California State Route 35

California State Route 35 California State Route 35 is a north–south highway running along the ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains on the San Francisco Peninsula, commonly known as Skyline Boulevard. The route traverses coastal and inland communities, connecting major corridors and providing access to regional parks, watershed lands, and recreational areas near San Francisco and San Jose. The road serves as a scenic alternative to coastal and bayfront thoroughfares and intersects several state and U.S. routes that link to the Interstate 280, US 101, and Interstate 880 corridors.

Route description

SR 35 begins near the junction with SR 1 close to Pedro Point and the southern approaches to Daly City, climbing the western spur of the Santa Cruz Mountains and running along Skyline Ridge. The roadway passes near Montara Mountain, offers views toward the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, and connects to trails and facilities in McNee Ranch State Park and Sweeney Ridge National Park. Traveling north, SR 35 intersects with I-280 near Woodside and provides access to Hwy 84 at La Honda and to SR 92 toward Half Moon Bay. Along its alignment SR 35 skirts the boundaries of Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Almaden Quicksilver County Park, and areas of the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA wine region, while crossing watersheds feeding the Purisima Creek and San Gregorio Creek. The highway climbs and descends a series of ridgelines, linking communities such as Saratoga via connector roads, and offers vistas of landmarks like San Bruno Mountain and Mount Diablo on clear days.

History

The roadway that became SR 35 originated from early wagon roads and logging tracks used during the 19th century boom tied to California Gold Rush–era development and the timber industry serving San Francisco. During the early 20th century, automotive touring and the development of Highway 1 and regional routes spurred improvements; civic projects linked ridge roads with the transportation network around Palo Alto and Menlo Park. The formal designation as a state route occurred under mid-20th century California highway renumbering initiatives that adjusted alignments associated with California State Legislature sessions shaping the state highway system. Over decades SR 35 has been the focus of storm-damage repairs after events like the El Niño–Southern Oscillation storms, wildfire recovery following incidents similar to the Marin County wildfire, and pavement rehabilitation tied to regional infrastructure programs involving Caltrans District 4. The corridor has also been affected by environmental litigation and conservation advocacy from groups connected to Save the Redwoods League and local land trusts seeking to protect adjacent open space.

Major intersections

The highway intersects numerous state and U.S. routes and county roads that connect to major metropolitan arteries. Notable junctions include the southern terminus with SR 1 near Half Moon Bay State Beach, the interchange with I-280 near Woodside, cross-connections to US 101 via feeder roads, a link to SR 92 at the northern terminus, and connections to SR 84 toward Menlo Park. The route also meets county routes such as Cañada Road and local thoroughfares serving Los Gatos and Cupertino, enabling access to Stanford University and the Silicon Valley employment centers. These intersections facilitate movement between recreational areas, commuter corridors, and coastal communities like Half Moon Bay and suburban centers including Redwood City.

Future and improvements

Planned and proposed projects affecting SR 35 focus on resilience, multi-modal access, and habitat protection. Initiatives include pavement upgrades funded through statewide measures debated in California State Assembly and California State Senate committees, slope stabilization projects after landslide events near Montara Mountain Road, and safety enhancements such as widening, guardrail installation, and bicycle accommodations funded by regional transportation agencies like the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans). Environmental reviews coordinate with agencies including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the United States Forest Service when projects abut protected lands or watersheds serving San Francisco Public Utilities Commission reservoirs. Community advocacy by organizations linked to Peninsula Open Space Trust and county parks departments shapes mitigation measures and trail connectivity plans.

Notable features and landmarks

Along SR 35 are numerous natural and cultural landmarks: panoramic overlooks with views of Golden Gate Bridge, access points to trails leading into Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, stands of mature redwoods reminiscent of Big Basin Redwoods State Park, and historic remnants of logging-era infrastructure. The corridor provides proximity to conservation sites managed by Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and visitor destinations like Fitzgerald Marine Reserve via spur routes. Recreational facilities include trailheads for the Bay Area Ridge Trail, equestrian centers near Saratoga Gap, and picnic areas used by residents from San Francisco Bay Area counties. Architectural and community landmarks visible from or near the route include historic estates tied to Peninsula history, observatory vistas toward Mount Hamilton Observatory and Lick Observatory, and agricultural terraces of the Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival region.

Category:State highways in California Category:Transportation in San Mateo County, California