California State Route 146
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| State Route 146 |
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| Defined by S&HC ยง 446, maintained by Caltrans | |||||||||||||||||
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| Length: | 13 mi[1] (21 km) | ||||||||||||||||
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| West end: | .svg/23px-US_101_(CA).svg.png){kind=small} US 101 near Soledad |
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| Major junctions: |
Pinnacles (break in route) | ||||||||||||||||
| East end: |  SR 25 near Paicines |
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State Route 146 is a state highway in Monterey and San Benito Counties in Central California. The route serves as an entryway to the Pinnacles National Monument, located in the Gabilan Mountains, from both the Salinas Valley on the west and State Route 25 on the east.
This route is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System[2].
[edit] Route description
Route 146 is divided into two sections and does not provide a continuous vehicular route through the monument. 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.
Highway 146 has the distinction of following the San Andreas Fault line for much of its length. As it does, it straddles two separate land masses: the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate.
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.
