Scenic Stop: California Aqueduct (and more) from I-5

On several of our drives from Northern California to Southern California, we’d seen this vista point along Interstate-5 but never stopped there. Usually, in a hurry, it was something that was always kept aside for ‘some other time.’ One time last winter, when we were on a shorter drive down this highway, we decided to make a stop at this place, that I later learned was called California Aqueduct Vista Point. And what a great view it held!

California Aqueduct Vista Point

The road that led us off I-5 took us to the top of a hill and opened out to this view of green rolling hills of the Diablo Range and California Central Valley blanketed in a lighter green. We could also see Interstate-5 and a couple of canals on either side of the highway.

Pretty sights, aren’t they? We take some places for granted especially when they are on an often-traveled route, don’t we? I’m glad we finally made that stop at the California Aqueduct Vista Point and took in these views.

That said, let me warn you that these are pure winter sights. In the summer and fall months, this area might look very different. You will still see the aqueduct and the road and all but the area is not this refreshing a sight.

For a good part of the year, it is a yellow to tan landscape that you will see here. It is when the winter showers come, that these mountains turn into these lovely shades of green. And in soft- evening-light the valley looks a neon green like you see in the pictures.

As for the aqueducts you see in the pictures, although this point is called the California Aqueduct, I believe it also shows you the Delta Mendota Canal.

Graffiti at the vista point

There’s one more thing I have to show you.

Adding a pop of color to the green landscape at this vista point was a dumpster splashed with paint and heavily scribbled upon.

I thought the graffiti on the dumpster was ok. What was sad to see was that the placard with the information about the aqueduct was marred with some tagging. It not only made it difficult to read the placard but the stuff written on it is not something I would want to put up on this blog. 🙁

California Aqueduct

Anyway, what I managed to gather was that the California Aqueduct runs parallel to Interstate Highway 5. It transports water from the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta to the southern parts San Joaquin Valley, South Bay, Central Coast and Southern California for irrigation and municipal purposes.

If you’d like to visit this vista point on I-5, let me remind you that it is called the California Aqueduct Vista Point and it is beside the Southbound lanes in a place called Newman, CA.

Remember: It’s not going to look this green in Summer/Fall. 🙂

You might also want to see:
Mt. Shasta Vista Point on I-5

Diablo Range in Winter —
The Hills are Alive Again
Patterson Pass snaking thru shades of Green

Linking to
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Our World Tuesday

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