Tejon Pass is a mountain pass in southern California, which traverses the Grapevine Canyon. Tejon Summit is located on Interstate 5 approximately 70 miles north of Los Angeles, California. Tejon pass is often called the Grapevine, however, the Grapevine more correctly references the steep 5 1/2 mile grade section at the northern end of this pass.
Northbound I-5 from Tejon Summit has a vertical descent of 2613 feet over 11.6 miles. The grade is steep for the first 2 to 3 miles then it lessens significantly before reaching the very steep grade section called the Grapevine Hill at 6.5 miles north of the summit. The reported grade for the Grapevine Hill is 6% for 5 miles. The Grapevine Hill has two runaway truck ramps. The first ramp is on the right, 3.3 miles from the top of the Grapevine Hill, and the second ramp is on the left at 3.6 miles from the top of the Grapevine Hill.
Southbound I-5 from the Tejon Summit consists of approximately 22 miles of rolling hills before starting a steep descent down the "5-mile grade". The 5-mile grade has a vertical descent of 1603 feet over a total of 7.5 miles. There is an uphill section just before reaching the 5-mile grade where there is a large brake check area for trucks.
SUMMIT
Pass Name:
Tejon Pass, (a.k.a. The Grapevine)
Traversed by Highway:
I-5
Summit Elevation:
4,144 ft.
NORTHBOUND DESCENT
Base Elevation:
1,531 ft.
Vertical Distance:
2,613 ft.
Driving Distance:
11.6 miles
Posted Speed Limit:
65 mph / 35 mph for trucks
Steepest Reported Grade:
6% for 5 miles
Calculated Average Grade:
4.2%
Number of Lanes:
Four northbound
Number of Advisory Speed Curves:
One
Runaway Ramps:
One on the right side 9.5 miles from the summit. One on the left side 9.8 miles from the summit.
Brake Check Stations:
One at the Lebec exit 2.5 miles north of the summit
ADVISORY CURVES
Advisory Speed
Location from Summit
Sign
None
2.8 miles
Left Curve
ELEVATIONS
Mile Marker
Elevation
Change in Elevation
Percent Grade
0
4,144 ft.
1
3,918 ft.
226 ft.
4.2%
2
3,685 ft.
233 ft.
4.4%
3
3,554 ft.
131 ft.
2.4%
4
3,425 ft.
129 ft.
2.4%
5
3,360 ft.
65 ft.
1.2%
6
3,214 ft.
146 ft.
2.7%
6.5
3,166 ft.
48 ft.
1.8%
7
2,989 ft.
177 ft.
6.7%
8
2,652 ft.
337 ft.
6.3%
9
2,372 ft.
280 ft.
5.3%
10
2,038 ft.
334 ft.
6.3%
11
1,739 ft.
299 ft.
5.6%
11.6
1,531 ft.
208 ft.
3.9%
RECOMMENDED SPEEDS FROM THE GRADE SEVERITY RATING SYSTEM
MAXIMUM TRUCK WEIGHT (POUNDS)
MAXIMUM SAFE SPEED (MPH)
BRAKE TEMP FROM DECLINE (°F)
BRAKE TEMP FROM EMERGENCY STOP (°F)
TOTAL BRAKE TEMP. (°F)
TOTAL TRAVEL TIME (MIN.)
80,000
20
484
9
493
15.3
75,000
25
482
14
496
12.2
70,000
30
461
19
480
10.2
65,000
39
468
30
498
7.8
60,000
65
409
78
487
4.7
*These speeds are based on an average grade from the summit to the base. Some grade segments may be steeper than the average and require a slower speed.
Tejon Pass Northbound
SOUTHBOUND DESCENT
Base Elevation:
1,212 ft.
Vertical Distance:
1,603 ft.
Driving Distance:
7.5 miles
Posted Speed Limit:
65 mph / 40 mph for trucks
Steepest Reported Grade:
5 % for 5 miles
Calculated Average Grade:
4.0%
Number of Advisory Speed Curves:
One
Number of Lanes:
Four Southbound
Brake Check Stations:
One
ADVISORY CURVES
Advisory Speed
Location from Summit
Sign
None
7.2 miles
Right Curve
ELEVATIONS
Mile Marker
Elevation
Change in Elevation
Percent Grade
0
2,834 ft.
1
2,630 ft.
204 ft.
3.8%
2
2,534 ft.
96 ft.
1.8%
3
2,319 ft.
215 ft.
4.0%
4
2,075 ft.
244 ft.
4.6%
5
1,831 ft.
244 ft.
4.6%
6
1,585 ft.
246 ft.
4.6%
7
1,346 ft.
239 ft.
4.5%
7.5
1,231 ft.
115 ft.
4.3%
RECOMMENDED SPEEDS FROM THE GRADE SEVERITY RATING SYSTEM
MAXIMUM TRUCK WEIGHT (POUNDS)
MAXIMUM SAFE SPEED (MPH)
BRAKE TEMP FROM DECLINE (°F)
BRAKE TEMP FROM EMERGENCY STOP (°F)
TOTAL BRAKE TEMP. (°F)
TOTAL TRAVEL TIME (MIN.)
80,000
40
459
39
498
11.3
75,000
65
397
98
495
6.9
*These speeds are based on an average grade from the summit to the base. Some grade segments may be steeper than the average and require a slower speed.
