California 18 begins its northerly journey at California 210 (Former California 30) in San Bernardino. It enters the San Bernardino National Forest, then it turns east to follow the Rim of the World Highway part Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake. From Big Bear, it turns north toward the desert, then turns west at Lucerne Valley to connect with Interstate 15 at Victorville. The route then ends at California 138 west of Interstate 15. The entire route looks like a backward "C" on the map, and it is not the fastest route between its two endpoints. However, it is the primary route near the skiing resorts near Big Bear. Cardinal direction banners are uncommon on the reassurance shield assemblies along California 18 since the route changes directions several times along its circuitous route.
California 18 (outer) north
Begin Northbound California 18 at the interchange with California 210 in San Bernardino. This marks the southern terminus of California 18. Photo taken 05/02/02.
From its beginning at California 210, northbound California 18 ascends toward Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake along a four-lane highway. These pictures show the road along northbound at varying intervals as it approaches California 138. The speed limit generally remains 60 miles per hour on the entire northbound trek, with some exceptions. In some spots along the way, bridges were constructed to make California 18 four lanes. After the California 138 interchange, California 18 becomes a two-lane rural highway. Photos taken 05/02/02.
Northbound California 18 meets Junction California 138 near Crestline at a trumpet interchange. This unique interchange barely fits into this location on top of the mountain grade. This interchange marks the eastern terminus of California 138. From here, northbound California 18 changes directions to eastbound California 18 en route to Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear City. At Big Bear City, California 18 changes directions a second time, and starts to head north once again. Upon reaching Lucerne Valley, the highway changes directions once last time at its "bump" with California 247. California 18 heads west through Apple Valley and Victorville before terminating at its junction with ... California 138, the same road that is shown at this interchange near Crestline! Together with California 138, California 18 north/east of Crestline forms a loop tour through mountain and desert country. Photos taken 05/02/02.
From a vantage point along the old California 18 grade from Crestline south to San Bernardino, visitors can see a view of one of the most closely spaced interchanges in California. As noted earlier, California 18 and California 138 interchange is located south of Crestline. This is a trumpet interchange, which is clearly seen by the interchange configuration here. It may be the only kind of interchange that might work in such a close environment with tight turns and steep grades. Photos taken 04/18/04.
California 18 (outer) east
California 18 changes cardinal directions after the California 138 interchange. This view is found along eastbound California 18 at Lakeview Summit (Elevation 7,112 feet above sea level) just after the California 330 junction. California 18 is known as the "Rim of the World Highway" for a good reason! Photo taken 05/02/02.
Eastbound California 18 approaching Junction California 173. California 173 arcs north and then west from this point, passing along the east shore of private Lake Arrowhead and then west, via the only gravel road in the California state highway system, to the Mojave River Forks Regional Park and a back way to Deep Creek Hot Springs. California 173 ends at its junction with California 138 near Silverwood Lake. Photo taken 05/02/02.
This mileage sign provides the distances to Sky Forest, Running Springs, and Big Bear Lake after the California 173 junction along the Rim of the World Highway. Photo taken 04/18/04.
View of the next California 18 reassurance shield after the previous photobox, during a sunnier day. Photo taken 05/02/02.
After the Old Fire of October 2003 ravaged the mountain communities, several areas were badly burnt, including most of the area around Skyforest, as shown in these photos along eastbound. Photos taken 04/18/04.
Eastbound California 18 scene at Milepost 40. Photo taken 05/02/02.
In Running Springs, like most mountain communities of the San Bernardino Mountains, vehicles that interfere with snow plow operations may be ticketed and towed. This sign is located along eastbound as it approaches the intersection with California 330 south. Photo taken 04/18/04.
After passing through the community of Running Springs, California 18 east meets California 330 south. California 330 south follows the original route of California 30 southwest to Highland, where it ends at its junction with California 210/30. This sign is notable because it contains cardinal directions for both routes; neither California 18 nor California 330 are generally signed with cardinal direction indicators. Photo taken 04/18/04.
Eastbound California 18 approaches its intersection with California 38 at the west end of Big Bear Lake. California 18 remains on the south shore of Big Bear Lake, passing through the city of Big Bear Lake, while California 38 goes to the largely undeveloped north shore of Big Bear Lake. California 38 leads to a variety of hiking and other outdoor opportunities. California 18 and 38 converge in Big Bear City, which is located at the east end of the lake. Note that no cardinal direction indicators are located on these signs. Photo taken 05/02/02.
Eastbound California 18 meets California 38 at this point. Big Bear Lake comes into view in this picture. By following California 18 east along the south shore, motorists will cross over the dam that created this lake. At the time this picture was taken, the lake was low due to drought conditions that have remained for several years. Photo taken 05/02/02.
