Ridge Route Directory

When this twenty foot wide, winding road opened in 1915, it became the most direct route between Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley. As the route grew in popularity, businesses sprang up along the way to serve travelers. Over the next 17.6 miles were sites including Sandberg’s Summit Hotel, a first class hotel and restaurant built entirely of logs cut on the site; Liebre State Highway Camp, where crews maintained the Ridge Route; Liebre Summit, the road’s highest elevation at 4,213 feet; Tumble Inn, a restaurant and auto garage built of native rock; Kelly’s Halfway Inn, which offered a restaurant, cabins, and a Richfield gas station; Reservoir Summit, a popular high class restaurant with adjoining auto service; Swede’s Cut, a 110 foot road cut made by steam-powered shovels; National Forest Inn, which advertised heated rooms, cottages, home cooked meals, lunches, and cold drinks; and the View Service Station, which provided mechanic work, fuel, and other vehicle services for vintage autos and trucks.

California · United States