Hwy 84 straightening marked progress back in the day

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Western exit for the abandoned section of Hwy 84, and MROSD trail access

As the automobile gained a stranglehold on the American psyche, California road planners responded in the 1960s with freeway proposals that sound crazy today, like Highway 84.

On the Pacific Coast side, Hwy 84 is known as the two-lane La Honda Road, winding through pastoral farmland and woodsy nooks where redwoods reign.

Thankfully the Hwy 84 freeway scheme got shelved along with a dozen other crazy freeway proposals, but efforts were made to straighten Hwy 84.

The straightening I know about (there may be others) occurred sometime between 1955 and 1968, according to USGS topo maps. If anybody knows a more exact date, please let us know.

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Old Hwy 84 alignment in 1955, map on right, and after straightening, 1968.

Jobst Brandt pointed out the straightened section decades ago during a ride. I finally got around to taking a photo. It’s at milepost 5.50.

What’s interesting is that this section of abandoned road, a mere quarter-mile, is used by Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Signage is visible from the road behind a gate.

It turns out this land is part of the La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve, kind of. The land where the old road runs is still privately owned, but there’s equestrian only trail access to Harrington Creek Trail from here. Use permit required.

Hikers wanting to visit Harrington Creek Trail start at the staging area off Sears Ranch Road. Bikers, you’re out of luck. There’s no access to this preserve, a lot of which is still a working ranch.