California 33 is very historic route, following most of what was U.S. 399 prior to 1964 between Ventura and Taft. When U.S. 399 was decommissioned, the portion of its route from Taft southward was added as an extension to California 33. The highway begins in Ventura as a freeway, but it quickly changes to a rural character as it ascends the San Rafael Mountains near Ojai. California 33 descends into the great Central Valley, and it quickly becomes a parallel route to Interstate 5, serving such communities as Maricopa, Taft, Avenal, Coalinga, Mendota, Los Banos, and Patterson. California 33 ends its lengthy journey at its junction with Interstate 5 just south and east of Tracy.
California 33 North
This mileage sign is found on California 33 north after the U.S. 101 interchange. Ojai (Junction California 150) is south of the coastal mountains, while Maricopa and Taft are in the Central Valley. Photo taken 06/02/02.
A bit further north, California 33 approaches Exit 2, Stanley Avenue. Photo taken 06/02/02.
The next exit along northbound California 33 is Exit 3, Canada Larga Road. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Continuing north, the next exit along California 33 is Exit 4, Casitas Vista Road. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound California 33 approaches the end of its brief freeway segment near Exit 4. After passing through Ojai, the traffic counts will reduce to a point where a continuation of this freeway north through the Los Padres National Forest is impractical (not to mention very costly!). Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound California 33 at Pine Mountain Pass in the Los Padres National Forest, elevation 5,080 feet. Photo taken 01/21/04.
View of the descent from Pine Mountain Pass to Ventucopa. Photo taken 01/21/04.
The Cuyama River follows a very wide path alongside California 33, indicating previous floods and largest rain events have widened out this channel to nearly its fullest capacity. At the time this picture was taken, there was not much water in the river. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Northbound California 33 exits the Los Padres National Forest. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Northbound California 33 and eastbound California 166 meet Cerro Noroeste, which leads southeast into the Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge and then east toward Pine Mountain and Frazier Park. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Shields for northbound California 33 and eastbound California 166 as they approach Soda Lake Road and the turn off for Carrizo Plains National Monument. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Northbound California 33 and eastbound California 166 at Soda Lake Road, which leads west into Carrizo Plains National Monument. This monument, which was created by President Clinton's executive order, is an isolated valley formed by the San Andreas Fault. Indeed, California 33-166 pass over the fault near here. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Northbound California 33 meets California 166 in Maricopa. This rugged yet isolated area is a good distance from any major city. Photo taken by Joel Windmiller, 07/08/01.
California 33 north meets California 119 east in Taft. Photos taken by Joel Windmiller, 07/08/01.
Northbound California 33 approaches the junction with California 180 east in Mendota. These signs are behind the Burger King in relation to the END California 180 shield shown on the California 180 page. This marks the current western terminus of California 180. Photo taken by Trevor Carrier, 04/20/02.
Much further north, this END California 33 shield assembly is found on northbound California 33 at Junction Interstate 5 near Vernalis, just south of Tracy. The interchange marks the northern terminus of one of the longest state routes in California. Photo taken by Trevor Carrier, 10/20/01.
California 33 South
Southbound California 33 and Eastbound California 152 meet Interstate 5 south six miles west of Los Banos. Photo taken 12/01/02.
Southbound California 33 and Eastbound California 152 cross the California Aqueduct just east of Interstate 5. Photo taken 12/01/02.
These shields for California 33 south and California 152 east are posted after the California Aqueduct. Photo taken 12/01/02.
Southbound California 33 and eastbound California 152 cross the Delta-Mendota Canal between Interstate 5 and Los Banos. Photo taken 12/01/02.
Southbound California 33 and eastbound California 152 enter Los Banos. Photo taken 12/01/02.
Expressway entrance signage for California 33 and California 152 near Santa Nella village. First photo taken by Trevor Carrier, 10/20/01; second photo taken by Trevor Carrier, 10/19/02.
Southbound California 33 and Eastbound California 152 approaching Junction California 165 in Los Banos. Photo taken 12/01/02.
