood Lake
, passing near Cedar Springs Dam. The road briefly turns north further into the Hesperia city limits, leaving the San Bernardino National Forest
. SR 173 leaves the city and enters Mojave River Forks Regional Park, where it turns east and intersects Arrowhead Lake Road, which leads to the urban center of Hesperia. Once SR 173 intersects the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, it turns into a one-lane dirt road rising along the north face of the San Bernardino Mountains, first heading east to its apex before turning south to the Lake Arrowhead
area. A few miles from Lake Arrowhead, SR 173 becomes paved and enters the community of Cedar Glen
, where it parallels the Lake Arrowhead
shoreline and encounters Papoose Lake
. The highway enters the community of Lake Arrowhead, where SR 173 intersects SR 189 and turns south to terminate at SR 18.
.
The entire route is in San Bernardino County
.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Postmile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|Hesperia
|L0.00
|
|Route begins approx 2 mi. NW of Lake Silverwood
|-
|
|L6.99
|Arrowhead Lake Road – Hesperia
|From Arrowhead Lake Road up to Willow Creek Trail, SR 173 is officially closed; pavement physically ends 750 feet away from Arrowhead Lake Road until approx. 1 mi. north of Willow Creek.
|-
|Lake Arrowhead
|21.46
|
|
|-
|
|23.04
|
|
Silverwood Lake
Silverwood Lake is a large reservoir in San Bernardino County, California, United States, located on the west fork of the Mojave River in the San Bernardino Mountains...
in the Summit Valley south of Hesperia
Hesperia, California
Hesperia is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It is located in the Mojave Desert north of San Bernardino. The locals refer to the surrounding area as the High Desert...
to State Route 18
State Route 18 (California)
State Route 18 in the U.S. state of California runs from State Route 210 in San Bernardino to State Route 138 near Adelanto. It is the primary route into the San Bernardino Mountains and has two discontinunities: one in Big Bear Lake, the other in Victorville.-Route description:SR 18 is part of...
south of Lake Arrowhead
Lake Arrowhead, California
Lake Arrowhead is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in the San Bernardino Mountains of San Bernardino County, California, within the San Bernardino National Forest, adjacent to Lake Arrowhead Reservoir...
, USA. It is the only California state highway with an unpaved segment, which is a one-lane jeep trail on the Northwestern face of the San Bernardino Mountains directly east of Summit Valley and northwest of Blue Jay
Blue Jay
The Blue Jay is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae, native to North America. It is resident through most of eastern and central United States and southern Canada, although western populations may be migratory. It breeds in both deciduous and coniferous forests, and is common near and in...
. The route starts at the Mojave River Forks, skims the easterly and southerly sides of Lake Arrowhead and meets State Route 189, Lake's Edge Road, at the south entrance to the Lake Arrowhead mall. The route runs entirely in San Bernardino County, mostly in the San Bernardino National Forest
San Bernardino National Forest
San Bernardino National Forest is a federally-managed forest covering more than 800,000 acres . There are two main divisions which are the San Bernardino Mountains on the easternmost of the Transverse Range, and the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains on the northernmost of the Peninsular...
.
Although the jeep trail portion of the road is not barricaded, the "Road Closed" signs are often left in place year-round in an attempt to deter motorists who may not realize how treacherous the road is, and to limit Park Service liability for the National Forest portion of the trail. Officially, the jeep trail portion of the road is passable by non-4WD vehicles, but this is not always practical due to seasonal washouts and debris flow blocking passage.
Route description
SR 173 is eligible for inclusion in the State Scenic Highway SystemState Scenic Highway System (California)
The State Scenic Highway System is a list of highways, mainly state highways, that have been designated by the California Department of Transportation as scenic highways. The California State Legislature, primarily through Section 263 of the Streets and Highways Code, makes highways eligible for...
. However, it has not been designated by Caltrans as a scenic highway.
