State Route 74, the Ortega Highway, remained open and clear Thursday, one day after snow made it impassable and forced a closure.
The treacherous conditions triggered a closure at 10 p.m. on Monday, affecting about 20 miles of highway between Nichols Roads, near San Juan Capistrano, and Grand Avenue at Lake Elsinore.
The two-lane road was cleared and re-opened at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, according to a dispatcher with the California Highway Patrol.
About three dozen vehicles with 40 people in them were stranded on the highway because of the conditions, but were eventually bused out, said CHP spokeswoman Mary Bailey.
— Staff and wire reports