Take a Slow Drive Down Sleepy Huasna Road

Arroyo Grande

Heading from the Village of Arroyo Grande toward Lopez Lake, you will surely pass a road sign that leaves you scratching your head. "Who-as-na?", "Hue-snay?", "Oh-Susanna?"....

Huasna (wah'-znah) Road is a 

---

right turn off of Highway 227 (coming from AG) into an old-west paradise. During the paved portions, you will pass between Spanish Moss covered oaks as you meander gently through rolling hills. You will make your way past several lucky families' homes. Take a moment a you pass by, to appreciate the time these folks have taken making their little piece of this amazing road, unique. 

The adventure always begins for me, where the pavement ends. Shortly after passing Huasna Townsite Rd, things get bumpy. This part of the road is not safe during, or shortly after rain (unfortunately we don't have to worry about that any time soon).

As you slowly drive your car down the dirt portion of the pathway, meadows, ponds, and streambeds, open up before you. All of which attract the abundant wildlife, providing a living foreground to the amazing scenery you are driving by. My dog had the chance to go nuts over deer, wild turkeys, and the fugitive cow making it's way down the middle of the road, trying to avoid the police. Probably the only reason you would ever see a sheriff way out here.

Things start to get a little weird at some points. Like when you pass by some Skyy Vodka trees, or come along a Brahma Bull riding school in the middle of nowhere. The weirdness lends itself to the captivating hold this road will put on you.

Ultimately Huasna comes to an end, and you will come to a state park/campground that is closed (probably the first to go during tough times, being way out in the back-country). We were unable to complete the entire journey, as one creek crossing (about a mile from the end) was a bit too rocky to drive a sedan across. Take your truck, and you should be golden.

As a local, we often take for granted (especially during tourist season, when the "regular spots" are crowded with money...I mean tourist coming to town.) the amazing day trips we have around here. Next time the Pismo Pier has 100,000 folks crammed onto the beach, set aside a couple hours to escape the madness. Bring a bottle of wine, a blanket, and have a picnic under an oak. Don't get stuck at home, get out and EXPLORE SLO COUNTY.