Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Swede’s Cut

Photographed by Craig Baker, 2015

1. Swede’s Cut Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

This remarkable 110-foot deep cut was excavated by large steam-powered shovels, which were hauled up the ridge by teams of mules. Though not maintained for over 60 years, these cut slopes remain secure today, a testimony to the engineering feat of the construction of the Ridge Route.

Este corte impresionante de 110 pies de profundidad fue excavado con enormes palas excavadoras de vapor, las cuales fueron traídas hasta la empinada cresta por medio de mulas. A pesar de la falta de atención durante más de sesenta años, las paredes del corte son aún seguras, testimonio a la alta ingeniería en la construcción de la Ridge Route.

Courtesy of the Harrison Scott Collection.

Erected 1997 by California 4×4 Club; Boy Scout Troop 583 (Castaic); and Ridge Route Preservation Organization.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1915.

Location. 34° 38.487′ N, 118° 43.316′ W. Marker has been reported unreadable. Marker is in Angeles National Forest, California, in Los Angeles County. It is on Ridge

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Route Road 7.7 miles north of Templin Highway, on the left when traveling north. Located 6.2 miles north of a locked gate. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Castaic CA 91384, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Reservoir Summit (approx. 1½ miles away); National Forest Inn (approx. 2.1 miles away); The “Ridge Route” (approx. 2.6 miles away); Castaic Powerplant (approx. 2.6 miles away); Kelly’s Halfway Inn (approx. 2.9 miles away); Slide Mountain Lookout (approx. 3.2 miles away); Ridge Route Directory (approx. 3.6 miles away); Tumble Inn (approx. 4.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Angeles National Forest.

More about this marker.

Swede’s Cut and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 9, 2020

2. Swede’s Cut and Marker

The marker is faded and unreadable.

This part of the Ridge Route is currently closed to vehicles from 1½ miles north of Templin Highway at the south end, to 6½ miles south of Highway 138 at the north end. The 13-mile central portion remains closed to all motor vehicle traffic. Walking, bicycling, and horseback riding are allowed. Efforts to re-open the road are ongoing, as are efforts to install new markers.
This road was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. — Ridge Route Directory

Also see . . . Ridge Route Preservation Organization. (Submitted on June 17, 2020.)

Photographed by Craig Baker, June 9, 2020

3. Swede’s Cut

Credits. This page was last revised on January 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 17, 2020. This page has been viewed 1,315 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 17, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.