Highway 38 (California)

Highway 38 (California)
State	CA
Type	SR
Route	38
Length mi	59
Direction a	West
Terminus a	Redlands
Direction b	East
Terminus b	Mill Creek Summit
Counties	San Bernardino County

Highway 38 (California) is a state highway in San Bernardino County, California that connects the city of Redlands and the Inland Empire lowlands with the San Bernardino Mountains and the San Gorgonio Wilderness. The route serves as an arterial for communities such as Yucaipa and Barton Flats while providing access to national forests, wilderness areas, and recreation sites near Big Bear. The highway traverses diverse terrain from urban neighborhoods and citrus groves to steep canyons, alpine forests, and high-elevation passes.

Route description

Highway 38 begins in Redlands near intersections with SR 210 and I-10, passing commercial corridors adjacent to landmarks like San Bernardino Valley College, Esri, San Bernardino County Museum, and the University of Redlands satellite areas. Heading east, the route climbs through suburban Yucaipa neighborhoods and orchards near the Calimesa border, skirting features such as Crafton Hills and the San Timoteo Canyon. At the foothills the highway enters the San Bernardino National Forest near trailheads for San Bernardino Peak and the Pacific Crest Trail, winding along the canyon of the Santa Ana River toward Highland-adjacent canyons and picnic areas. The roadway ascends past Barton Flats, Mill Creek Summit, and the San Gorgonio Wilderness boundary, providing access to Jenks Lake, Angelus Oaks, and the Forest Falls community before reaching high-elevation termini near the Bighorn Mountain Wilderness.

History

The corridor that became the highway was used by indigenous groups and later by Spanish Empire and Mexican California routes before American settlement and development associated with California Gold Rush period migrations and railroad era growth. The early twentieth century saw road improvements tied to tourism for resorts near Big Bear City and conservation initiatives led by the United States Forest Service during the Great Depression with funding mechanisms like Civilian Conservation Corps. Mid-century upgrades connected the route to regional planning projects involving Caltrans and federal highway programs influenced by Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 priorities. The highway has been affected by events including major wildfires such as the Cedar Fire and the Esperanza Fire and by storms related to El Niño cycles that prompted slope stabilization projects. Preservation and designation efforts have involved entities like San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, California State Parks, and environmental review consistent with National Environmental Policy Act procedures.

Major intersections

Major junctions along the route include the western terminus near I-10 and SR 210 in Redlands, an interchange with local arterials serving Yucaipa and Highland, access roads to Arrowhead Springs, connections to forest roads serving Barton Flats and Heart Bar Campground, and eastern approaches toward Mill Creek Summit near the San Bernardino Mountains, ending at routes that provide further access to Big Bear. The highway meets county and forest routes coordinated with San Bernardino County Transportation Authority and federal forest road networks managed by the United States Forest Service.

Scenic and recreational features

The corridor provides viewpoints and trail access to protected areas including the San Bernardino National Forest, San Gorgonio Wilderness, and the Bighorn Mountain Wilderness, with nearby attractions such as Jenks Lake, Big Bear Lake, Santa Ana River Headwaters, and historic sites tied to San Gorgonio. Recreational opportunities along the route include hiking on trails connected to the Pacific Crest Trail, climbing near San Antonio Peak, camping at locations like Barton Flats Campground, fishing at Jenks Lake, and winter sports in higher-elevation zones influenced by Sierra Nevada snowpack dynamics. Visitor amenities are coordinated with organizations including Big Bear Chamber of Commerce, San Bernardino National Forest ranger districts, and local visitor bureaus.

Traffic and safety

Traffic volumes vary from urban commuting levels near Redlands and the Inland Empire to seasonal recreational peaks driven by access to Big Bear and national forest trailheads. The highway has experienced closures due to wildfire incidents—such as those involving the Cedar Fire—and storm damage from events tied to Pineapple Express atmospheric river storms, prompting emergency response from Caltrans and coordination with San Bernardino County Fire Department. Safety measures include guardrail installations, avalanche and rockfall mitigation, and signage consistent with Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Enforcement and incident management involve California Highway Patrol and local fire and search-and-rescue teams.

Maintenance and designation

Maintenance responsibility rests primarily with Caltrans within the state highway system, with cooperative work with the United States Forest Service for sections inside national forest boundaries and with San Bernardino County for intersecting local roads. Designation considerations have included scenic highway status reviews by California State Scenic Highway System authorities, coordination with National Scenic Byways Program interests, and compliance with environmental statutes such as the California Environmental Quality Act. Capital projects have been funded through state transportation budgets, Federal Highway Administration grants, and county transportation measures administered by the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority.

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