Exploring More of Abandoned Highway 80 Near San Diego 

That road is 100 years old and it is still better than every Road in Michigan that I drive on today

You are fortunate to have a wife who will make these “adventure” trips with you. There’s the fun, in sharing with someone you love. Nice!❤️

LOVE how Hwy 80 plays its own soft piano music! AMAZING!

Poured in 1926 and looks much better than my driveway that was poured in 1996!

We lived in San Diego in '58 and took this road going east on this southern route to Arkansas. Still have memories of this road.

Standing there at the "end of the road" it make you realize how much rock had to be moved to make way for Interstate 8. Amazing video.

Back in the good old days driving was an adventure.

I remember before I-8 was built (circa 1970), my Dad would take us on road trips from Mexicali to San Diego using this road. I was 6 years old in 1969 and remember the slow drive up the grade. It would take about 4 hours to do the trip that today takes 1hr 40 mins. Thanks for your great videos. David El Centro CA

Just discovered your videos. Born in Calif in 1943. Love seeing these places.

wow this was such a cool spot to explore! feels like another planet. what a gem

It must be so fun being able to visit and document all that history.

I drove Highway 80 many, many times before I-8. It could be an experience coming up Mountain Springs Grade behind a slow truck and oncoming traffic.

My mom remarried to a man from Wink Texas. He moved us from another small town in West Texas and we came up the "old road" as we came to call it the first time we drove out to California. I was three years old but I do still remember that trip and traveling on the old road.

I absolutely Love your videos.I live in S.W. Missouri,and due to health reasons cant get out and explore.Especially other states.Your videos help me get out through your lens. Thank You !!

Great video! Loved it! I have seen the old portions of the highway when driving on interstate 8 and figured that’s what they were. Never knew you could actually get to them by car and drive on certain segments of the old road, though. That’s pretty cool!

I rode from San Diego to Ocotillo and back last fall, and got lucky with an 80-degree cloudy day riding up the grade to Desert Tower. Though I'd driven the 8 many times, travelling it at 5 mph gave me lots of time to see most of the old portions of US 80 I had missed by car. Thanks for these videos of Old 80!

I go through there monthly and NEVER thought about stopping for ANY reason. It really is El cañon del Diablo. Total respect for the native people that lived in that area for thousands of years.

I really enjoy your videos of the greater San Diego area. I lived in San Diego for many years during my service in the US NAVY, as well as after my service ended. I was never cognizant of the history of the area or of the sites to be seen. I now live in another corner of the country, but it's nice to see these kinds of things still exist. I did live in Santee for a while and did manage to do some exploring in the Mission Gorge area. I remember a stream and lots of trees in the gorge. Ah, yes...many moons ago. Thanks for the video.

So cool to find this video! I have literally been through that area hundreds of times (on I-8 of course) when I was a kid growing up in San Diego back in the 1980's, and every single trip through there, I would always watch for those old segments of the abandoned road and always wondered what it was like back in the 1920's-1930's to travel there on the "old" road. I always wanted to go explore the remaining sections just to see what it was like and wonder about the history. Now I know what I'm making time for on my next trip out to SD. Thanks for sharing this.

Saw this today as it's ironic that yesterday I drove the portion of old US 80 from Buckeye AZ to Gila Bend crossing the Gila River on the historic old steel bridge by the remnants of Gillespie dam. This portion of the old highway is still maintained even though it parallels US 85 because of agriculture and some new development in the area and acres and acres of solar panels. These old highways should remain open to the public if nothing else to be used by off highway vehicles. I was lucky enough to be able to drive the section of old US 60 from Top of the World to where it rejoins the new highway at Pinto Creek before the state blasted a portion of it out of existence. It wound through some magnificent terrain that many will never see again.

Really enjoyed this video about Hwy 80. I live in Douglas Az. Hwy 80 goes right through our town. I drive to work on Hwy 80 every day. So I really liked your history lesson and tour about it.

