As with most passes in theCalifornia Coast Ranges, it is not very high when compared to those in other mountain areas within the state. The road that traverses Pacheco Pass isState Route 152, which runs for 106 miles (171 km) betweenSR 1 inWatsonville andSR 99. Pacheco Pass Road, the western section between Gilroy and the pass itself (a distance of approximately 14 miles), is a two-lane highway from Gilroy to the junction withSR 156 and a four-lane highway over the pass; it has been the site of many accidents.[2]
A trail nearby, through what is nowPacheco State Park, was used by theYokuts people to cross the mountains and trade with other native people on the coast.[5]Spanish army officerGabriel Moraga first recorded the pass in 1805.[1] From that time it was used by Spanish and later Mexican soldiers to cross over into theSan Joaquin Valley, and for Native Americans in the 1820s and 1830s to cross westward to raid the missions and ranchos for horses and cattle. During theCalifornia Gold Rush it was used to travel between theSanta Clara Valley settlements and the goldfields and settlements in the San Joaquin Valley. However the east face of the pass was a steep and rough horse and mule trail, difficult for wheeled vehicles, until 1857 when Andrew D. Firebaugh built a wagon road with a gentler grade across the pass to what is nowBell Station, California from theRancho San Luis Gonzaga at the foot of the Diablo Range to the east. Since then, it has been a major route between the Santa Clara Valley and the Central Valley. It was the site ofPacheco Pass Station one of the stage stations on the route of theButterfield Overland Mail stagecoach route which connected theSaint Louis, Missouri withSan Francisco from 1858 until 1861.[6] Other stage lines used the route thereafter until completion of the railroads within the state.
There are no major communities betweenGilroy in the Santa Clara Valley andLos Banos in the Central Valley. There are no other major crossings of the Diablo range farther south until they are crossed again byCalifornia State Route 198 at an unnamed pass some 75 miles (121 km) to the south.The next highway crossing of the range to the north is onCalifornia State Route 130 overMount Hamilton, approximately 20 miles (32 km) to the north, but this is much less heavily used than theAltamont Pass even farther north.
On the west side of the pass liesCasa de Fruta, an extensive trading post in the valley ofPacheco Creek.[7] Originally a site devoted to selling locally produced fruit and nuts to travelers, Casa de Fruta has expanded to include a delicatessen, truckstop, RV park, and other facilities. Casa de Fruta is the current home of the Northern CaliforniaRenaissance Faire, which takes place in September and October each year.[8] A rural locale namedBell Station also lies along the route, between Casa de Fruta and the pass.
Pacheco State Park extends to the south of the pass from its entrance on Dinosaur Point Road near the pass.[10] There is a small 16 MWwindfarm with 162 turbines located at the top of the pass that can be seen from Dinosaur Point Road. It is beingrepowered to 147 MW with a 50 MW / 200 MWhgrid battery.[11]
Pacheco Pass has been selected as the route that theCalifornia High-Speed Rail will take between the Bay Area and the Central Valley.[13][14] The rail line is planned to travel under the pass in the 13-mile (21 km)Pacheco Pass Tunnels, which upon completion are expected to become North America's longest rail tunnels.[15][16]
Fort Tejon – Located 15 miles southwest of Sink of Tejon Station, north of and below the summit ofTejon Pass.
Reed's Station – Located 8 miles southeast of Fort Tejon, near, to the south of the summit of the Tejon Pass.
French John's Station – Located 14 miles east southeast of Reeds Station, in the vicinity of the mouth of Cow Springs Creek Canyon.
Mud Spring, a later station operating in 1860, 14 miles east from French Johns and 13 miles north from Clayton's Station (formerly Widow Smith's Station). [1]
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