At an elevation of 4,190 ft the Cajon Pass is a moderate-elevation mountain pass between the San Bernardino Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California in the United States. It was created by the movements of the infamous San Andreas Fault which passes through the Cajon Pass (crossing I-15 on the south side of the summit) and is partially responsible for the unique local geography.



The pass provides an important economic link from the Los Angeles Basin to Victor Valley and the Mojave Desert, including Las Vegas.

The Cajon Pass area is known for high wind, turbulence and fog. The weather over the pass can vary, from foggy days with poor visibility to clear afternoons where aircraft are bounced by gusting Santa Ana winds that top 70-80 mph. The winds sometimes reach gale-force strength. As a result, there are usually high wind advisories as well as road signs posted throughout the area. It is not uncommon to see overturned trucks during such windy weather there.

The California Southern Railroad, a subsidiary of the Santa Fe Railway, was the first railroad to use the Cajon Pass as a route through the mountains. The rail line through the pass was built in the early 1880s as part of a connection between the present day cities of Barstow and San Diego.

Source: Wikipedia
Image Credit: Google Earth