California State Route 62

California State Route 62 is a state highway traversing the southern Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert in San Bernardino County, California. The route connects Morongo Valley, Twentynine Palms, and Joshua Tree National Park environs to the Colorado River crossing near Parker. It serves as a regional corridor for tourism, military access, and cross-state travel between Interstate 10, Interstate 40, and Arizona State Route 95.

Route description

SR 62 begins near White Water at an interchange with Interstate 10 and proceeds north into Morongo Valley, intersecting local connectors toward Palm Springs and Palm Springs. The highway continues east through the transition zone into the Mojave Desert, approaching Joshua Tree National Park and Joshua Tree where it provides access to park entrances and facilities associated with park interpretation and National Park Service operations. East of Twentynine Palms SR 62 skirts the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms providing a vital route for military logistics connected to United States Marine Corps training areas. Proceeding southeast, SR 62 crosses the Colorado Desert, passing near Coachella Valley, Salton Sea, and smaller settlements like Blythe before reaching the California–Arizona border where it meets Arizona State Route 95 at the Colorado River crossing used by regional commerce and recreational traffic. Along its length SR 62 intersects state routes, county routes, and federal land access roads tied to Bureau of Land Management holdings and county infrastructure.

History

The corridor predated state designation as a series of local roads and indigenous trails used by Cahuilla and other Native American groups before contact. During the early 20th century the route developed with ties to U.S. Route 60, U.S. Route 70, and U.S. Highway realignments that shaped southwestern California transportation. SR 62 was codified in the 1930s and saw incremental upgrades linked to federal initiatives like the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 and regional growth spurred by Palm Springs International Airport, Los Angeles County, and military expansion at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and local Marine Corps facilities. The highway experienced paving, widening, and safety improvements in the 1970s and 1980s as tourism to Joshua Tree National Park increased after the park's 1994 boundary adjustments and national attention from media including National Geographic and film productions in Hollywood. In the 21st century SR 62 has been the focus of safety campaigns by California Department of Transportation and community groups in San Bernardino County responding to collision statistics reported in statewide audits. Environmental reviews under National Environmental Policy Act frameworks and coordination with Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have influenced alignments near sensitive desert habitats and Mojave Desert tortoise conservation areas.

Major intersections

- Western terminus: interchange with Interstate 10 near White Water and access to San Bernardino National Forest routes. - Junction with State Route 247 providing links toward Barstow and Lucerne Valley. - Access roads to Joshua Tree National Park and connections to park service roads and visitor facilities. - Crossing and connections near Twentynine Palms with local arterials serving Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. - Eastern terminus: connection to Arizona State Route 95 at the Colorado River crossing serving Parker and Blythe corridors. These intersections interface with county routes and federal access roads administered by San Bernardino County, Bureau of Land Management, and state transportation planners from California Department of Transportation.

Special routes and designations

SR 62 includes segments designated for tourism and regional identity, linking to National Scenic Byway corridors and local marketing in Coachella Valley. Portions near Joshua Tree National Park are subject to joint management by the National Park Service and California Department of Transportation for visitor access, emergency response, and interpretive signage associated with cultural resources like Twentynine Palms Band of Mission Indians. Safety corridors have been declared by California Highway Patrol and San Bernardino County Sheriff campaigns to reduce collisions involving tourists and heavy vehicles. Designations related to military access recognize SR 62's role in supporting United States Marine Corps logistics for the nearby training center.

Future projects and improvements

Planned improvements emphasize safety, pavement rehabilitation, and environmental mitigation coordinated by California Department of Transportation and San Bernardino County with stakeholder input from National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and tribal governments including the Colorado River Indian Tribes. Proposed projects include shoulder widening, intersection upgrades near Twentynine Palms and Morongo Valley, enhanced wildlife crossings to benefit species protected under Endangered Species Act, and traffic management measures to handle increased tourism linked to Los Angeles County and Riverside County visitation. Funding considerations involve state transportation budgets, federal grants under programs like the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Program and regional transportation planning by San Bernardino Associated Governments. Public meetings and environmental reviews pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act are ongoing for several corridors along SR 62 where growth, conservation, and military needs intersect.

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