View of eastbound California 18 as seen from the dam area. Photo taken 05/02/02.
Eastbound/Northbound California 18 shield after the Big Bear Lake Dam and the western California 38 intersection. Photos taken 05/02/02.
Eastbound California 18 splits with Business California 18 in the City of Big Bear Lake. This shield assembly is a variation on the bypass/business sign seen on other state highways. The mainline California 18 turns left along Paine Road to avoid the downtown area. Photos taken 05/02/02.
California 18 (outer) north and California 38 north
California 18 and California 38 travel due north along their shared alignment in Big Bear City. Photo taken 05/02/02.
Northbound California 18 and California 38 approach their northerly split in Big Bear City. There are no cardinal directions here because both California 18 and California 38 have such irregular paths (both shaped like a backward letter "C"). Photo taken 05/02/02.
Use California 38 west (south) as an alternate route back to Los Angeles, as is California 18 north to Victorville via Lucerne Valley. Photo taken 05/02/02.
California 18 (outer) north
This mileage sign along northbound California 18 is posted after the split from California 38. The next three destinations are Lucerne Valley (Junction California 247), Apple Valley, and Victorville (Junction Interstate 15). Photo taken 04/18/04.
Baldwin Lake, a large dry lake bed situated just northeast of Big Bear Lake, is a natural lake that dried up many years ago. Today it is a large grassland with some barren areas that can flood during rain events. There is minimal development within the footprint of the lake. Photo taken 04/18/04.
The highway skirts the southern shore of the ancient lake, and the dry lake bed is clearly visible. Photo taken 04/18/04.
This California 18 reassurance marker is located along northbound as the highway skirts the northwestern shore of the dried-up lake. Photo taken 04/18/04.
Northbound California 18 at Baldwin Lake Road. Photo taken 04/18/04.
Now leaving the vicinity of Baldwin Lake, California 18 will ascend to a summit, then wind down toward the Mojave Desert. Photo taken 04/18/04.
California 18 reaches its highest altitude north of Big Bear City here, at this nondescript turnout. The turnout features a hiking trail that leads up to a nearby hill with a fantastic view of the desert below. The grade ahead is impressive, descending at 11%, which is almost double the allowable grade percentage for Interstate highways (which is generally 6 to 7% depending on waivers and exceptions for specific climbs). Photo taken 04/18/04.
Reaching its summit in the San Bernardino Mountains about midway between Big Bear City and Lucerne Valley, California 18 looks down into the desert from its perch. The highway takes a windy descent to reach the high desert below. Photo taken 04/18/04.
Upon reaching the base of the San Bernardino Mountains and exiting the San Bernardino National Forest, California 18 emerges in the high desert of Mojave. The two-lane highway passes by several limestone quarries, several of which are visible from great distances because they are located on the face of the mountains. In fact, the power lines on the west side of the highway primarily provide power to those limestone mining facilities. Photo taken 04/18/04.
As this signage shows, California 18 makes a left turn upon entering Lucerne Valley. This signage implies that California 18 actually meets California 247, but in reality, they do not meet. To get to California 247 north/south, motorists on California 18 must turn right onto this connector road. Note that both destinations for California 247 (Yucca Valley and Landers) are found along southbound. Landers was made famous in 1992 when an earthquake struck there, causing damage to some of the ubiquitous limestone quarries scattered about the region. Photo taken 04/18/04.
This photo looks north along the highway that links California 18 with California 247 as seen from the stop sign along northbound California 18. As promised, California 18 changes directions again, this time heading west toward Apple Valley and Victorville. Photo taken 04/18/04.
California 18 (outer) west
No photos of this section of highway (from California 247 to California 138 via Victorville) are currently available. Stay tuned for updates!
California 18 (inner) east
No photos of this section of highway (from California 138 to California 247 via Victorville) are currently available. Stay tuned for updates!
California 18 (inner) south
No photos of this section of highway (from California 247 to California 38 via Big Bear City) are currently available. Stay tuned for updates!
California 18 (inner) south and California 38 south
Southbound California 18 and California 38 approach their southern junction in Big Bear City. California 18 turns right (west) toward Lake Arrowhead, while California 38 turns left (east, south, then west) toward Redlands via the national forest. Photo taken 05/02/02.
California 18 (inner) west
Only a few photos of this section of highway (from California 38 to California 330 via Big Bear Lake) are currently available. Stay tuned for updates!
Westbound California 18 along Paine Road at Milepost 48, at Junction Business California 18 eastbound in Big Bear Lake. Photo taken 05/02/02.
After a late season snow storm, this picture shows westbound California 18 as it passes through Running Springs just after the California 330 south split. The highway veers to the right as it passes through town. Photo taken 04/18/04.