The routes divide: California 33 south and California 152 east approaches the split at the Dos Palos Y interchange. Photo taken 12/01/02.
Southbound California 33 and Eastbound California 152 at the split at the Dos Palos Y interchange. California 152 continues east from here to connect to California 99 at Chowchilla, while California 33 turns south to serve the Central Valley farming communities of Dos Palos and Mendota (the cantaloupe capital of the world). Photo taken 12/01/02.
This shield assembly for the expressway entrance to California 33 and California 152 is located near Dos Palos. Photo taken by Trevor Carrier, 2004.
Southbound California 33 approaches Hudson Avenue between Dos Palos and Firebaugh in Fresno County. Photo taken 12/01/02.
Southbound California 33 enters Firebaugh. Photo taken 12/01/02.
View along southbound California 33 between Firebaugh and Mendota. Photo taken 12/01/02.
Mendota, the next city along California 33 south, is known as the cantaloupe capital of the world. Photo taken 12/01/02.
Now a good distance south of California 152, California 33 merges with California 58, and they pass through the small town of McKittrick during their brief cosigned stretch. California 33 spends a good amount of time merged with other routes, including California 150, California 166, California 152, and Interstate 5. Photo taken 01/21/04.
California 33 and California 58 split here, with California 33 continuing south toward Taft and Ventura, while California 58 turns west toward California Valley and Santa Margarita. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Southbound California 33 enters Taft, a city located at the intersection of California 33 and California 119 in the southwest corner of the Central Valley between Elk Hills and the Temblor Range. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Southbound California 33 passes through downtown Taft. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Southbound California 33 meets California 119 in Taft. This is the historic point where California 33 ended and U.S. 399 took over the rest of the route south to Ventura. U.S. 399 was eliminated in 1964 and is now part of California 33 south of Taft. Photo taken by Joel Windmiller, 07/08/01.
Southbound California 33 enters Maricopa. Photo taken by Joel Windmiller, 07/08/01.
California 33 next approaches its junction with California 166 in Maricopa. Photo taken 01/21/04.
California 33 and California 166 meet at this intersection in Maricopa. The first photo is the mileage sign (note how Los Angeles traffic is directed to take California 166 east to Interstate 5) and the second photo shows the shields. Photos taken by Joel Windmiller, 07/08/01 and 01/21/04.
This road closure warning sign is located along southbound California 33 and westbound California 166 south of Maricopa. Photo taken by Joel Windmiller, 07/08/01.
Southbound California 33 and Westbound California 166 mileage sign south of Maricopa. California 33 splits from California 166 and heads south to Ventura, while California 166 leads west to Santa Maria. From here, California 33 will enter the Los Padres National Forest, passing through some rugged yet scenic California territory before emerging in Ojai. Photo taken by Joel Windmiller, 07/08/01 and 01/21/04.
These are the first shields along southbound California 33 and Westbound California 166 south of Maricopa. Then run tandem for several miles before splitting east of New Cuyama and north of Ventucopa. Photo taken by Joel Windmiller, 07/08/01.
Southbound California 33 and westbound California 166 approaching Cerro Noroeste Road. Photo taken 01/21/04.
After entering San Luis Obispo County, California 33-166 enter a headlights-required stretch. For California 33, headlights are required south over the summit until reaching Ojai. Photo taken 01/21/04.
California 33 and California 166 split: California 33 turns south toward Ventucopa, Los Padres National Forest, Ojai, and Ventura. California 166 continues west toward Santa Maria and Guadalupe. Photo taken 01/21/04.
California 33 briefly enters Santa Barbara County, passing through Ventucopa before reaching Ventura County. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Ventucopa, a town perhaps named for its distance from both Maricopa and Ventura, is the last gas along southbound until reaching Ojai. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Southbound California 33 entering Ventura County. Photo taken 01/21/04.
California 33 has a very low average daily traffic count as it approaches Los Padres National Forest, but it is affected seasonally. Photo taken 01/21/04.
