California State Route 146
{{short description|Highway in California}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox road
|state=CA
|type=SR
|route=146
|section=446
|maint=Caltrans
|map={{maplink-road|from=California State Route 146.map}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=SR 146 highlighted in red; the gap represents the unofficial segments in Pinnacles National Park as well as the unconstructed segment in the center of the park
|length_mi=12.632
|length_round=3
|length_notes=SR 146 is broken into pieces due to a gap in the description, unfilled by any route.
|direction_a=West
|terminus_a1={{jct|state=CA|US|101}} near Soledad
|terminus_b1=Pinnacles National Park west boundary
|direction_b=East
|terminus_a2=Pinnacles National Park east boundary
|terminus_b2={{jct|state=CA|SR|25}} near Paicines
|counties=Monterey, San Benito
|previous_type=SR
|previous_route=145
|next_type=SR
|next_route=147
}}
State Route 146 (SR 146) is a state highway in the U.S. state of California in Monterey and San Benito Counties. The route serves as an entryway to Pinnacles National Park, located in the Gabilan Mountains, from both U.S. Route 101 in the Salinas Valley on the west and State Route 25 near Paicines on the east. The route is broken into two sections and cannot be used to completely pass through Pinnacles National Park.
Route description
Route 146 is divided into two sections and does not provide a continuous vehicular route through the park. The western part of Route 146 passes from U.S. Route 101 near Soledad along Metz Road and Shirttail Canyon Road to the west area of Pinnacles. The eastern portion runs into the east area of Pinnacles from Route 25 along Pinnacles Road. Inside the park, the route is federally maintained and is not included in the state route logs.
SR 146 is not part of the National Highway System,{{FHWA NHS map|region=californiasouth|accessdate=September 25, 2017}} a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration.{{FHWA NHS}} SR 146 is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System,{{CA scenic}} but it is not officially designated as a scenic highway by the California Department of Transportation.{{Caltrans scenic|accessdate=September 25, 2017}}
History
According to the National Park Service, Pinnacles has been administered as a wilderness area as long as that unit has been under their jurisdiction, and NPS sources contacted during research cannot recall any time when Route 146 proceeded through the park unbroken.{{original research inline|date=September 2018}}
{{Clear}}
Major intersections
{{CAinttop|post_ref=
{{Caltrans bridgelog|date=July 2007}}California Department of Transportation, [http://traffic-counts.dot.ca.gov/ All Traffic Volumes on CSHS], 2005 and 2006
}}
{{CAint
|county=Monterey
|cspan=3
|county_note=MON 0.00-10.08
|location=Soledad
|lspan=2
|postmile=0.00
|road={{jct|state=CA|US|101|city1=San Francisco|city2=Los Angeles}}
|notes=Interchange; west end of SR 146; US 101 exit 302
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=0.55
|road=Monterey Street
|notes=
}}
{{CAint
|location=none
|postmile=3.48
|road={{jct|state=CA|CR|G15|county1=Monterey|name1=Metz Road|city1=King City}}
|notes=
}}
{{Jctplace
|state=CA
|county=San Benito
|cspan=8
|county_note=SBT 10.08-15.15
|location_special=Pinnacles National Park
|lspan=7
|postmile=10.19
|place=East end of state maintenance at western park boundary
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=toll
|postmile=none
|place=West entrance station; park fee or pass required for entry{{cite web |title=Pinnacles National Park Fees & Passes |url=https://www.nps.gov/pinn/planyourvisit/fees.htm |access-date=June 6, 2025|work=National Park Service}}
}}
{{CAint
|postmile=none
|road=Chaparral Trailhead
|notes=East end of western segment of route
}}
{{Jctgap|text=Gap in route; no passable road through park}}
{{CAint
|postmile=none
|road=Old Pinnacles Trailhead
|notes=West end of eastern segment of route
}}
{{CAint|exit
|type=toll
|postmile=none
|place=East entrance station; park fee or pass required for entry
}}
{{Jctplace
|state=CA
|postmile=12.71
|place=West end of state maintenance at eastern park boundary
}}
{{CAint
|location=none
|postmile=15.15
|road={{jct|state=CA|SR|25|city1=Hollister|city2=King City|city3=Coalinga}}
|notes=East end of SR 146
}}
{{Jctbtm|keys=toll}}
See also
- {{portal-inline|California Roads}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
{{commons category}}
{{CASR external links|SR|146}}
- [http://www.cahighways.org/145-152.html#146 California Highways: Route 146]
- [http://www.aaroads.com/california/ca-146.html California @ AARoads.com - State Route 146]