California 79 begins its journey near Descanso at its junction with Interstate 8 in rural San Diego County. At first it follows Old U.S. 80 northeast, then heads into Cleveland National Forest and Rancho Cuyamaca State Park, passing by Lake Cuyamaca. The first town of significance along northbound is Julian, locally famous for apple pies. California 79 merges with California 78 between Julian and Santa Ysabel, then continues north to some of the least developed portions of San Diego County. The two-lane highway meets California 76 near the foot of Palomar Mountain near Lake Henshaw, then enters Warner Springs on its way into Riverside County, heading northwest toward Temecula. Meeting with Interstate 15 near Old Town Temecula, California 79 exits the freeway a few miles north, then turns northeast toward Hemet. Passing through several small communities of the Inland Empire, California 79 ends at Interstate 10 in Beaumont near the eastern terminus of California 60.
Highway Guide
California 79/Cuyamaca Highway north
Begin Northbound California 79 as it passes under Interstate 8 just south of Descanso at Exit 40. Photo taken 12/14/02.
At this intersection, northbound California 79 turns left (north) toward Rancho Cuyamaca State Park. Historic U.S. 80 continues due east, passing through Guatay and Pine Valley on its way to rejoin Interstate 8 near the Sunrise Highway (San Diego County Route S-1) exit. Photo taken 03/15/02.
This picture, taken in January 2004 following the devastating wildfires of October 2003, shows that Cuyamaca Rancho State Park was closed. The park reopened after an extensive clean-up, and many views still show fire damage years later. Photo taken 01/19/04.
Northbound California 79/Cuyamaca Highway crosses the Sweetwater River at this bridge, which was built in 1949 along with most of this state route through Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. A trailhead for Green Valley is located just south of this bridge. Photo taken 06/26/05.
Snow in San Diego County? It snows rather frequently in the high country during the winter months, as shown by this picture along northbound California 79 in Rancho Cuyamaca State Park. Stonewall Mountain is visible in the background. Sadly, this entire area burned in October 2003. Photo taken 03/15/02.
The October 2003 Cedar Fire, which burned one out of every seven acres in San Diego County, ravaged the suburban areas of San Diego but also burned through much of the forest through the Cuyamaca Mountains. In fact, almost all of the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, which is bisected by California 79, was burned to a degree where few trees and plants survived. With the rainy season of 2004, plants and flowers returned in the strongest sense of renewal and rebirth, but the long-term impacts of this fire will be felt for generations to come. Trees that begin to grow today will take years to reach their former heights, and the burnt sticks left behind are a danger to hikers and motorists alike. In addition, erosion control has been impacted, and much of the ash and soot have been washed down the hillsides by moderate to heavy rains. This suite of photos shows the damage wrought by the fires along northbound California 79 between U.S. 80 and San Diego County Route S-1. Photos taken 01/19/04.
View of the Laguna Mountains over Lake Cuyamaca from California 79 and from around the lake near Cuyamaca village. Lake Cuyamaca is a reservoir, with the earthen dam located near California 79. The highway does not pass over the dam, however. During the time these photos were taken, the lake was at a very low level due to the drought conditions in 2000, 2001, and 2002. The lake is generally swarming with fisherman boats, but swimming is not allowed (which is normal for all reservoirs in San Diego County). A storm had left a bit of snow in the vicinity, and some of it was on the road, since the elevation varies between 3,500 and 4,500 feet.
These pictures were taken a year and a half before the devastating Cedar Fire of October 2003, which wiped out all but a handful of buildings in the community of Cuyamaca.
Photos taken 03/15/02.
This view shows California 79 north after its intersection with San Diego County Route S-1 (Sunrise Highway) between Lake Cuyamaca and Julian. Photo taken 12/14/02.
This mileage sign provides the distance to Julian; it found along northbound after the intersection with San Diego County Route S-1 (Sunrise Highway) between Lake Cuyamaca and Julian. Photo taken 12/14/02.
California 78 west and California 79 north
California 79 north
Jumping ahead, this mileage sign is found on northbound California 79 after the California 76 intersection near Lake Henshaw. The next community along northobund is Warner Springs. Photo taken 05/03/02.
