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| Title:
Topanga Canyon Loop |
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State:
California
Submitted
By: Caymon Fields
Date Submitted: Sep 03
Motorcycle Type: 2001 GSX-R600
Motorcycle Road Length: 35 Miles
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Motorcycle
Road Scenery: 
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If
you want to see some of the only remaining rural areas in
the vicinity of Los Angeles while meandering through some
awesome twisted mountain roads, the Topanga Canyon Loop
is for you. Even though its only about 20-30 minutes away
from downtown LA, it will give you some great motorcycle
roads to wind through with relatively little traffic to
avoid (there are typically more "two wheelers" (motorcycles
and bicycles) on the road than four wheelers). There are
a lot of really cool things to see on this route. You'll
see plenty of sweet mountain views and then you'll go through
some cool shady canyon roads, and then pass by some really
awesome houses perched on the cliffs along the way. And
probably one of the best things about this route is that
there are tons of side roads to explore, all with something
neat to see. If you take some of those side roads, you'll
be really surprised by all the houses that are hidden in
these shady canyons … the diversity of these houses alone
is enough to keep you amused. For example, you'll see a
mobile home one minute and the next minute your passing
by a multimillion-dollar stucco with adobe roof and mega
dollar landscaping.
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Motorcycle
Road Quality:
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The
roads going through these canyons are a blast to explore.
One minute you're on your normal two lane road and the next
minute the road shrinks to a single lane as it hugs the
side of a mountain, climbing rapidly with NO GUARDRAILS!
I originally intended on staying on the main road (Topanga
Canyon Road) but I kept going off the main path and taking
the side roads because everyone of them seemed to turn out
to show me something cool. It was like I found a whole new
world on these back roads. Overall the road conditions were
pretty good however, like I mentioned before, there are
some really narrow roads with out guardrails and you have
to watch out for cars that are coming around corners like
they own the road … not much room to maneuver at times.
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Motorcycle
Roadside Amenities: 
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There
really isn't that much to do along this route in terms of
touristy type stuff. There are a few cool looking restaurants
along the way that are decorated to match the surroundings
… they look like old fashioned saloons and restaurants that
have been there for a hundred years or more. You could check
out Topanga
state park if you were looking for a way of making this
bike trip turn in into whole day event.
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I
suggest starting this route by going through Santa
Monica, CA. The directions are pretty straightforward.
I just got my self out to Santa Monica by taking the 10
freeway west till it basically ends and runs into the Pacific
Coast Hwy (PCH). I took the PCH north and headed towards
Malibu. The road you are looking for (Topanga Canyon Road)
is BEFORE you get to Malibu. Just stay on PCH and keep an
eye out for Topanga Canyon road on the right (if you are
heading Northwest on PCH). (at the intersection there is
a stoplight with an abandoned gas station and some type
of produce/landscaping shop). Turn right (or east … away
from the ocean and up into the mountains) on Topanga Canyon
road and now the route begins. Take this up into the mountains
for about 4 miles and then be on the look out for "Old Topanga
Canyon road" which will intersect on the left. I recommend
taking that road as it will allow you to try some of the
side roads I was talking about above and it will allow you
to turn this route into a loop. Stay on "Old Topanga Canyon
road" and it will twist and turn through the mountains (note:
don't be afraid to explore the side roads here! ... almost
everyone of them has something cool to see). Continue on
Old Topanga Canyon road until it runs into Mulholland Hwy.
At that point take a right on Mulholland Hwy and take that
all the way till it intersects with Topanga Canyon road
at which point you want to take a right and you'll head
back down the mountains, eventually making a complete loop
when you pass Old Topanga Canyon road (where you took a
left before).
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Additional
Information:
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