some
pretty decent view's from higher elevations , also goes
through the redwood forest … but you won't have much time
to take your eyes off the twisties anyway!!!
A
view from the summit
Motorcycle
Road Quality:
most
likely the craziest elevation changes you will ever see
(in the eastern portion from red bluff ,CA ) . truly resembles
a rollercoaster in spots . this road is 140
miles of twisty heaven ,I'm not kidding !! very good
road surface ,though it does get a little rough in spots
farther west, and the center line briefly disappears for
a few miles farther west . lots of places with out guardrails
,and long drops ,so be careful!!! every road will seem
very trivial after you ride this. this 140 miles will
take around 4 hours to do.
Note:
BE SAFE BE SAFE BE SAFE !!!! most roads we travel don't
do anything too "weird" . this is the exception .this
road ( mainly on the eastern portion ,first 20 or so miles
) will have you going up a hill , making a right at the
top ,and before you can even see over the crest , as your
still turning right ,the road goes left .serious. after
the rollercoaster road has smoothed out, its somewhat
readable from there on ,but NEVER predictable !!! i have
some pictures on my myspace page ,will try and get some
up here too :-)
The
perfect road !!! this is just a very small sample very nice
turns
Motorcycle
Roadside Amenities:
i
seem to remember only 2 gas stations ( neither have super
fill waaay up in red bluff ) and maybe 3 spots for food
. not much out there but crazy fun !!!
start
in REDBLUFF , CA . hwy 36 , going WEST ,towards
FORTUNA ,CA . there will be no mistake you
are on the right road when you see the twisty
road sign that has " next 140 miles " under
the arrow . stay on highway 36 until it
ends in FORTUNA , CA . ENJOY AND BE SAFE
!!! LITTLE OR NO CELL RECEPTION !!!.
All
good things must come to an end
Photo contributed by visitor in May 09: "This picture was taken on hwy 36 just west of Bridgeville. This road has it all, 10 mph twisters to 50 mph sweepers. Including 10% grades."
Additional
Information:
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weather.
Do you have any pictures of this area? Contribute a photo and show other riders what they’ll see along the way.
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Comments page 1 of 0
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Ric'N'AJ -
Posted 415 days ago
Great time, just back from ride over 36. We went west to east, nice start meandering through tree lined rode and following the river. For first-timers, be alert some things come fast. This time of the year look for stuff on road. Supreme gas in Wildwood 58 mi out of Red Bluff, great food and conversation also. Be careful and have fun
almost all the corners are constant radius the whole trip there are only maybe 3 bad corners. watch for fresh rock slides as some of the steep cliffs drop rocks. About the lack of gas stations. there is one in dinsmore about 98 miles from red bluff and 40 from the 101 but it only has regular. the road has distinct sections with similar corners in each. The sections vary from long sweepers, tight cliff side twists, and riverside meandering fun
A few of us just rode this route this past rainy weekend. For a cruiser it was great fun except when the sun went down and the rains hit, no lights except the cars coming at you and then you loose sight of the road with all of the reflections. Plantina is the first gas out of Red Bluff about 40 miles in. Top off there and you should make it out the other end. Take the 'Avenue of the Giants' after that....awsome
No doubt about it, the #1 windiest road in California. No other road even comes close! Passengers will enjoy the ride, but be prepared for that 'queezy' feeling you get after 4 solid hours of a rollercoaster ride. BE SAFE. Wildlife is abundant, turkeys, deer, elk and bear. Crazy, crazy road. You will never be so happy to make it to the coast and relax after this one. Do head north and do the Avenue of the Giants afterwards. Nothing like that place.
This user rated the route: 10 out of 10
Posted 405 days ago
Kudos on posting 36. From Redding, we have made the coast trip many times on the Hwy, and walk away with a smile every time. Either direction! It's a little nicer to head west early on a summer morning and get to the coast in the cool mid day. Then binge on seafood at the nearest wharf restaurant. It's anywhere from there. Because all is well with the world. Aren't sport bikes the greatest?
My husband and I rode this highway last year on vacation. He rides a Tour Deluxe and I ride a Roadstar. It was an amazing and very challenging ride. I have never ridden a more challenging road!!!
All of the above and more, I remember thinking that for me the entire trip was at about 50 mph and there was not much time to look around because you were constantly lining yourself up with your line through the corner and the Apex . I don't have a sprt bike but I had a blast anyway...I will do it again...watch for animals
My wife and I, along with a small group experienced Hwy 36 in June of 2008. Incredible!! I rode Deal's Gap in 2006. If the "Gap" is referred to as the "Tail of the Dragon", the rest of the beast is Hwy 36!! Most definately a "do-over" road.
This user rated the route: 10 out of 10
Posted 3 days ago
Just got back from California. I agree with all the comments. Best road I have ever riden on. The "next 140 miles" sign sez it all. Road got very dark once we hit the giant redwoods. Every road in New York seems a little easier after this experiance. Awesome!! Watch for logging trucks....