Thank You for sharing this with us. I though I was the only person who was interested in this sort of history. :)

I once rode and pushed a mountain bike up that canyon bottom from the desert floor. Some small pieces of the old 80 were visible. I didn't realize so much of the old highway still exists closer to the top.

Thanks for showing us this section of the old route 80. I moved to San Diego in 1980 and seeing this older route through the mountains is wonderful. It must have been an adventure traveling from Ocotillo Wells over the mountains into San Diego in the early 1900s. It may have taken over 1 day to do that trip. Today it takes under 2 hours on the I-8.

Looks in better shape than the roads in Omaha.

You do good videos. I worked for Caltrans in Boulevard, I worked every inch of the Interstate. That below you is the IN Ko Pah Gorge. That road is called a daylight road. It went with the contour of the landscape. With the Interstate, came a better road. My father drove that road in the 50's. He hauled wallboard from Plaster City, to El Cajon. Thank you for the look at the road. You mentioned the road to Yuma. There is a portion of the plank road, at the Imperial Sand Dunes still standing. That road was wooden and built in 1915. across the dunes. Near there is the All American Canal, and the EB I-8 bridge is from 1956, as is the Fourth Ave Bridge on Yuma. The other River Bridge is from 1978. That is when I-8 was completed, and 80 ceased being a road, business or otherwise.

Utterly fascinating! Thank you for presenting this. After traveling I-5 many times, I grew spoiled by the ease of reaching SD along the coast.

My buddy and live in San Diego and ride out motorcycles all over to see hard to see 80 areas. Right across the freeway (walk under the 8 through a bridge) next to the Desert lookout. We walked up the the area where the old hwy cafe and gas station was during the 50s. There is a bunch of old wiring and remains from the cafe. I found a pic of the cafe in the desert view tower pic. Its a short but up hill hike but not a big deal to see... Its amazing! I have vids.

I love old roads. Thanks!

I love your videos. Even though I live clear across the country, watching them makes me want to travel there and retrace your steps.

When driving between Phoenix and San Diego, I always notice that old road wondering if it was the road we traveled before I 8 was opened. It's older than I thought at least that part. Very interesting video .

The views are breathtaking . The history is knowledgeable curiosity. Crazy as it seems, I want to research and learn more.😊❤️

Awesome video!!!! I always drive this when going to Mexicali so about twice a month. I’ve always wanted to see what this road was like but have been too scared to drive it and now I know it’s not as hard as I thought. Amazing exploration video with great history! Please make more!!!

This video reminded me of a gravity hill illusion near there. Going west bound on I-8, take the mountain springs road exit, stop the car at the stop sign and put in neutral.

I have travelled all of 66 nationwide on 3 round trips and an westbound trip on the longest road in the history of the nation, Route 6, aka The Grand Army Highway, from Provincetown, MA to Long Beach, CA and on portions of other Historic roads. I look forward to full nationwide trips on other historic roads such as the Lincoln Highway, Dixie Highway, Jefferson Highway, Blueridge Highway, etc. And I want to do the 80 from Savannah, if enough of it exists to drive.

I always saw those roads and wondered if they were still drivable. Nice to know now.

Never knew about that 80 down south.

Did you go talk to the man living in that green bus? I was out there in March and was chatting with him. He's from Jacumba and I just was out there recently and he was still there. He said he was avoiding the Coronavirus. Love your videos as I frequent these areas and love to see your views on them.

Thank you, Steve for you. Great videos. They're really interested. I learned a lot

I love how you actually drive on the abandoned road. I guess roads can’t become 100% abandoned unless they collapse or get too overgrown.

Very well done video. I especially like the drone footage, which gives great context and shows how rugged the canyon is, and the challengers the builders faced. I'm also impressed how well you researched everything. You obviously have a real passion for this. I saw very clearly in the drone footage the 1942 alignment you alluded to, curving outside I-8. Even though I've researched this section over the past 25 years, I only recently found out the In-ko-pah Gorge portion was significantly reworked in 1963-64. I had been under the impression the present alignment had been unchanged. Of course they had to place the westbound lanes through Devils Canyon since the gorge was way too narrow to accommodate additional lanes. Again, great job on the video and thank you for sharing it. Even though I first set foot there 30 years ago, having a wife and kids has prevented me from going there for over 20 years. I'm glad it still looks the same and that you made me feel I was there again.

