Mosquito Ridge Road

Motorcycle Roads & Rides > Routes > United States > California

Average Rating - This road has been rated by 1 visitors

State: California
Date Submitted: June 1, 2006
Submitted by: Jrocket
Motorcycle Road Length: 30 Miles Miles

Written Directions

From Sacramento take I-80 East to Auburn. Get off at the Forsthill exit and make a right turn on to Foresthill Road which will take you to the town of Foresthill. Don't speed along Foresthill Road, the CHP loves to write tickets to bikes up here. About 20 miles out of Auburn you will hit the town of Foresthill. You will see on your Right hand side an old 2 pump gas station followed by a fancy restaurant (Robbers Roost). Make a right turn on Mosquito Ridge Road (also known as FR-96) directly after the restaurant. Now you're on Mosquito Ridge Road ... enjoy the next 30 miles!!!

Scenery

This is a wonderful road to nowhere. There are no cross roads, no drive ways, if you want to get out of civilization fast, this is your road. Breath taking views of snow capped Sierra Mountains will be in the background as you dive into this canyon. Winding your way right and left for mile after mile you get your fill of turns and scenery.

Road Quality

This road is in fairly good shape with a few exceptions. As this is a canyon road, you ride along cliffs in a few short sections. Rocks fall off and leave some loose debris and a few small holes in the road. Other then that it is smooth riding.

Note: This is a very tight and twisty road. It has few shoulders and you will think the turns will never end. Fill up on gas before you leave Foresthill or in Auburn. Once you hit Foresthill road there is nothing out there but canyon and road. This is a somewhat dead end road. Once you hit the lake at the end it is best to turn around and head back. There are other outlets but the roads go from good to bad or dirt. Unless you have something that can handle the bumps you won't want to ride these

Roadside Amenities

There are no shops, restaurants, gas stations, or hotels along this road. Close to the end of the road you come to a lake which has some camping, but don't expect to find lunch or gas once you head down the canyon.

Additional Info

- View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather .

Nickname (optional) Jrocket

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Reviewed by Guest on July 8, 2009 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Snowbum
motorcycle_year: 1984
motorcycle_make: BMW
motorcycle_type: Touring
Comment: The Auburn>Foresthill>Mosquito Pass Rd is still pretty much as described. A few years ago other more remote roads that lead to French Meadows Reservoir, and a few other areas, were paved. That means that one can use the Georgetown route; or, my route. I live at Lake Tahoe, and my route keeps me out of the Sacramento Valley heat, and mostly away from any traffic. I use Ice House Road off Highway 50 (this is east of Placerville), then use Wentworth Springs Road and Eleven Pines Rd....and at the split, take Hell Hole Rd to the left, which goes to French Meadows Rd, leads to the south side of the dam, and there you have Mosquito Ridge, and the boat ramps and campgrounds on the road to the right, maybe 3 or 4 miles further. That road peters out eventually, although you can take it towards highway 80 if you want to. If you have limited fuel capability, I suggest crossing the dam and getting fuel in Foresthill....the Chevron station is 100 feet left of the intersection, and also has ice and some foodstuffs. If you go to the right in Foresthill, there is a popular bikers place to eat..and drink...called the Red Dirt Saloon. Foresthill has a museum and a lodge to stay at...or, do as I do, camp someplace...usually at the reservoir. There is a group campground at the Reservoir, called Black Bear, it is just barely past the McGuire Boat Ramp exit....motorcyclists are welcome for advance reservations. Things used to be pretty nasty on the roads around Wentworth Springs. Now, with the paving and road flattening and smoothing, anyone can enjoy the twists and turns, in/on any vehicle.
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