A Day Trip on California's S1 - The Sunrise Highway 

Duuuuuuuude. Could not agree more. Not from So Cal...but have been visiting a lot. Found this little gem of a highway and stop every time at the Pine for food. Everything there I've had was excellent. There is one spot on the highway where you look west and see nothing but green and look west and you see the desert. Amazing! And if you get a chance continue to Julian for a "nickel beer" and then take 78 down to Banner on one of the twistiest, tastiest backroads I've ever been on. (Maybe grab a beer AFTER driving on 78!

We found a beautiful spot to scatter my Sisters ashes near Mount Laguna. She absolutely loved it up there, so beautiful.

Such a scenic drive! I love when it just feels like you're alone with just nature and the road!

You have a very pleasant way to present your journeys. That alone adds flavor to your descriptions ;- ) To me your So Cal descriptions are especially valuable as I travel almost annually from and back to Alaska, but have yet to get more familiar with your part of the State. Will check out a number of your recommendations in the coming weeks. Keep up the good work.

Always a great scenic ride but especially in the fall.

I told the Corvette about this road and she insists that we have to go drive the loop immediately! 😛

I moved to San Diego fifty years ago and was riding my motorcycle due east on Hyway 8 until I discovered Sunrise highway cut into the hillsides going north. I was thrilled to make such a great discovery. A great road to drive on. Heading north on the Sunrise highway from Route 8 you have the hills on the right going up and a sheer drop into canyons to huge desert below. You can see the road cut into the hill sides from miles away. Great twisties.

Sunrise Highway was my favorite bicycle ride back when I lived in San Diego twenty five years ago. Even watching a video of it all these years later still makes my legs hurt. Thanks for the tour!

My old stomping grounds! I have hiked every one of those trails and stayed at every campground at one time of the other. Great memories!

I live in Riverside, Ca. I am putting this on my list for January. Looks great to do on my Motorcycle. KLR 650

Easy summer day-drive. I am glad I finally watched this. Thanks for the tips.

You sure picked a beautiful day for the drive. You make me wish I was still living in San Diego. Nice video!

For the better part of six months I rode that loop on my bike almost weekly while I was stationed at NAS North Island during the late 70s. As I worked night check at the base, I would blast out Highway 8 during the mornings on weekdays when there was hardly any traffic at all on the Sunrise Highway. As you say, it really lets a person decompress. Haven't been on the highway in decades but will be sure to visit on my next time through...didn't know about the old road (have always been fascinated by them). Keep up the good work, really enjoy it.

One of the guilty pleasures in my youth was testing my driving skills on the S1, between Julian and I-8. The road is well maintained, nearly deserted midweek, and, uh, not really patrolled by Johnny Law. 😉

You do a great job narrating these videos and keeping them very interesting. There's no fodder and you're able to get to the point in a short amount of time and cover alot of ground. Love your channel!

More fun Professor Steve…I’m still time traveling through the southwest with ancient videos….

Thanks again for a great day trip idea. Can't wait till I get My Aptera 1000 mile range vehicle. You have expanded my DTBL (Day Trip Bucket List)

snow in laguna 50s 60s was great fun we had a clear view out our back window of mt laguna from lemon grove ca

Awesome video, and highway! I take my modified 2004 Mercury Marauder to "turn some laps" on Sunrise, I have it memorized. Cheers!

A wonderful drive in winter

brother im really starting to enjoy your videos, thank you.

So happy to know about this drive. Can't wait to take it!

I’ve lived in San Diego all my life and just hearing about this. I have to go now!

I'm so homesick.

Abandoned highways is YOUR THING! 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣. You really take us places! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

When I was a boy scout back in the 1970s I used to camp with my scout troop at horse heaven camp ground. It's there somewhere in the direction of Mt. Laguna, not quite sure because I have not been back for decades. Nice video👌

Great video! Garante Peak trail on a full moon is excellent!

that looks absolutely gorgeous - thanks for the vid. Love the old/abandoned road info too.

Thanks for showing these places great video :)

Another great video. Thanks for noting the POIs along the way! Such a great area right in our backyard from OC! 👌🏼

Great vid! My wife and I have ridden this route many times on our motorcycle. You have pointed out a few places we need to stop and explore more! Thanks for producing such wonderful videos!

Great video! My parents had a cabin on Mt Laguna for 25 years. Love it up there!

Love it! My favorite remote astronomical observing location was just west of Kitchen Creek Rd. about 1/3 of a mile south of Sunrise Highway. It was only about 35 minutes from sea level, my home in the El Cajon valley, to 6,000 ft. I really miss that place ... actually all of the back country in eastern San Diego County. I really appreciated this video.Thank you so much!!!

I drove it from I-8 to Mount Laguna Lodge 20 years ago. I had a Geo Tracker. Which was a fake Jeep CJ imitation. I guess the car made me adventurous. The drive is not for the faint of heart in the winter. Narrow two lane paved road with some crazy turns and STEEP drop offs.

Thanks for making these great videos.

We’ll be checking this out soon. Good video

Very nice drive, I have always liked the scenery in eastern and southern California, but I don't get down there often enough. Thank you for the great video.

Great stuff MrSteve☺️

Excellent, excellent. One of my favorites Steve.

Thank you Steve ❤ Beautiful Scenery

I have really enjoyed watching your videos

Another professional quality video, showing what a great place San Diego County is to live in!

