California Highway 33 Photographs
Left - Overhead freeway guide signs on the Hwy 33 Freeway approaching the U.S. Route 101 (Ventura Freeway) Interchange in Ventura
(Photograph taken on March 17, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Overhead freeway guide signs on Southbound U.S. Route 101 approaching the Hwy 33 (Ojai Freeway) Interchange in Ventura
(Photograph taken on March 17, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Overhead guide sign marking the entrance to the Hwy 33 (Ojai Freeway) in Chrisman, north of Ventura
(Photograph taken on March 21, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Heading north on the Ojai Freeway (Hwy 33) north of Ventura
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Approaching the end of the Ojai Freeway near Casitas Springs. The twin roadways converge just around the next curve, after which Hwy 33 continues north towards Ojai as a conventional two-lane highway.
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - This rather ominous warning sign greets motorists on Hwy 33 heading north out of Ojai towards Taft. North of Ojai, Hwy 33 crosses over the remote Santa Ynez Mountains and Pine Mountain Summit to reach Taft and the San Joaquin Valley. The highway is occasionally closed due to rock slides through the mountain passes.
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Approaching the Matilija Creek Bridge on Hwy 33 north of Ojai
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - A construction date stamp (1949) is visible in the curb of the Matilija Creek Bridge
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Facing south across the Matilija Creek Bridge on Hwy 33 north of Ojai
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Side view of the Matilija Creek Bridge on Hwy 33 north of Ojai
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - South portal of the South Matilija Tunnel on Hwy 33 near Wheeler Springs. This is the first of three tunnels that were constructed along this highway in 1931.
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Approaching the north portal of the South Matilija Tunnel on Hwy 33. The tunnel is located on a sharp curve in the roadway.
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - North portal of the South Matilija Tunnel on Hwy 33 at Wheeler Springs
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - The tunnel was bored through the side of the mountain in order to avoid building the highway through the narrow, jagged canyon lying to the left.
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Approaching the Middle and North Matilija Tunnels on Hwy 33 near Wheeler Springs
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Facing north towards the south portal of the Middle Matilija Tunnel on Hwy 33. The North Matilija Tunnel is located almost immediately after the Middle Matilija Tunnel and can be seen in the background of this photo.
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Matilija Creek passes below Hwy 33 in a deep canyon between the two tunnels. This is the north portal of the Middle Matilija Tunnel, facing south towards Ojai. The sides of the canyon at this point are nearly vertical. A short concrete beam bridge carries Hwy 33 across Matilija Creek between the two tunnel portals.
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - South portal of the North Matilija Tunnel on Hwy 33, facing north towards Taft
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Facing north along Hwy 33 in the North Matilija Tunnel near Wheeler Springs
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Facing south along Hwy 33 towards the North and Middle Matilija Tunnels. The north tunnel portal dives straight into a sheer vertical rock face.
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - The Matilija Tunnels are constructed out of concrete with a steel arch frame
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Superelevated reverse curve on Hwy 33 near the Wheeler Gorge Campground
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - The Santa Ynez Mountains rise high above the highway
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Facing north along Hwy 33 from the Wheeler Gorge Campground
(Photograph taken on March 21, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Hwy 33 climbs up into mountains along a narrow ledge which has been notched out of the mountainside
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - After leaving the Wheeler Gorge Campground area, Hwy 33 quickly ascends into the mountains
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - In one of Southern California's most spectacular mountain drives, Hwy 33 loops its way around the craggy bluffs and rocky gulches. The highway eventually climbs up to Matilija Summit, where the road crosses over the high mountains seen at the very top of this photo.
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - This photo shows Hwy 33's long but steady climb up into mountains. The highway climbs over 2,000 feet in elevation within these valleys.
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Hwy 33 winds its way up the Matilija Creek Canyon north of Wheeler Springs
(Photograph taken on March 21, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - This spectacular vista of the Pine Mountains opens up just beyond Matilija Summit
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Two small turnouts have been provided for motorists to take in the splendid mountain scenery along this section of Hwy 33
(Photograph taken on March 21, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Facing south along Hwy 33 towards Matilija Summit from one of the roadside turnouts
(Photograph taken on March 21, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Hwy 33 rounds a curve and disappears into a rock cut north of Matilija Summit
(Photograph taken on March 21, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Facing south along Hwy 33 near Matilija Summit
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Facing south across the Sespe Creek Bridge on Hwy 33 north of Matilija Summit
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Facing north across the Sespe Creek Bridge on Hwy 33
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Above - California Highway 33 route marker at the Sespe Creek Bridge
(Photograph taken on March 18, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - The Sespe Creek Bridge on Hwy 33 crosses a wide ravine which is often dry
(Photograph taken on March 21, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Sespe Creek lies in an arid canyon between the Pine Mountains and Matilija Summit
(Photograph taken on March 21, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Once Hwy 33 crosses the Sespe Creek Bridge, the highway winds its way through Sespe Gorge
(Photograph taken on March 21, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Hwy 33 crosses a dry high-altitude plateau before reaching Pine Mountain Summit
(Photograph taken on March 21, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - The snow-sprinkled Ortega Hills form an attractive backdrop for this section of Hwy 33 near Adobe Creek
(Photograph taken on March 21, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - Crossing over Pine Mountain Summit on Hwy 33
(Photograph taken on March 21, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Sign marking Pine Mountin Summit on Hwy 33. At an elevation of 5,160 feet above sea level, this is the highest point on Hwy 33 between Ventura and the highway's northern terminus near Merced.
(Photograph taken on March 21, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - This sharp reverse curve is one of several sections of winding road that typify Hwy 33's steep, rapid descent from Pine Mountain Summit
(Photograph taken on March 21, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - The massive Cuyama Valley opens up beyond this curve in Hwy 33. The views of the valley from Hwy 33 are quite spectacular.
(Photograph taken on March 21, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Left - Green guide sign on Hwy 33 at the Lockwood Valley Road intersection. These two roads meet in the Cuyama Valley. At this point, motorists can continue north along Hwy 33 towards Hwy 166 and Taft, or turn east on Lockwood Valley Road towards Interstate 5 and Lebec.
(Photograph taken on March 21, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Centre - Hwy 33 continues north from the intersection of Lockwood Valley Road along its lonely route through the Cuyama Valley towards Taft
(Photograph taken on March 21, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
Right - This interesting yellow warning sign indicates the low vertical clearance at the three Matilija Tunnels near the Wheeler Gorge Campground
(Photograph taken on March 21, 2008 - © Cameron Bevers)
