Tehachapi Mountains

The Tehachapi Mountains are a transverse mountain range in southern California that form a geological and climatic divide between the southern San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert. The range contains important transportation corridors and wind-energy developments.

Scenic drives, hiking on high ridges and viewpoints over the San Joaquin Valley are common recreational uses; railfans visit the Tehachapi Loop to watch freight trains negotiate the spiral. Ridge-top wind farms and protected oak and pine woodlands are prominent features visible from the highways.

The railroad line that includes the Tehachapi Loop was completed in 1876 to cross the range and remains a key freight route. In recent decades the ridgelines have been used for large-scale wind energy development, notably the Alta Wind Energy Center.

The mountains lie south of Bakersfield in Kern County and serve as the transition between California’s Central Valley to the northwest and the Mojave Desert to the southeast, with major highways and rail lines crossing the passes.

• Rail history: The Tehachapi Loop was completed in 1876 as part of the main Southern Pacific transcontinental route and remains in regular use by freight railroads.
• Wind energy: Wind farms on the ridgelines are visible from highways and viewpoints and produce a major share of regional renewable electricity.

What to See #

• Tehachapi Pass: The principal mountain crossing on Highway 58 and the lowest-elevation rail crossing that hosts the historic railroad loop drawing rail enthusiasts.
• Tehachapi Loop: A spiralling section of the main freight railroad constructed to negotiate steep grades; it is a popular spot for train-watching.
• Alta Wind Energy Center: A large onshore wind energy development that occupies ridgelines in the pass and is among the largest in the United States.