California 18 (inner) south
View of southbound California 18 as heads down the mountain toward San Bernardino. The vantage point for this photo is the old alignment of California 18 near Crestline. Photo taken 04/18/04.
Scenes Pertaining to California 18
This view of Big Bear Lake is afforded from a pull-out next to the dam along California 18. Photo taken 05/02/02.
Views of the Big Bear Lake dam and bridge as seen looking west along California 18. There was not much traffic, mostly because these pictures were taken during the spring, which is the transitional season between the winter skiing season and the summer boating season. Photos taken 05/02/02.
Business California 18 (Big Bear Lake) east
Begin eastbound Business California 18 in the city of Big Bear Lake. This overhead arch includes a wooden Business California 18 shield, the first time we'd seen something like this. Photos taken 05/02/02.
Business California 18 (Big Bear Lake) west
End Westbound Business California 18 in the city of Big Bear Lake. Heading straight ahead connects to Westbound (Southbound) California 18, and turning right on Paine Road leads to Eastbound/Northbound California 18. Photo taken 05/02/02.
Business California 18-30/Highland Avenue (San Bernardino) east
After the California 259 interchange, a Business California 18 reassurance shield is posted on eastbound Highland Avenue in San Bernardino. Omitted is a reassurance shield for Business California 30. The designation of this section as Business California 18 is due to the prior designation of California 259 as part of California 18. Prior to 1964, California 18 was defined to follow the Riverside Freeway corridor (Interstate 215 south and California 91 west) toward Orange County. That state route was truncated to its current interchange with California 210, but the business route has remained signed as far south as the California 259 and Highland Avenue interchange. Photo taken 07/15/07.
This view provides another view of the same shield assembly from 2002 along eastbound Highland Avenue (former California 18/30) in San Bernardino. As noted above, this is also technically Business California 30, but there aren't any shields for it here. Photos taken 05/02/02.
Eastbound Business California 18-30/Highland Avenue meets G Street at this traffic signal. A middle school is located on the north side of Highland Avenue east of this intersection. Photo taken 07/15/07.
A business banner with no shields (neither California 18 nor California 30) is posted on this street light pole after G Street. Photo taken 07/15/07.
At this traffic signal, eastbound Business California 18-30/Highland Avenue meets Former California 206 (Former Business U.S. 66)/H Street. This north-south corridor travels north to Kendall Drive and eventually Interstate 215 along the path of Former Business U.S. 66 (California 206 was the designation of the route after the U.S. designation was removed but before the state transferred maintenance to the city). To the south, H Street leads into downtown San Bernardino. Photo taken 07/15/07.
Next up is the traffic signal with D Street. Photo taken 07/15/07.
The next traffic signal along eastbound Highland Avenue is with Arrowhead Avenue. Photo taken 07/15/07.
Eastbound Business California 18-30/Highland Avenue meets Mountain View Avenue in San Bernardino. Photo taken 07/15/07.
At the next traffic signal after Mountain View Avenue, Business California 18 and Business California 30 will separate. Turn left on Sierra Way to follow Business California 18 north. Continue straight to follow Business California 30/Highland Avenue east. Photo taken 07/15/07.
A second set of business shields is posted immediately thereafter, just prior to the Sierra Way intersection. These are some old, faded shields! Photo taken 07/15/07.
Business California 18 and Business California 30 split at this traffic signal between Highland Avenue and Sierra Way. For the best route to California 18 north, continue east on Highland Avenue to Waterman Avenue north. Photo taken 07/15/07.
Business California 18-30/Highland Avenue west
Traveling west on Highland Avenue, Business California 18 will end at the interchange with California 259. Business California 30/Highland Avenue continues west to California 210 Exit 28. California 259 is the connector freeway between Interstate 215 northbound and California 210 eastbound. There is one exit from this short connector freeway, and that interchange is with Highland Avenue. This business route is signed along Highland Avenue between the California 259 interchange and Sierra Way. The business route was left behind when California 18 was truncated to its current southern terminus at California 210. At one time, California 18 used to continue southwest via California 259 and California 91 to Long Beach. This old sign does not have any button copy on it, but it is from the 1960s. Photos taken 07/15/07 and 05/02/02.
The next right connects Business California 18-30 with California 259 north to California 210 east. The next left connects to California 259 south to Interstate 215 south and both directions of Interstate 10. Interstate 10 is signed for Los Angeles because this interchange is nearly the spot where the San Bernardino Freeway begins its westerly journey toward downtown Los Angeles. Photos taken 07/15/07 and 05/02/02.
This freeway entrance shield is one of two that straddle the onramp to California 259 north to California 210 west. This sign was likely replaced with California 210 shields. Photo taken 07/15/07.