The next major intersection along northbound California 79 is with San Diego County Route S-2. This portion of California 79 passes through some lower valleys than seen near Julian, thus the terrain is more open and not as heavily forested as it was in Rancho Cuyamaca State Park (pre-Cedar Fire). Photo taken 05/03/02.
Northbound California 79 meets San Diego County Route S-2 at this intersection. County Route S-2 leads southeast into the Imperial Valley, passing through San Felipe and Anza Borrego State Park on its way into Imperial County. There is also a connector route (County Route S-22) that leads to Borrego Springs, one of the most distant outposts in the desert portion of San Diego County. Photo taken 05/03/02.
Interstate 15 and California 79 north
California 79 north
California 74 east and California 79 north
California 79 north
California 79 south
Southbound California 79 approaches Gilman Springs Road north of Hemet in rural Riverside County. Photo taken 01/22/01.
California 74 west and California 79 south
California 79 south
An END shield is posted along California 79 south as it merges onto Interstate 15 south in Temecula. This shield is placed in error; in reality, California 79 continues south from here via Interstate 15, then splits off after the Old Town Temecula exit. Photo taken 03/15/01.
Interstate 15 and California 79 south
California 79 south
California 78 east and California 79 south
California 79/Cuyamaca Highway south
Further south, after departing Julian, southbound California 79 splits from eastbound California 78 and heads south on its own. This mileage sign provides the distance to Lake Cuyamaca, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, and the junction with Interstate 8. Photo taken 07/20/04.
From a scenic overlook along California 79, this view shows Banner Grade and California 78 winding its way east toward Julian and west toward the Salton Sea. Photo taken 07/20/04.
Southbound California 79 approaches Jess Martin Park south of Julian. Photo taken 07/20/04.
View of the meadows along southbound California 79 after the San Diego County Route S-1 intersection. Photo taken 07/20/04.
This suite of photos shows California 79 heading southbound through Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Familiar sights such as Lake Cuyamaca, Stonewall Peak, and the forests have all burned, and the results are startling. These pictures were taken at dusk. Photos taken 07/20/04.
Southbound California 79/Cuyamaca Highway crosses the Sweetwater River at this bridge, which was built in 1949 along with most of this state route through Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. A trailhead for Green Valley is located just south of this bridge. Photo taken 06/26/05.
Leaving the state park, southbound California 79 approaches its junction with Old U.S. 80 near Descanso. Turn left to follow Old U.S. 80 to Guatay, Pine Valley, Boulevard, and Jacumba. Turn right to follow California 79 south and U.S. 80 west toward Descanso and the Interstate 8 interchange. Photo taken 03/15/02.
This mileage sign for El Centro and San Diego is located at the intersection of California 79 with U.S. 80 near Descanso. Photo taken 07/20/04.
Southbound California 79 approaches its junction with Interstate 8; the first ramp connects to westbound Interstate 8 toward San Diego. This marks the southern terminus of California 79, and there is an END shield present under the Interstate 8 overcrossing. Photo taken 03/15/02.
A speedy onramp allows quick movement from California 79 south to Interstate 8 west. Photo taken 03/15/02.
AN END California 79 shield is posted under the Interstate 8 overpass; the highway continues straight ahead as the county-maintained Japatul Valley Road. Japatul Valley Road is a scenic alternate route to Dehesa Road, Sycuan Indian Reservation, and Rancho San Diego. Photo taken 01/19/04.
Scenes Pertaining to California 79
The Green Valley area of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is noteable for its shallow pools and meandering waterway along the Sweetwater River. A campground is located nearby. This facility is located along California 79 about 5.5 miles north of Descanso near the southern entrance into the park. Photos taken 06/26/05.
Fire ravaged the Green Valley area in October 2003. After a significantly wet rainy season (winter 2004-2005), areas scarred by the fire rebounded with new grasses and purple lupine flowers. While the burnt trunks of trees stood as a reminder of the Cedar Fire, the flowers and new growth brought an emphasis on renewal. Photos taken 06/26/05.
Nearby, other areas of the park near Green Valley were not hit as hard by the Cedar Fire of October 2003. However, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park as a whole fared poorly in this wildfire, as a significant portion of the park had burned. Photos taken 06/26/05.
This series of photos follows some paths around the Green Valley area of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park that show the views looking toward the ocean as well as more fire damage. Photos taken 06/26/05.
