Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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The Ortega Highway travels from San Juan Capistrano to Lake Elsinore, crossing the Santa Ana Mountains, and is considered one of the most scenic roads in Southern California and one of the most dangerous.

Starting at Mission San Juan Capistrano, we follow Highway 74 and the Ortega Highway into the mountains, visiting the Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park, the Serra Bridge, the Ortega Falls, the California Wildland Firefighter's Memorial, and the Lookout Roadhouse before reaching Lake Elsinore. Along the way we talk about the history and some of the interesting sights along the road.

00:00 Intro
00:59 Mission San Juan Capistrano
04:58 The History of the Ortega Highway
07:28 Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park
12:20 San Juan Canyon Bridge
14:29 Ortega Falls
16:03 California Wildland Firefighters Memorial
19:12 Lookout Roadhouse

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