California State Route 140

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State Route 140

Defined by S&HC § 440, maintained by Caltrans

Length:

102.10 mi (164.31 km)

West end:

I-5 near Gustine

Major
junctions:

SR 99 in Merced

SR 49 in Mariposa

East end:

Yosemite

State highways in California (list - pre-1964)
County routes in California (list)
< SR 139		SR 142 >
History - Unconstructed - Deleted - Freeway - Scenic

Ferguson Slide

State Route 140 is an east-west, two-lane highway in central California, 102 miles (164 km) in length. It begins in the San Joaquin Valley at Interstate 5 near Gustine, and runs east into the Sierra Nevada Mountains, terminating in Yosemite National Park.

In June of 2006, the road between El Portal and Mariposa was closed due to a rock slide. The Ferguson Slide buried about 600 linear feet of SR140 between Cedar Lodge and Briceburg Visitor Center between SR49 and SR41^[1].

Though a detour opened in August, 2006, those anticipating travel between Mariposa and El Portal (Yosemite National Park) on SR140 are still advised to contact the National Park Service, California Highway Patrol, Caltrans, or the Mariposa County Sheriff to find out if the road is open.

This route is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System^[2] and is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System^[3].

[edit] Route description

Going east from I-5, it passes Gustine. It jogs to cross the San Joaquin River. It roughly marks the southern edge of the farmable land around Livingston. It crosses State Route 99 at Merced. Visitors who travel from the Bay Area or northern California to Yosemite Valley or the southern portion of Yosemite will transfer from Highway 99 to Highway 140 at this point. (Those who visit the northern portion of Yosemite would have taken either State Route 120 east at Manteca, or State Route 132 east at Modesto.)

It continues through Planada, after which the farmland gives way to grazing land. It is quite dry in the summer due to California's Mediterranean climate, and the dry grass gives the landscape a golden color. Western meadowlarks, American kestrels, red-tailed hawks and even the occasional coyote can be seen near the road. A few blue oaks can be seen as the highway leaves the valley and begins to climb the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. They become more and more numerous as the elevation increases. The highway passes through Catheys Valley, and the vegetation begins to diversify a little. California live oaks and Ponderosa Pines intermingle with the blue oaks as it nears Mariposa.

Visitors to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in southern Yosemite would be advised to take State Route 49 south at this point. For those whose destination is in Yosemite Valley, the portion of SR 140 between Mariposa and El Portal is a California Scenic Highway. A ponderosa pine forest surrounds the road as it passes through Midpines. At Briceburg, it plunges down into the Merced River valley. It runs alongside the Merced River, through El Portal, and into Yosemite Valley, where it ends.