From its rolling foothills and towering mountains to the vast 600,000-acre Anza-Borrego Desert, there is no better way to discover the diverse landscape of San Diego's rural East County region than by driving its historic highways and scenic roadways.

HISTORIC HIGHWAY 94

Designated a California state historic route in 2010, Historic Highway 94 is a 50-mile, rural road which runs from the foothills of picturesque Rancho San Diego to the town of Campo.  Visitors who travel along this historic highway can find a number of beautiful campgrounds, parks, museums, quaint diners and other hidden treasures.

Built in 1929 and now decommissioned, the old Sweetwater River Bridge is a gateway to the Sweetwater River Trail. The Parker Truss-style Bridge is the only one of its kind in San Diego County and is included in the National Register of Historic Places.  

Barrett Junction Café and Mercantile in Barrett Junction is a favorite stop for visitors and motorcyclists traveling Highway 94. Since opening in 1946, the cafe has earned a reputation for its famous deep fried cod.

Visitors can take a step back in time at the Potrero General Store in Potrero which dates back to the stagecoach era of the mid-1800s. 

The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum at the historic Campo Depot in Campo is a real treat for train enthusiasts.  Built in 1917, the museum offers scenic one-hour train rides daily and displays dozens of antique locomotives, passenger cars, freight cars and cabooses from the 1880s. 

Also in Campo, the Motor Transport Museum is home to more than 200 antique trucks and other motor transport vehicles, plus an eclectic collection of industrial equipment and photos/memorabilia related to the trucking industry and automotive pioneers.

The Gaskill Brothers' Stone Store and Museum in Campo, home of the Mountain Empire Historical Society, has two floors: the upper level is dedicated to nearby Camp Lockett, a historic military facility that was once home to the U.S. Army's 10th Cavalry Regiment, better known as the Buffalo Soldiers; the lower level is focused on the history of East County's backcountry – from prehistoric times through the early part of this century.

HISTORIC HIGHWAY 80

Historic Highway 80 crosses 150 miles between San Diego and Yuma, Arizona with a significant stretch winding through scenic mountain terrain and the chaparral-covered hills of East County.  Along this nostalgic route, once dubbed the “Broadway of America,” travelers can explore a number of charming towns and roadside wonders worth exploring.

A great place to begin a Highway 80 excursion is La Mesa Village, the historic downtown center of La Mesa. The village is considered a treasure chest for shoppers looking for one-of-a-kind antique shops and retail stores.

The nearby San Diego Railroad Museum La Mesa Depot, the city's oldest building, once served as the passenger depot for the San Diego and Arizona Railway during 1894-1927.  The authentic Victorian depot, furnished with turn-of-the-century equipment and artifacts, also features a freight train with a steam locomotive. 

In neighboring El Cajon, the Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center pay tribute to renowned artist Olaf Wieghorst who lived in El Cajon for more than 40 years. The museum exhibits dozens of his paintings portraying the 19th century American West, including cowboys, Native Americans and settlers. 

The small town of Guatay is home to the Tryyn Wooden Spoon Gallery, a little-known jewel in the backcountry featuring a collection of handcrafted wooden cooking utensils and other unique wood carvings by craftsman Bill Chappelow, whose fine-wood designs are part of the Smithsonian collection in Washington, D.C.

Calvin's Steakhouse in beautiful Pine Valley is set in an original Pony Express depot that later became a brothel upstairs. Since the 1940s, it has been a popular local roadside restaurant.

The town of Boulevard is home to the famous Wisteria Candy Cottage.  This family-run sweet shop, housed in a one-room schoolhouse from 1921, is known for its hand-dipped chocolates and other old-fashioned candies.

Desert View Tower, located in In-Ko-Pa on the easternmost part of Highway 80 where San Diego County and Imperial County meet, is a 70-foot high historical landmark commissioned in 1922 as a tribute to early pioneers. This rustic rock-laden overlook is as renowned for its panoramic views of the desert floor below (from the Salton Sea to Mexico) as it is for its quirky Americana museum and boulder garden filled with whimsically painted animal rock carvings.

HIGHWAY 79 – A MOUNTAIN MAJESTY

Highway 79 is the perfect way to explore East County's charming mountain communities and its many fascinating and exciting sights and attractions.

Located near Descanso, Lions, Tigers & Bears is a non-profit rescue facility dedicated to providing a safe haven for abandoned and unwanted exotic animals; it is home to 13 big cats, including lions and tigers, and a black bear cub. 

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park features approximately 110 miles of hiking trails, most open to horseback riders, as well as campgrounds and picnic sites.  Surrounded by Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, picturesque Lake Cuyamaca offers fishing, as well as paddleboat, canoe and motorboat rentals.

The California Wolf Center, located south of Julian, is a non-profit wildlife education center dedicated to increasing public awareness and understanding of the history, biology and behavior of the gray wolf which once roamed North America in countless numbers. 

The delightful mountain town of Julian, founded during the gold rush boom of 1869, is famous for its mouth-watering apple pies and cider from local orchards. Its charming Main Street, featuring Victorian and Old West architecture, stretches from one end of town to the other and houses handicraft and antique shops, a general store and country-style restaurants and bakeries. 

The historic Eagle and High Peak Gold Mines, located on the hill overlooking downtown Julian, offer one-hour, guided walking tours of two of Julian's original gold mines through an intricate path of tunnels. At the Smith Ranch Julian Train Ride & Gold Mine, visitors can embark on a one-mile train ride in an 18-inch narrow gauge gold mining train, explore an 1870 gold rush mine and pan for gold.    

For an insider's story on the pioneers and families who built the illustrious town of Julian, visitors can enjoy David Lewis' Historical Tours of Julian, which includes a fascinating tour through the Julian Cemetery.

The tiny town of Santa Ysabel, located in a pastoral valley north of Wynola, features a number of great sightseeing stops: famous Dudley's Bakery, founded in 1963; the Santa Ysabel Art Gallery, which exhibits regional contemporary and traditional artists in all media with an emphasis on California-style plein air painting; the Hubbell House and Studios that celebrate the creative spirit and work of noted architect and artist James Hubbel, and the charming Mission Santa Ysabel, founded in 1818 by Spanish friars and an assistencia of Mission San Diego de Alcala.

Warner Springs Ranch, nestled in the rolling foothills of Palomar Mountain, traces its roots back to 1844 when it was a trading post for wagon trains, gold seekers and soldiers traveling the Overland/Butterfield stagecoach line. Its legendary hot mineral springs have attracted thousands of travelers from around the world.

HIGHWAY S2 – A DELIGHTFUL DESERT TREK

Formerly the Great Overland Stage Route of 1849, Highway S2 stretches almost 70 miles from the small desert town of Ocotillo, located at the southeastern entrance of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, to the Highway 79 junction near Warner Springs. Along this historic roadway, a dramatic desert landscape unfolds, revealing hot springs, campgrounds, parks and photo-worthy roadside attractions.

Highway S2 passes through a large swath of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California's largest state park, encompassing 640,000 acres. The park features many miles of hiking trails, palm groves, cacti, seasonal wildflowers and sweeping vistas. 

The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitors Center, located on the desert floor, features an interpretive museum/movie theater and nature trails to view native cacti and flora up-close.

Agua Caliente Hot Springs and County Park is known for its geothermally-heated mineral springs and three naturally-fed pools, including two outdoor pools and an indoor therapeutic spa heated to 102 degrees.

For more information on activities and events in East County and the entire San Diego region, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority's website, www.sandiego.org and www.sandiego.org/eastcounty.