California State Route 9
 State Route 9 | ||||
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| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by Caltrans | ||||
| Length | 38.49 mi[1] (61.94 km) | |||
| Existed | 1934[2]–present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
 SR 35 at Saratoga Gap SR 236 in Boulder Creek | ||||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | California | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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State Route 9 in the U.S. State of California is mainly a rural and mountainous route that travels 35 mi. (56 km) from CA-1 near Santa Cruz through Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek and several smaller towns to Saratoga, where it briefly becomes known as Big Basin Way. It then turns south-east and becomes Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, passes through Monte Sereno and finally terminates at CA-17 in Los Gatos. Daily traffic is between 3,200 and 34,500 cars. The section between the Los Gatos town limit and the intersection with CA-35 is part of the Scenic Highway System.
Route description
The road is a winding 2 lane road for the majority of its length until it approaches Fruitvale Avenue in Saratoga. There it briefly becomes a 4 lane track with a large center divider. However as the road enters Monte Sereno it again becomes a two lane track. This particular narrowing has caused backups in the past however they have become more infrequent since the completion of CA-85. CA-9 resumes being a 4 lane road through Downtown Los Gatos until its terminus at the junction with CA-17
History
CA-9 was created from several previously constructed roads. One of these was a toll road built in 1848 by Martin McCarty.
The segment of Highway 9 between Los Gatos and Boulder Creek was added to the State Highway system in 1913. The segment from Boulder Creek to Santa Cruz was added in 1933. The route was not signed until 1934.
Initially, Highway 9 was signed as continuing north from Saratoga on what is now Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road. This segment was later re-signed as CA-85 until 1994, when CA-85 was rerouted. The road is no longer in the State Highway system. The road then continued up Mathilda Avenue to present day CA-237 where it turned east. CA-9 continued east until it reached Gold Street in Alviso, California. The existing bridge did not exist facilitating the need for CA-9 to use the Gold Street bridge and enter downtown Alviso. CA-9 then joined First Street and continued down that street until it resumed an easterly course along the remainder of present day CA-237. At the interchange with what is now I-880, CA-9 turned north and continued along I-880 until it reached present day CA-262 at Mission Blvd. CA-9 followed Mission Blvd east until it reached present day I-680 where it again turned north until reaching present day CA-238. CA-9 then followed CA-238's route to its terminus at what is now I-580 in Castro Valley.
The southern end of CA-9 terminated at CA-17 in Santa Cruz until it was rerouted in 1981.
Attractions
Although CA-9 is mainly rural and mountainous, there are several points of interest along the way. At the summit of the Santa Cruz mountains (the junction with CA-35 and after a steep climb), there is a vista point offering a (somewhat obstructed) view of the Bay Area. The vista point is the route's highest point at around 2,600 feet (762 m). A better view can be obtained at the Russian Ridge vista point on CA-35. After pasing the summit and the descent into Santa Cruz begins, CA-9 passes Big Basin Redwoods State Park, a popular hiking spot and campground.
CA-9 is particularly popular for recreational motorcycling with motorcyclists from all over Northern California and beyond flocking to it at weekends. In summer months the short section between CA-35, Skyline Boulevard and CA-236, Big Basin Road becomes a popular destination for a variety of motorcycle types, and impromptu gatherings of riders in the parking lot at intersection of CA-35 and CA-9 known locally as ‘four corners’ are commonplace.
CA-9 is also popular with bicyclists. The seven mile section from Saratoga Village to the Saratoga Gap is notable for the number of bicycles climbing the hill on weekend mornings.