Historic U.S. 101 - Humboldt County

Old State Highway (around Freshwater Lagoon) north
After the vista point of the Freshwater Lagoon, Old State Highway travels north toward Orick. Photo taken 05/28/06.
Looking north on Old State Highway (an old alignment of U.S. 101), trees and vegetation hang over the road, which is a through road but is not well-traveled. Photo taken 05/28/06.
Old State Highway (around Freshwater Lagoon) south
An old alignment of U.S. 101 follows a ridge to the east of Freshwater Lagoon. This route begins just south of Orick and Redwood Creek and extends south to near Stone Lagoon. The modern alignment follows a spit of land that separates Freshwater Lagoon from the Pacific Ocean; the old alignment follows a ridge on a higher elevation than the mainline. Photo taken 05/28/06.
The old road takes a winding path uphill to Lookout Point, passing by a few homes along the way. After cresting at Lookout Point, Old State Highway travels toward Freshwater Lagoon. Photo taken 05/28/06.
Continuing south, old U.S. 101/Old State Highway travels downhill on a much narrower alignment before reaching a turnout that provides a glorious view of Freshwater Lagoon and the Pacific Ocean (see next photos). Photos taken 05/28/06.
A bit further south, this view from Old State Highway shows the modern alignment of U.S. 101 as it follows the spit of land between Freshwater Lagoon and the Pacific Ocean. Photos taken 05/28/06.
After the vista point, Old State Highway continues on a two-lane alignment, winding its way above the eastern shore of Freshwater Lagoon. Photo taken 05/28/06.
Due to a landslide/slip out along the Old State Highway, the old road briefly shifts to a one-lane alignment. Photo taken 05/28/06.
Shortly thereafter, the road again widens out to two lanes. Parking here, there is a fantastic view of the Freshwater Lagoon and Pacific Ocean to the west. (See the "scenes pertaining to" section, below.) Photo taken 05/28/06.
The remainder of the two-lane old alignment looks like this before returning to U.S. 101 just south of Freshwater Lagoon. Photo taken 05/28/06.
Old State Highway scenes
The Old State Highway travels onto a ridge that provides stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Known as Lookout Point, this view looks north away from Freshwater Lagoon. The ocean spreads endlessly to the west. Photo taken 05/28/06.
A bit further south of the prior view, this shows the Freshwater Lagoon in the foreground and the Pacific Ocean in the background (this vista point is located after the one-lane section on southbound Old State Highway). Modern U.S. 101 travels over the tiny spit of land between the two bodies of water. Photo taken 05/28/06.
From the same vista point is this view looking south of Freshwater Lagoon and U.S. 101. Photo taken 05/28/06.
Return to the U.S. 101 Guide Return to the California Gateway

Page Updated May 9, 2007.

© AARoads