California 74 connects San Juan Capistrano in coastal Orange County with Palm Springs in desert Riverside County, passing through the southern Inland Empire and Idyllwild on its way.
Highway Guide
California 74/Ortega Highway east
California 74 begins its eastbound journey in the city of San Juan Capistrano ("Preserving the Past to Enhance the Future"; incorporated on April 19, 1961; population 33,826 as of 2000 Census). Through Orange County, California 74 is alternatively known as the Ortega Highway. This view looks east on California 74/Ortega Highway as it leaves the Interstate 5 interchange, about a mile east of Mission San Juan Capistrano. Photo taken 06/17/06.
The first signalized intersection along eastbound California 74/Ortega Highway is with Rancho Viejo Road. A small California 74 east reassurance shield (without the state name) is posted on the mast arm; it is the first such shield on eastbound. Photo taken 06/17/06.
Eastbound California 74 approaches Via Cuartel. As California 74 passes through San Juan Capistrano, residential development lies behind landscaping consisting of trees and groundcover. Access to the residential neighborhoods is offered by collector roads such as Via Cuartel. Photo taken 06/17/06.
Approaching the east end of San Juan Capistrano, California 74 narrows to one eastbound lane. An improvement project was underway in 2010 to widen California 74 to four lanes (two in each direction) as far east as Antonio Parkway. Photo taken 06/17/06.
California 74 leaves San Juan Capistrano and next crosses over San Juan Creek. Development abates somewhat, and motorists are treated to large tracts of open space. Plans call for further development in this corner of Orange County, although the timing is dependent upon a multitude of factors. This bridge (built in 1995) was widened in 2010 as part of the aforementioned highway widening project. Photos taken 06/17/06.
After crossing San Juan Creek, eastbound California 74 approaches its junction with Antonio Parkway, a major north-south Orange County route. Originating at this traffic signal, Antonio Parkway travels north through Ladera Ranch to Rancho Santa Margarita near Coto de Caza. Use Antonio Parkway north to Toll California 241/Foothill Transportation Corridor. Photo taken 06/17/06.
To the south, La Pata Avenue begins at this intersection and travels south to the county landfill. Photo taken 06/17/06.
Eastbound California 74 meets Antonio Parkway and La Pata Avenue at this intersection. California 74 continues east to enter Cleveland National Forest and ascends through San Juan Canyon. On the far side of the mountains, California 74 descends Cariso Grade to Lake Elsinore in Riverside County. Photo taken 06/17/06.
California 74 east
California 74 passes through downtown Perris. Home to 46,600 people as of the 2000 Census, Perris sits at an elevation of 1,453 feet above sea level and consists of 31.5 square miles. This shield is posted after the D Street intersection in front of the school administration building. Photo taken 07/15/07.
Eastbound California 74 meets Perris Boulevard at this signalized intersection. Photo taken 07/15/07.
An Interstate 215 trailblazer is posted on California 74/Fourth Street east after the Perris Boulevard intersection. Photo taken 07/15/07.
A massive casino billboard overshadows a small set of trailblazer signs for the pending junction with Interstate 215. Use the left lane to Interstate 215 north to Moreno Valley and Riverside. Use the right lane to Interstate 215 south to Sun City, Murrieta, and Temecula. California 74 will briefly merge onto Interstate 215 south. Photo taken 07/15/07.
A second California 74 trailblazer is posted to advise that California 74 east and Interstate 215 south will merge together. Photo taken 07/15/07.
At the gore point is this Interstate 215 sign indicating the northbound and southbound control cities (Riverside and San Diego). Photo taken 07/15/07.
A rare Interstate 215 south and California 74 east freeway entrance shield assembly is posted after a stop sign at Redlands Avenue. The two routes will remain merged for a couple miles, then separate. Photo taken 07/15/07.
Interstate 215 south and California 74 east
For this section of roadway, see the Interstate 215 page.
California 74 east
Much further east, this warning sign is posted on eastbound California 74 near Pinyon Flat. The sign indicates that trucks are not permitted to use California 74 in another 12 miles. This picture was taken in the San Bernardino National Forest prior to the steep descent and sharp curves that lead into Palm Desert. Photo taken 09/00.
California 74 west
Interstate 215 north and California 74 west
For this section of roadway, see the Interstate 215 page.
California 74 west
Now within the city of Lake Elsinore after the Interstate 15 interchange, westbound California 74 approaches Jay Street as it skirts the north shore of Lake Elsinore. Photo taken 04/18/04.
The picture shows the traffic signal for Lincoln Street in Lake Elsinore. Photo taken 04/18/04.