SR 173 begins at SR 138 just inside the Hesperia
Hesperia, California
Hesperia is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It is located in the Mojave Desert north of San Bernardino. The locals refer to the surrounding area as the High Desert...
city limits and travels east along the shore of Silverwood Lake
Silverwood Lake
Silverwood Lake is a large reservoir in San Bernardino County, California, United States, located on the west fork of the Mojave River in the San Bernardino Mountains...
, passing near Cedar Springs Dam. The road briefly turns north further into the Hesperia city limits, leaving the San Bernardino National Forest
San Bernardino National Forest
San Bernardino National Forest is a federally-managed forest covering more than 800,000 acres . There are two main divisions which are the San Bernardino Mountains on the easternmost of the Transverse Range, and the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains on the northernmost of the Peninsular...
. SR 173 leaves the city and enters Mojave River Forks Regional Park, where it turns east and intersects Arrowhead Lake Road, which leads to the urban center of Hesperia. Once SR 173 intersects the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, it turns into a one-lane dirt road rising along the north face of the San Bernardino Mountains, first heading east to its apex before turning south to the Lake Arrowhead
Lake Arrowhead, California
Lake Arrowhead is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in the San Bernardino Mountains of San Bernardino County, California, within the San Bernardino National Forest, adjacent to Lake Arrowhead Reservoir...
area. A few miles from Lake Arrowhead, SR 173 becomes paved and enters the community of Cedar Glen
Cedar Glen, California
Cedar Glen, California is an unincorporated community in located in the San Bernardino National Forest resort area of San Bernardino County immediately east of Lake Arrowhead.The community lies at an elevation of 5403 ft ....
, where it parallels the Lake Arrowhead
Lake Arrowhead
-United States:Bodies of water* Arrowhead Lake * Lake Arrowhead Reservoir* Lake Arrowhead * Lake Arrowhead * Lake Arrowhead * Arrowhead Lake in Sanders County, MontanaCommunities* Lake Arrowhead, California...
shoreline and encounters Papoose Lake
Papoose Lake
Papoose Lake is a dry lake bed located in Lincoln County, Nevada, USA. The lake lies within the plot of land referred to as the Groom Lake facility and is a restricted area. The lake is located a few miles Southwest of the Groom lake facility nestled adjacent the Papoose Range....
. The highway enters the community of Lake Arrowhead, where SR 173 intersects SR 189 and turns south to terminate at SR 18.
History
Before 1964, Route 173 was part of California Legislative Route 59; however, like a small number of other California State highways, it was not signed. From 1934 to the mid 1950s the part of Route 59 that is now Route 173 was designated by the California Division of Highways to be a segment of California sign route 2; however, signing did not occur. From the mid 1950s through July 1964, the Division of Highways changed the routing of future sign route 2 from the subject segment of Route 59 to Legislative Route 188, the segment of present California 138 between the junction of Routes 138 and 173 and Mount Anderson Junction, the junction of Routes 18 and 138 south of CrestlineCrestline, California
Crestline is a census-designated place in the San Bernardino Mountains of San Bernardino County, California, USA. The population was 10,770 at the 2010 census, up from 10,218 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Crestline is located at ....
.
Major intersections
- Note: Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured in 1964, based on the alignment as it existed at that time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage.
The entire route is in San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Postmile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|Hesperia
Hesperia, California
Hesperia is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It is located in the Mojave Desert north of San Bernardino. The locals refer to the surrounding area as the High Desert...
|L0.00
|
|Route begins approx 2 mi. NW of Lake Silverwood
|-
|
|L6.99
|Arrowhead Lake Road – Hesperia
Hesperia, California
Hesperia is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It is located in the Mojave Desert north of San Bernardino. The locals refer to the surrounding area as the High Desert...
|From Arrowhead Lake Road up to Willow Creek Trail, SR 173 is officially closed; pavement physically ends 750 feet away from Arrowhead Lake Road until approx. 1 mi. north of Willow Creek.
|-
|Lake Arrowhead
Lake Arrowhead, California
Lake Arrowhead is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in the San Bernardino Mountains of San Bernardino County, California, within the San Bernardino National Forest, adjacent to Lake Arrowhead Reservoir...
|21.46
|
|
|-
|
|23.04
|
|