This
begins in rural farm and ranch country just outside of Sequoia
National Park, and meanders into arid rolling hills and small
mountains, becoming more scenic with every mile. Nice vistas
include a sunny, cliff-side tour around Pine Lake Reservoir,
and a cool, wooded tour around the edge of beautiful, blue-green
Bass Lake. With
unmarked roads, little traffic and apparently empty towns,
you really feel like you're in a lost world. Numbed
by this enchantment (and the lack of road signs) you can easily
get lost and "have to" ride more scenic country or mountain
roads. Towards the end of the ride it becomes more wooded,
hilly, scenic and touristy, finally bringing you to the entrance
of Yosemite National Park. This entire route averages 3 stars,
but ranges from 2 to 4 stars. This begins in rural farm and
ranch country just outside of Sequoia National Park, and meanders
into arid rolling hills and small mountains, becoming more
scenic with every mile. Nice vistas include a sunny, cliff-side
tour around Pine Lake Reservoir, and a cool, wooded tour around
the edge of beautiful, blue-green Bass Lake. With unmarked
roads, little traffic and apparently empty towns, you really
feel like you're in a lost world. Numbed by this enchantment
(and the lack of road signs) you can easily get lost and "have
to" ride more scenic country or mountain roads. Towards the
end of the ride it becomes more wooded, hilly, scenic and
touristy, finally bringing you to the entrance of Yosemite
National Park. This entire route averages 3 stars, but ranges
from 2 to 4 stars.
Motorcycle
Road Quality:
Starting
this route is a nice warm up for what lay ahead. Occasional
twists in low lying ranch land lead to curves in the foothills
and small mountains, that are possibly dirty, and of typical
pavement quality. Later the pavement becomes like 1 grit
sandpaper, and for good reason. You are taking tight curves
on a cliff-side, with nice vistas and no guard rails or
shoulders. Keep your eyes on the road your first time through!
This section of the trip deserves 5 stars, but some of the
trip only 2 or 3 stars.
Motorcycle
Roadside Amenities:
This
route basically connects Giant Sequoia National Park with
Yosemite.
The first 60 miles or so are quite rural, passing Pine Flat
Reservoir, which
is full of boats and might have a beach or two. At North
Fork you can find
civilization, gas and Bass Lake, a tourist trap that's not
too busy in
October. It becomes rural again as you proceed north to
Yosemite National
Park.
Directions:
NOTE:
the map above was developed by MotorcycleRoads.com only
as a rough guide of the directions and should not be relied
on soley as it can not be garanteed to be accurate. It
comes very close to matching the road submitter's written
directions below. The map above was developed using mapping
software and may not be as accurate as the road submitter's
version as often roads/signs on the ground are different
than they are reflected "on the computer."
Subbmitter's
Directions: "Beware, there are few road signs,
it's easier to follow the signs to specific towns. On
highway 180 between Squaw
Valley, CA and Sequoia National Park (a couple miles
east of Squaw Valley) follow the sign for Piedra (north
on N. Elwood Rd). Near Piedra, follow the signs for Trimmer
(Rt on N. Piedra Rd., Rt on E. Trimmer Springs Rd). Halfway
around Pine Flat Reservoir, you'll hit Trimmer. Follow
the signs to Tollhouse (Lt on Maxson Rd, Rt on Watts Valley
Rd, becoming Burrough Valley Rd, Rt on Tollhouse Rd).
Continue on Tollhouse Rd, following the signs to Pine
Ridge. Around Pine ridge follow the signs to Auberry (Lt
on Beal Fire Rd, cross hwy 168, Lt on Auberry Rd). Around
Auberry follow the signs to North Fork (R on Powerhouse
Rd, becoming 222). In North Fork, pass the Chevron, and
turn left to stay on 222, and eventually turn right on
221, taking you to Bass Lake (the lake, not the town).
Take the wooded ride clockwise (lake on the right) on
426, then South Shore Rd. At the large intersection, turn
left, obeying the signs to highway 41 which takes you
to Yosemite. It's 60 miles from Squaw Valley to North
Fork. It's about another 60 or 70 from North Fork to the
entrance of Yosemite. (In case you want to go on through,
it's 185 miles from North Fork to Lee Vining, the Nevada
side of Yosemite, and that includes a side tour inside
Yosemite on Glacier Point Rd.) Notes: Set aside time and
gas for when you get lost. Learn to use the sun to find
your way. (What did you say? GPS?)
A
side trip halfway through this route is highway 168, which
takes you into Yosemite-like altitudes and around two
more large lakes. This closed-loop highway is apparently
for tourists and locals. The side route on highway
168 is a larger, more traveled road, and usually not as
tight."
Additional
Information:
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