WOW that was a very nice field trip. Thanks for the share.

Oh great I enjoyed this so much thumb up💗👍 Hope you have a lovely weekend friend 🥰

Awesome video as always. Thank you for sharing it. Cheers from Florida.

As a former San Diego north county resident have been on that road many times, always enjoyed it any time of year. My granddaughter first played in snow on Mt Laguna then had hot chocolate at the lodge, also stopped there many times. Will have to take a drive up that way when in the area again.

There sure is a lot of back country in San Diego County! Keep up the explorations. The Butterfield Overland Stage route cut thru from Imperial Valley a bit north of your trip. I camped at Los Coyotes Reservation campground.

Love the sunrise highway. I always go through it instead of the 79 whenever I go to Julian.

beautiful

great S1 trip !

Really a nice drive.

Thanks for a beautiful video people, cheers! uk

Got out there alone last week and loved it so much I went back the next day. Had a mustang as a rental car so it made it a nice drive. There’s something about being alone in the desert

I have been a subscriber for awhile now, so some of your past videos pop up, for which I am always grateful. I worked on the Cedar Fire in 2003, and drove Sunrise Hwy a lot. A Lot! It was still worth it though, and I do remember the view of Anza Borrego. At the time, I remember thinking what an awful section of stagecoach road that must have been back in the day.

Driven this many times and recommend it to all car enthusiasts and bikers to drive. Take a break stop for a leisurely meal at one the fine restaurants. Have fun. The loop trip is perfect drive.

I really enjoy your videos.

Loved it

I rarely comment, but love your content and have been subscribing for a while

I have been on bits and parts of Sunrise Hwy I remember Garrett Pt.

Another scenic highway in San Bernadino county is SR 38. The highway starts in the south in Mentone, Ca. and travels through the San Gorgonio wilderness, to Big Bear Lake and communities about 50 miles later. Check it out. Onward!

I love riding up S1 (even when it's cold!)

You’re going to make me move back there! That’s a motorcycle ride waiting to happen, too.

The French onion soup is great and well worth the taunting....

fun motorcycle road.

The part of the Sunrise Highway I am familiar with begins at US HWY 80 uphill just east of Pine Valley. But the road you drive on now is not the original road going up the mountain. Today's road goes up the east side of the valley. The original road went up the west side. For years, you could drive up the Sunrise Highway's present alignment and see the abandoned concrete road, but for some reason, the old road disappeared either from San Diego County digging it up, or from slides due to inclement weather. As you get near the summit, there are some spectacular views of the desert without even having to leave your car. Another point of interest, the Sunrise Highway comes up to the highest elevation in San Diego County. Over 6,000 feet. There's a sign beside the highway near where it levels out a little bit, where winter snow hounds like to park and throw snowballs, whenever that extremely rare occasion affords such an adventure.

I wish I had made the turn to julien and followed 79 into the desert!! Next time!

for anyone thinking about going here...take note that the i-8 freeway is currently under construction along that stretch of road...and they got that sht down to one lane...

Next time take the old Stage Coach road just east of Kwaaimii Lookout. Looks Historical.

I grew up going to Julian up sunrise highway. It's the local Indian tribe. Pronounced: KOO-MY-AY

🙌🙌

Could you link a Google map link or spell out where is there drivable Cuyamackie point is? I would like to drive there but I can’t find it. Would be helpful to provide for others. Thanks!

Just a reminder, veterans and active duty get in to all federal parks for free. I think that many state parks offer the same thing. Also, I believe this applies to family members.

First like woohoo love all your stuff

Hit us with one from the ortega hwy please,, thx. Great series👍

Amazing views is right. However, if this was Oregon, the views would be green forests, or at least in areas where logging hasn't been allowed. And lots of creeks and small rivers.

Was that a cattle guard at the start of the Sunrise Highway?

When did they move the road

It's Kwam..like mom.

Great video! by the way, it's pronounced KOOM yai

Nobel Canyon is one of the greatest mountain biking trails you'll ever find. Not for the novice though.

Steve, the information about the California adventure pass isn’t entirely correct, you only need that pass on the other side of that sign. If you stop in the parking lot just short of that sign, you do not need a pass. I mountain bike up there all the time, and I do have a California adventure pass. Great videos by the way!

I think it’s cuumei

Those gas prices though.

SHUsh, shushh! Your are supposed to keep this one secret! This is AKA: The Julian Pie Run! Named for the "pie" shape of the map of CA-79 and S-1 along with a stop at the Worlds Famous Julian CA. That is a must stop for any pie lover. This ride is my personal favorite in So-Cal. Word to the wise: This loop is heavily patrolled and it is a winding mountain road. Drive and ride safely and obey the posted speeds. Keep an eye out for deer and wild turkey! There are a lot of them! Julian does get "PACKED" with folks on the weekends! The pie shops and restaurants have come up with a fantastic plan to keep you from standing in line for long waits: Just give the Host or Hostess your mobile number and they will text you 10 minutes before your table is ready! Easy to walk from one end of town to the other in 5 minutes. Hope to see you there! EDIT: No i don't live or work there! Just my favorite day ride! So long as the temps are below three digits (We Ride). Wind burn is worse than sunburn, just sayin.. Have a GREAT DAY!

I wish I could just choose what my taxes go toward so I wouldn't habe to pay extra for an adventure pass

i think its pronounced kw-AH-mee

FN Cali tax tax tax