Pacheco Pass is a mountain pass located in the Diablo Range in southeastern Santa Clara County, California. It is named after Don Juan Pacheco, a 19th-century ranchero. This pass represents the primary route through the coastal range mountains linking the Santa Clara Valley to the Central Valley in California.
The highest point on the pass is about 1,368 feet (417 m). It is the site of the Pacheco Pass Wind Farm, a wind power project featuring turbines that generate electricity. The pass is traversed by State Route 152, which has notoriously high accident rates and has been targeted for many safety improvement projects.
The western exit of the pass is near Gilroy, a city known for its garlic crop, while the eastern side of the pass exits near the San Luis Reservoir, a large artificial lake.
Pacheco Pass is significant for California's water supply system as it houses the headwaters of Pacheco Creek, as well as the San Luis Reservoir, a facility jointly operated by the California Department of Water Resources and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Furthermore, it is home to the Pacheco State Park which offers recreational activities to outdoor enthusiasts.