Here, California 74 west turns south along Grand Avenue as it approaches it climb up the mountains. Photo taken 04/18/04.
At this intersection, Grand Avenue continues south toward Lakeland Village and Wildomar, while California 74 turns west toward the Elsinore Mountains. Photo taken 04/18/04.
California 74 through the Cleveland National Forest is known as the California Wildland Firefighters Highway. Photo taken 04/18/04.
Westbound California 74 as it begins to climb up Cariso Grade. Photo taken 04/18/04.
California 74 clings to the side of the grade as it winds its way upslope. Photo taken 04/18/04.
Lake Elsinore lays at the foot of the Cariso Grade, as seen on the switchbacks as westbound California 74 actually heads north briefly. Photo taken 04/18/04.
At the top of the switchbacks, California 74 approaches Killen Trail/Old Main Divide. From here, California 74 continues west through the forest en route to San Juan Capistrano. Photo taken 04/18/04.
California 74/Ortega Highway west
On the other side of the Cleveland National Forest, California 74 passes by Antonio Parkway (which heads north to Ladera Ranch) and enters San Juan Capistrano. Photo taken 05/31/04.
Once in San Juan Capistrano, California 74 passes several signalized intersections before it approaches Interstate 5. This particular sign is located just prior to the La Novia Avenue traffic signal. Due to the density of homes here, speed limit laws are strictly enforced. Photo taken 05/31/04.
Westbound California 74/Ortega Highway reaches Rancho Viejo Road in San Juan Capistrano. Interstate 5 is just ahead. Photo taken 05/31/04.
Scenes Pertaining to California 74
Many tract homes that look similar from a distance are visible from California 74 at the top of Cariso Grade. Photo taken 04/18/04.
The city of Lake Elsinore, with its grid street pattern and hundreds of houses, lies at the north shore of the lake as seen from this vantage point from the top of Cariso Grade. Photo taken 04/18/04.
South of unincorporated Ladera Ranch in Orange County, southbound Antonio Parkway approaches California 74/Ortega Highway. Photo taken 08/10/04.
Southbound Antonio Parkway reaches California 74/Ortega Highway. Turn left to follow California 74 east over the Santa Ana Mountains to Lake Elsinore. Turn right to follow California 74 west through San Juan Capistrano to Interstate 5. Photo taken 08/10/04.
Traveling south on D Street in the city of Perris prior to the California 74/Fourth Street intersection is this mileage sign. Note that Interstate 215 is referred to as "Temporary Interstate 15E." This refers to a designation that has not been used for the Interstate 215 corridor since 1982, when Interstate 15E (and Temporary Interstate 15E) were decommissioned in favor of Interstate 215. Photo taken 07/15/07.
D Street is a former alignment of U.S. 395 and could have been a business loop for Interstate 215. The city of Perris uses blue signs to mark the traffic signal intersections, and this back-lit blue blade is posted with a blue California 74 shield. Photo taken 07/15/07.
Monterey Avenue in Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage (Alignment of Unconstructed California 74)
Although not designated as a state highway north of the California 111/Palm Desert Drive intersection with California 74/Pines to Palms Highway in the city of Palm Desert, Monterey Avenue follows the approximate route of the proposed yet unconstructed section of California 74 between California 111 and Interstate 10. This picture shows a panoramic scene along northbound Monterey Avenue after the Gerald Ford Drive intersection. Development is proceeding at a rapid rate along this corridor. To the east is the city of Palm Desert and to the west is the city of Rancho Mirage. Photo taken 02/25/06.
Northbound Monterey Avenue approaches Marketplace Way. The shopping center between Marketplace Way and Dinah Shore Way is located within Rancho Mirage, while the Monterey Shore Plaza on the northwest corner of Monterey Avenue and Dinah Shore Way is located within Palm Desert. Photo taken 02/25/06.
As Monterey Avenue passes Dinah Shore Way and crosses over the Union Pacific Railroad, Monterey Avenue approaches Interstate 10 near the point where California 74 would end if it were extended north from California 111. Photo taken 02/25/06.
Monterey Avenue crosses the Union Pacific Railroad viaduct. Turn right (east) connect to Interstate 10 eastbound to Indio, Blythe, and Phoenix. Photo taken 02/25/06.
The next traffic signal provides the connection to Interstate 10 west en route to San Bernardino, Riverside (via California 60), and Los Angeles. Photo taken 02/25/06.
Now at the intersection with the ramp to westbound Interstate 10, Monterey Avenue continues north into unincorporated Thousand Palms. Photo taken 02/25/06.