Steve, From about 1956 onward mom and dad and Willie the dog and I rode in our 56 Ford to the San Diego area, mostly during the summer. We ate at pancake breakfast early in the mornings at Jacumba, as part of the bargain between with mom for dad getting us up at 2am to set out across the desert before it got hot. We had no air conditioning in that car. We often continued down Highway 80 to the Wisteria Candy Cottage so mom and dad could get their horehound and caramel candies. I never had a sweet tooth. Mom and I always looked for landmarks like the small, rare sections of the first asphalt highway and bits of concrete highway. We nicknamed the former the Old Road, and the latter the Old Old Road. The wooden sections were just called the old plank road, those mostly being very short portions in the sand of the flat Sonoran desert, well before Desert View Tower. Once we turned North not far past Pine Valley and stayed in a little cabin in or near Julian, from where mom and dad fished at Lake Cuyamaca. One of my landmarks on those trips was to see the road sign for Campo. To me that meant we were not far from El Cajon and then Chula VIsta. I have a continuing essay of these memories that gets filled more every few days. Thanks for jogging my memory of those happier times. Larry

Great Video! In the late 50's when I was in the Boy Scouts we camped near the end of the road. At that time, the interstate was not there but a newer version of highway 80 went through where the interstate is now.

Lived in Imperial Valley for 35 years and always wondered about Old Highway 80 up on the grade. Thanks for sharing.

Just found this channel and I'm binging through the back catalog. I moved to San Diego about 18 months ago from the East Coast, and I'm stoked to explore all these weird places. Keep these vids up!

Cool man. I live in Dago near Lake Murray. I used to work in Yuma and would see parts of this old road every Sunday driving back to AZ. Excellent video.

Great video with historic information on this major early road. Great views along this forgotten highway!

had 10 car hauler, rolled over 8 twice a month an back to s.e. usa. love the truck stop at casino 4,200 feet.

Very cool! Looks like something fun to explore on a mountain bike, except of course for potentially being shot by accident. But I've always been fascinated with old roads, so this was great.

When I was a kid we took old hwy. 80 to El Centro to see my cousins. I just love Imperial Valley.

Great video and history of old highway 80 in that area. What most don’t know is the old stage coach trail goes right along that same area of mountain springs. It was a stage stop at one time and you can still see some of the stone corrals and the old trail cut out of the side of the mountain just to the west if you know where to look.

I found this video because I was driving through this area a couple of days ago and thought it would be cool to stand on a hwy 8 overpass during a rainstorm and watch water rush through the one of the gulches. I thought maybe someone else already did that and filmed it, but this was cool too, and safer!

I would love to ride my mountain bike there. Thanks for making this video.

Thank you. A memory stands out of the droning 'clack, clack,_____clack, clack. When driving Highway 80 at speed. As your tires hit the joint at the sections of concrete pours. And yeah it was definitely winding. Someone in family always got car sick when we traveled on it. My mom's dad delivered water for Arrowhead in the 20s down into Ocotillo Wells area and back from where in San Diego I don't know. Was a full sized delivery truck of the day, and no power streering. You talked on the time it saved after being built. We used to camp in the 60s and 70s in Mcains Valley up above there. I remember the trail was still there, I think it was the Mormon Trail? , where you could still see the wagon wheel ruts on the path. Probably can today unless the motorcycles have obliterated it. What a trek that must have been. REALLY appreciate the footage and your obvious interest in your subject, Thanks again.

love it ! thank you for taking us along . 👍🏼

Love this! Love old Portland cement.

I'd imagine that a lot of roadhounds will be impressed the age and surprisingly excellent condition of the road here.

