Western Railroad Discussion > Cajon Pass

Does one need any kind of permit or pass to railfan in the Cajon Pass area? There doesn't seem to be much info on line, and what I've found is years out of date.

Is a typical rental car ok or would a 4x4 be needed?

Thanks for any info....

Ted
 

Yes, you need a daily permit to be on Forest land. You can get one for $5 at the Chevron station on Hwy 138 at I-15

Posted from iPhone

You can see Cajon pretty well from non-Forest land, of course.

I have a taken a rental Mustang to Hill 582 so it can be done, but an SUV is better just for the clearance.  Does not necessarily have to be a 4 x 4.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/24 09:33 by kbmiflyer.

kbmiflyer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have a taken a rental Mustang to Hill 582 so it
> can be done, but an SUV is better just for the
> clearance.  Does not necessarily have to be a 4 x
> 4.

How long ago was this? This past winter has not been kind to the dirt Forest Service roads in the area.

ACR_Ted Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does one need any kind of permit or pass to
> railfan in the Cajon Pass area? There doesn't seem
> to be much info on line, and what I've found is
> years out of date.
>
> Is a typical rental car ok or would a 4x4 be
> needed?
>
> Thanks for any info....
>
> Ted
>  

I was just there, the roads aren't bad. I would have a high clearance vehicle (not a car) although you don't need 4wd if you are going to Hill 582 or Sullivans Curve. 

I've shot the last several years without any pass. 

Ted,

The coordinates that I have for the Hill 582 turnoff is 

34.32601 N
117.45343 W

This dirt road is off of Hwy 138. Be extremely careful pulling into and out of this area of highway. Cars are moving very fast and there are some there is a curve that limit your visability when pulling back onto Hwy 138.

I traveled up to Hill 582 less than a month ago. Some water puddles and I highly recommend an SUV. I have an Outback, but in theory if your are careful enough you could get up there in an average ground clearance sedan (just rent the SUV). Go slow.

Bob Payne
Glendora CA

There's also plenty of areas that can be photographed from paved roads as well, a few with parking the car and walking a short distance.

Ono, Verdemont to Devore along parallel Cajon Blvd.
Keenbrook (from a distance along Applewhite Road off of Historic Route 66)
Blue Cut
Swarthout Canyon Road (old Cajon Campground area with grade crossings over BNSF and UP Palmdale cutoff)
Cajon station
Hwy 138 overpass area (for all 3 BNSF lines and a short walk to the UP Palmdale cutoff)
Summit overlook
Martinez Spur and Lugo (using the parallel Summit Valley Road to Hesperia)

Thanks everyone for the info! I have not been there since the triple tracking so it will be interesting to see how things are now.

Ted

Sounds like the drive into Franz Ted!

PasadenaSub Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There's also plenty of areas that can be
> photographed from paved roads as well, a few with
> parking the car and walking a short distance.
>
> Ono, Verdemont to Devore along parallel Cajon
> Blvd.
> Keenbrook (from a distance along Applewhite Road
> off of Historic Route 66)
> Blue Cut
> Swarthout Canyon Road (old Cajon Campground area
> with grade crossings over BNSF and UP Palmdale
> cutoff)
> Cajon station
> Hwy 138 overpass area (for all 3 BNSF lines and a
> short walk to the UP Palmdale cutoff)
> Summit overlook
> Martinez Spur and Lugo (using the parallel Summit
> Valley Road to Hesperia)

Hwy 138 east of I-15 is used as an alternate route by the commuters when I-15 is backed up, which is a daily occurance. They're NOT watching for people to pull out of a dirt side road, so be careful.

At least there won't be any large moose standing in the middle of the road :)

Ted

AlcoRSD15 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, you need a daily permit to be on Forest land.
> You can get one for $5 at the Chevron station on
> Hwy 138 at I-15
>
> Posted from iPhone

Since when? USFS discontinued that in the Cajon Pass area years ago. Has it been reinstated?

ACR_Ted Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks everyone for the info! I have not been
> there since the triple tracking so it will be
> interesting to see how things are now.
>
> Ted

Hwy 138 was majorly realigned by 2018. The access to Hill 582 and Summit Island are in different locations now.

The realignment straightened out 138 and cars travel much faster now. That's what PHall is warning you about.