Revered Route : Scenic Byway Status Sought for California 33 Stretch

A winding 38-mile stretch of California 33 that snakes around the majestic mountains and climbs above the fast-running creeks of Los Padres National Forest could be on its way to becoming a federal scenic highway.

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors is expected to vote today on whether to endorse the move, which is one of the requirements U.S. Forest Service officials must meet to designate the road a federal Scenic Byway.

If approved, forest officials said they will draft a proposal to send to the Forest Service Chief Dale Robertson in Washington for his approval in September. They have been working on gaining Scenic Byway status for the highway since 1987.

With Robertson’s blessing, forest officials could apply for federal funds needed to improve and maintain the highway and build various scenic stops along the route. The money would also be used to place information guides along the highway to increase the public’s understanding of the forest.

Malibu resident Howard Ferguson-Woitzman, who was riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle along California 33 with comedian Flip Wilson on Tuesday, said he thinks an addition of scenic lookout points would enhance the forest.

“It’s really a pleasing area to go through,� Ferguson-Woitzman said, as he looked out into the mountains from the side of the road. “I try and get out here once a month. This is one of my favorite roads.�

Forest officials are still waiting for Caltrans to remove tons of rock and mud pushed onto the highway by a winter storm.

Caltrans officials said that process started earlier this year after they reached agreement with forest officials about where to dispose of the nearly 30,000 cubic yards of rubble on private property within the forest boundaries.

Los Padres National Forest, the third largest in California, with 1.7 million acres, stretches along the coastline from the Ventura County line to Carmel.

This portion of California 33, only a few miles north of Ojai between Wheeler Gorge and Lockwood Valley Road, has been a popular scenic route for bikers, motorcyclists and other travelers, forest officials said.

“When people drive through the forest, they’ll not only go away with some visual images of the forest, but a historical perspective as well,� said Dennis Holcomb, a landscaper for the national forest who will help draft the proposal to send to Washington. “Our intentions are not to draw a lot of people to it, but to give them a better appreciation for what’s out there.�

Forest officials are also thinking about renaming the 38-mile portion of the state highway after Jacinto Reyes, one of the first Latino rangers to work in the forest in the late 1800s. The name change would require Forest Service approval.

In order to be considered for federal scenic status, the route must exhibit a scenic and historical value, be located within a national forest and must have letters of support from local and county governments.

Forest officials said they expect forest chief Robertson to act quickly on his decision because he has voiced his support for the Scenic Byway program.

Holcomb said the forest has already received letters of support from the city of Ojai and the Ojai Chamber of Commerce. The highway was designated a state scenic route in 1988, he said.