Great videos from you. Thx. I’m 4000 miles away but you point out some fun places to look over. Gosh I would like to look it over.

Really enjoy your videos. Have you ever tried to hike the old San Diego and Arizona Eastern rail line between Jacumba Valley and Dos Cabezas? I’ll bet it’s an awesome hike down Carrizo Canyon.

great video brother

I remember seeing that driving along the 8. Always thought it was there for when they were putting in the 8 freeway. Thanks for sharing.

awesome entrusting place I love going places like that from history made from the old day

Very cool great to revisit history good job.

I'm really enjoying your videos. I've seen a few and instantly subscribed. Being from Florida, we don't have beautiful scenery like you have out west. Thanks for letting me tag along in the videos.

Hard to believe in one time this simple,narrow highway comfortably fit most of the California-bound traffic from the South.

Great content Steve very much appreciated

Thanks for your history lesson about the road 🛣️ I find it interesting.

My dad used to drive that to get to our ranch just southeast of Jacumba...

Driving from Texas to visit family in San Diego that was always my favorite portion of our road trip.

Oh nice. I see this road all the time while traveling in I8. I wasn’t sure if it was accessible. Good to know. I won’t drive on it, but I do appreciate you showing us.

I love exploring once busy old roads

Never in my life i've ever seen an expressway this abandoned, & eerie :O

I’ve always wondered about that road when I’m driving out on 8. Thanks. Might take my son out and explore it🤙

That paving looks better than any road in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Love, really love, your video. But, please don't turn away from the microphone. We keep loosing sound and have no idea what you were telling us.

Good video thanks

Your adventures are always appreciated a lot!

That's cool. I've drove through there so many times to count. Thanks for sharing this. This gives me an idea. I will have to take my drone there and gets some footage of the area. I always look of the freeway and wonder what if any roads are there. Now I know.

Thanks for sharing. Never knew it existed.

Love your videos man! Subscriber from Atlantic Canada.

I grew up in that area in Alpine, love east San Diego and lots of old history in those mountains.

I drove old hwy 80 before I 8. Great drive

Best weather in Nevada! Nice & warm. For me at least, as I don't like winter.

That's a hot desert there... Could you imagine modern comfort's like running water being shut off in a city the size of Los Angeles? That would be a rough neighborhood!

I grew up in San Diego never knew about this. Left the state as soon as i turned 18.

I surveyed this area over several years for the Sunrise Power Link. I got to drive and hike the whole "island". Lots of cool stuff out there like cultural resources, big horn sheep and old mining claims.

Hello from Kansas 🇺🇸

I noticed in both of your videos you did not run into any snakes. Was it cold enough to keep them underground or where you just lucky? Love the history and what you are doing! Thanks.

Awesome channel for us SoCal history nerds😂. Keep up the good work and thank you for the channel 😎

Would be interesting to bikepack on in the cool months.

Cool 😎 thanks for sharing

Interesting history here, it explains a lot about it that I wasn't aware of before. I've driven on that section of highway several years ago, as visiting friends in San Diego, on a late winter day, and we decided to have a nice picnic out in the warmth of the desert; they were aware of that area. I just marveled at the smoothness of that roadway; not a crack, nor buckled part of pavement to be seen; not even a weed creeping up on the pavement, as there were no pavement cracks for the weeds to poke through . . . it seemed as smooth as if the concrete was recently poured and not driven on.

Fascinating!

You have a good voice and well spoken

cool vid - interesting landscape, looks like the hills are basically just big piles of boulders

I used to stop at the cafe that was near the tower and the old lady that owned it would complian about the the state troopers stopping there and muching free coffee from her

That was interesting and it’s a beautiful area Thank you

Sir, your channel deserves more subs and views.

Thanks for introducing this. I have always wonder what went across the the southern US from California to US1.

Cool. I like videos like this. I checked out an abandoned bridge in Utah off the I-70 once, which was fascinating, but long before the advent of phone cameras (and phones).