This user rated the route: 10 out of 10
Posted 99 days ago
The sides of the tires on my Vmax were sponges by the end of this ride it was awesome. I stopped about 50 miles in for gas (Vmax Of Course). I'm going to ride this again atleast 3 or 4 more times this year. The ultimate ending was riding down Avenue of the Giants. Can it get any better than this? And then on to Highway 1 all the way to Santa Cruz.... If you like to ride these imo are some of the best rides in this country.
Texan in California for a while...
This user rated the route: 9 out of 10
Posted 129 days ago
In 2008 I rode this path coming back to Canada from Vegas. Phenominal route, and ended up blowing a rear tire in one of the turns just past Bridgeville. The most memorable part of the trip, besides the fantastic scenery, was the 3 hrs waiting for the tow truck while visiting with some other riders who lived 2 miles from where I broke down. Friendships forged, countries compared, and I learned a lot about Humboldt County! Ride started in dayllight, ended in the dark which made it even more spectacular! Would love to do it again and this time finish it all the way!
I rode this just a few months ago and had a blast. When he say ride careful heed his warning in some spot there was gravel on the road, But there is nothing but good scenery and open road I think we saw maybe 10 cars and 5 bike on the whole 140 mile run.
This user rated the route: 8 out of 10
Posted 404 days ago
I was just riding 36 and hwy 3 today it's a great road but not the best in the area. I live in Redding and ride this area a lot and much prefer hwy 3 from 36 through hayfork on up to Yreka. If you are into some really fast riding try Gazelle (north of Weed) to Cecilville, there is absolutly no traffic (or cops) and the road from Callahan to Cecilville is unbelievable. If you really are adventuresome try the "Forks of the Salmon" loop from Callahan through Cecilville along the south fork of the Salmon then back up the north fork on Sawyers Bar Rd to Etna. I live in motorcycle heaven!
Just completed Red Bluff to Fortuna on route 36. Unbelievable! Here in the UK we have some twisties but none that go on for 140 miles through spectacular scenery on roads that no one else seems to use! Rode "two up" on a 2006 Harley Softail Heritage which was good for the first 70 miles but very limited thereafter. Asked several people in Red Bluff if there was fuel on the way but no one knew. Why? Because no one used the road. On hearing that, I brimmed the bike
with premium, rode past the sign "twisties next 140 miles", held my breath and hoped for the best as the Harley was good on the straights for 130'ish miles from a tank. The first 40 odd miles are sweeping curves on glorious tarmac with supreme contours in the road. Through ranching country towards the snow-capped hills, after 48 miles there is Plantina. One store with one gas pump selling regular. Filled up, had a coffee and a chat with the lady who must see very few people in her daily routine and headed on, safe in the knowledge that I would reach Fortuna. I could relax, but not too much as the
corners and views on the middle section are equally spectacular and can take you by surprise. Stop as much as you can cause you wont see this scenery every day! The road surfaces in the middle section are sometimes very rough with rockfalls and gravel to contend with but once through that, the last third of this road mirrors the first section with more sweeping bends allowing you to plan two and three corners in advance. I cant do justice to this road. I ride the TT course on the Isle of Man every year and that takes my breath away but the length, the road quality, the scenery, the cambers the sheer emptiness of both the road and the countryside is amazing. I went from Red Bluff to Fortuna and never came across another vehicle going westbound. I was riding for periods of 15 to 20 minutes without seeing another vehicle. Amazing! One regret, Harleys are the wrong bike for this road. I ride an Aprilia RSV R which would be good but could I stand after 140 miles of route 36? At my age I doubt it. Best bike in my opinion, any "sit-up" V-twin (Aprilia Tuono, Ducati Monster or Streetfighter) with good ground clearance. The engine does the braking leaving you off the brake lever able to look at the spectacular
road that is coming at you at great speed. Do this road and every other one will fade into mediocrity.
Frazzamacca, UK.
This user rated the route: 10 out of 10
Posted 170 days ago
No doubt about it, the #1 windiest road in California. No other road even comes close! Passengers will enjoy the ride, but be prepared for that 'queezy' feeling you get after 4 solid hours of a rollercoaster ride. BE SAFE. Wildlife is abundant, turkeys, deer, elk and bear. Crazy, crazy road. You will never be so happy to make it to the coast and relax after this one. Do head north and do the Avenue of the Giants afterwards. Nothing like that place. May i add a correction? Avenue of the Giants is SOUTH from the point of Hwy 36 intersecting Hwy 101. I live 4 miles from 36 and ride it often
I found this road excellent. Watch for deer ... they are everywhere. Regular gas can be found several places near the middle of this ride for those with limited range ....
I road this first time two years ago and I agree with the comment, after this every road is easier. I would like the guys who ride Deal's Gap to come out and take this raod for comparrison