California 33 enters Los Padres National Forest. Once and for all, California 33 is finished with the flat and treeless expanses of the Central Valley. Photo taken 01/21/04.
California 33 hugs the east bank of the massive Cuyama River flood plain. With a lot of rain, this whole valley could flood. Photos taken 01/21/04.
Lockwood Valley Road leads east from California 33, emerging as Frazier Park Road when it meets Interstate 5 near the Kern-Los Angeles County Line. Photo taken 01/21/04.
This sign advises motorists of the Wheeler Gorge tunnels that are located south of Pine Mountain Pass and Sespe Gorge. The height and width of the two short tunnels is limited. Photo taken 01/21/04.
View of southbound California 33 as it prepares to ascend Pine Mountain Summit. Photo taken 01/21/04.
California 33 ascends from the Cuyama River basin up to Pine Mountain. Photos taken 01/21/04.
California 33 reaches the summit of Pine Mountain (elevation 5,080 feet), then begins its descent toward the Pacific Ocean. From here, California 33 heads southeast through Sespe Gorge, then crosses the Sespe River (see bridge, below) en route to the Wheeler Gorge. Photos taken 01/21/04.
Southbound California 33 at the Potrero Creek undercrossing. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Views of the Derby Dale Creek Bridge along southbound California 33. Photos taken 01/21/04.
Views of the Sespe Creek Bridge along southbound California 33. Photos taken 01/21/04.
California 33 approaches two tunnels that carry the highway under several mountain outcroppings after passing through Wheeler Gorge. This is indeed a far cry from the flat expanse of the Central Valley. Photo taken 01/21/04.
View of the first tunnel. These tunnels were constructed in 1931, as noted by the date stamp at the top of the tunnel bore. Photo taken 01/21/04.
View of the second tunnel. Constructed as part of U.S. 399, these tunnels provide access through the canyons in Los Padres National Forest as California 33 descends toward Ojai. Photo taken 01/21/04.
The white wooden guardrails are still in place on the bridges over Matilija Creek. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Again, California 33 passes over the North Fork of the Matilija Creek. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Southbound California 33 passing over Sheldon Canyon. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Southbound California 33 at Cuyama Road and El Roblar Drive. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Finally reaching civilization after passing through the twists and turns of the mountains, California 33 enters Ojai, the smallest city in Ventura County with a population of 7,862 people. Photo taken 01/21/04.
California 33 south meets California 150 in Ojai. California 150 leads east through downtown Ojai, then meets California 126 in Santa Paula. California 33 and California 150 merge to head southwest toward Ventura and Santa Barbara. Photo taken 01/21/04.
This mileage sign along southbound California 33 and westbound California 150 provides the distance to Oak View, Ventura (via California 33), and Santa Barbara (via California 150). Photo taken 01/21/04.
View of southbound California 33 and westbound California 150 as they round a turn together. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Signage for the split between California 33 and California 150 southwest of Ojai. California 150 heads southwest to meet U.S. 101 east of Santa Barbara. Photo taken 01/21/04.
California 33 and California 150 split at this intersection (Baldwin Road). California 33 continues south toward Ventura. Photo taken 01/21/04.
California 33 remains a safety corridor until reaching its freeway section midway between Ojai and Ventura. Photo taken 01/21/04.
Now on the freeway alignment, southbound California 33 reaches Exit 2, Stanley Avenue. Note that this is a left exit, which requires only one overpass rather than two. Stanley Avenue does not go west of this interchange. Photo taken 06/02/02.
The next exit along southbound California 33 is Exit 1, Junction U.S. 101. This marks the southern terminus of California 33. An end shield is present, and it is visible just beyond the sign bridge. Photo taken 06/02/02.
California 33 reaches its southern terminus at Exit 1, Junction U.S. 101. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Other California 33 Pictures
California 33 freeway entrance near Casitas Springs (Exit 4). Photo taken 06/02/02.
California 33 shield at Fourth and Main in Taft. Photo taken by Joel Windmiller, 07/08/01.
