California 2

In La Canada-Flintridge, California 2 almost immediately starts to gain elevation as it enters the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains on the Angeles Crest Highway. The highway is mostly two lanes, but initially it has five lanes as seen here, just north of Interstate 210/Foothill Freeway. Photo taken 03/25/07.

Routing

California 2 connects Santa Monica with Phelan via Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Glendale, and Wrightwood. Beginning in Santa Monica at the historic intersection of Alternate U.S. 101 and U.S. 66 (Lincoln and Olympic), California 2 follows Historic U.S. 66 along Santa Monica Boulevard, then turns north on its own alignment through the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. The route between Echo Park and La Canada Flintridge follows the Glendale Freeway. The majority of its miles are on the scenic Angeles Crest Highway, which passes through the San Gabriel Mountains (Angeles National Forest) before ending at California 138 near Phelan. Portions of the Angeles Crest Highway were impacted by the heavy rains of Winter 2004-2005, and sections of the Angeles Crest Highway remain closed as of April 2007.

California 2 Highway Guides

California 2 Scenes
In Santa Monica, eastbound Colorado Avenue meets U.S. 66 and California 2/Lincoln Boulevard at this intersection. Turn right (south) on Lincoln Boulevard to California 1 south to Venice and Interstate 10 east to Los Angeles. Neither California 2 nor U.S. 66 are mentioned on any approach signs to Lincoln Boulevard. Photo taken 10/30/05.
Northbound Allesandro Street meets Riverside Drive in Los Angeles. The Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway and California 2/Glendale Freeway interchange is visible ahead. Not visible behind the freeway is the Los Angeles River. Photo taken 03/25/07.
Southbound Riverside Drive approaches Newell Street. Turn left east on Newell Street to the onramp for California 2/Glendale Freeway north to Glendale. Photo taken 03/25/07.
Now looking in the other direction, northbound Riverside Drive approaches Newell Street. Turn right (east) on Newell Street to the onramp for California 2/Glendale Freeway north to Glendale. Continue north on Riverside Drive to California 2 south to Glendale Boulevard. Photo taken 03/25/07.
Northbound Riverside Drive meets Newell Street. An Interstate 5 trailblazer is also posted on the traffic signal pole. Photo taken 03/25/07.
Soon thereafter, northbound Riverside Drive meets Allesandro Street. The California 2 freeway passes over Riverside Drive. Photo taken 03/25/07.
After passing under California 2, the next right connects to California 2/Glendale Freeway south to Echo Park. Photo taken 03/25/07.
Northbound Riverside Drive meets the onramp to California 2/Glendale Freeway south to Echo Park. Photo taken 03/25/07.
In Glendale, eastbound Wilson Terrace meets Harvey Drive near an In-N-Out Burger Restaurant. This sign points the way to California 2 and California 134, since this intersection is just northwest of the 2-134 interchange. Directly behind and underneath this intersection is a transition ramp from California 2 south to California 134 west. Photo taken 03/25/07.
This shot shows the transition ramp from California 2 south to California 134 west as seen from Harvey Drive near Wilson Terrace in Glendale. Photo taken 03/25/07.
Through the California 2-134 interchange in Glendale, Harvey Drive parallels the California 2 freeway and offers connections to both directions of California 134. This series of pictures follows Harvey Drive from Broadway north to Holly Drive. Photos taken 03/25/07.
Westbound Camino San Rafael approaches the onramp to California 2/Glendale Freeway north to Pasadena (with a connection via California 134 east) and south to Los Angeles and Echo Park at Exit 18. Ahead, Camino San Rafael becomes Mountain Street. Photo taken 05/15/10 by Martin Grahl.
This freeway entrance shield assembly for California 2 north is posted on the on-ramp from westbound Camino San Rafael in Glendale. Photo taken 05/15/10 by Martin Grahl.
After passing over California 2, Camino San Rafael/Mountain Street meets the onramp to California 2 south to Los Angeles and Echo Park. Photo taken 05/15/10 by Martin Grahl.
Now in La Canada Flintridge, eastbound Foothill Boulevard (former California 118) approaches Verdugo Boulevard, which served as California 2 until the Glendale Freeway was completed in stages through the 1970s. This overhead sign includes space for the California 2 route marker. Photo taken 03/25/07.
A short distance further east, Foothill Boulevard (former California 118) approaches the turnoff to the Glendale Freeway, which carries California 2 southwest toward Interstate 5 and Echo Park. Photo taken 03/25/07.
Old California 2/Angeles Crest Highway south (west)
After the interchange with Interstate 210/Foothill Freeway, southbound Angeles Crest Highway (former California 2) approaches Foothill Boulevard (former California 118). Until around 2009, this old, porcelain enamel black guide sign was posted on the traffic signal. With redevelopment of this area, the historic sign was removed and traffic signals replaced. Photos taken 03/25/07.

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Page Updated January 28, 2012.

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