California Motorcycle Roads and Trips
California (CA) offers an incredible diversity of motorcycle road scenery. The state is blessed with over 1,100 miles of Pacific Coast shoreline, countless miles of arid canyon and twisted mountain road riding, vast stretches of alpine mountain roads, and some of the most appealing cities in the world. And, as one of the most popular tourist states in America, the Golden State is sure to offer motorcyclists looking for things to do off the bike an amazing menu of choices.
Note: the motorcycle rides below have been divided into two general regions:
- Northern California (anything north of Fresno)
- Southern California (anything south of Fresno)
Northern California Motorcycle Rides
... This road is very popular with sport bikes ... first 1/3 of the road from Pilot Hill/Hwy 49 to Eldorado Hills is somewhat technical with lots of little ups and downs which will make for a wheelie, and very tight turns with blind comerses
Scenery:
 |
Road Quality:
 |
Amenities:
 |
... this ride passes directly through or right next to about 5 parks so you know the scenery has to be good ... you will not be going long before some twisties
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… route delivers breathtaking vistas of snow covered mountain peaks, mountain meadows, wild flowers, wild life, water falls, and trees of every description. Panoramas so beautiful, they look painted. This is strictly a summer road as it is closed in winter
Scenery:
 |
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… any notice of the scenery is secondary to keeping rubber to pavement, as the twisties keep you more than busy throughout the ride. Recommend pulling off at the numerous overlook sites to take in the views
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… pass through the beautiful Westgard Pass and have fantastic views from it's 7,313 feet of elevation
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
 |
… great rolling hills and scenic vista's of multiple reservoirs lying just northeast of the Berkley area. You'll see both the San Pablo and Briones reservoirs
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… lots of elevation changes different rock formations, steep canyons, Deer creek with 5 bridges crossings, pastures, Lake Almanor
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… trip takes you near the almost secret Hetch Hetchy entrance to Yosemite … you'll pass Cherry Lake with a campground … wonderful tree-lined road … GREAT twisties for miles and miles and miles!
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… from peaceful cattle grazing meadows, with no traffic in sight to steep twisty Cliffside roads climbing up to Lake Tahoe … postcard vistas abound ... sheer cliffs on one side and rock face on the other … fabulous camp grounds, national forests restaurants and roadside bars all along the ride
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… goes through the redwood forest … but you won't have much time to take your eyes off the twisties anyway!!! … most likely the craziest elevation changes you will ever see 140 miles of twisty heaven! ,I'm not kidding !!
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… the hills of the Napa Valley … travel about 15 magnificent miles as the road that hugs the shore of wonderful Lake Berryessa … Sunday mornings there's a restaurant that gets full of bikes of all types where 121 and 128 meet
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… simply one of the most beautiful areas of California, and the United States… while cruising in between the 100-foot tall trees that line the roadway, you pass by large open meadows covered with colorful natural flowers and blooms as well as occasional cascading waterfalls
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… a wonderful road to nowhere … if you want to get out of civilization fast, this is your trip … breath taking views of snow capped Sierra Mountains will be in the background as you dive into this canyon … no shops, restaurants, gas stations, or hotels along this road
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… travel up the Feather River Canyon … waterfalls, pass through tunnels cut into the rocky side of the Canyon, high Canyon walls … more than enough turns "sweeping and tight" to please anyone … a couple of other "Resorts" still operating along the road
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… cruising along the north fork of the Yuba River on a windy road often times through the bottom of a canyon that is extremely beautiful … hills and straight-aways to break up the ride & give you a little bit of everything … Nevada city, which has that great old town atmosphere to walk around in
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… pass through ponderosa pines, into wide open plateaus with snow capped mountains all around … 47 miles … end up at the far east side of Yosemite National Park
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… begins in rural farm and ranch country just outside of Sequoia National Park … meanders into arid rolling hills and small mountains - becoming more scenic with every mile … this section of the trip deserves 5 stars … Bass Lake is a tourist trap that's not too busy in October
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
Southern California Motorcycle Rides
... same route of the 'Beach Cities 101 Cruise' you can get the route map online. Begin anywhere along this route and you will enjoy a blast from the past. It is one of the most beautiful roads in the world. There is not a bad time of year to make this ride
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
... Tree lined road, ride by a river, thru the mountains then out to a beautiful valley. Views of Lake Casitas ... Twisties all the way from start to finish. And, the road has just been redone
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
... lot of forest scenery, vast canyon vistas, snow-capped mountains - this is a great scenic route! It takes you up into the Angeles National Forest ... Very twisty, little traffic except for other bikers - mostly on sport bikes
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… quite easily the most entertaining road I have ever been on ... this is a must ride if you're within 200 miles of this area!!!
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… creek beds, and then some nice canyon-like sections with steep drop offs ala the mountains … road is not just well paved, but groomed, and graded with lots of sloping, positive camber turns, as well as nice open stretches to throttle out
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… Hwy 58 is a roller-coaster all the way to the coast … ride offers giant sweepers with giddying changes in elevation run through pastoral farmland for more than an hour … arrive at San Luis Obispo's back door
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… you ascend up the hill, the scenery changes from rolling grass hills to pine trees and forest …as long as the roadway is clean, the pavement is great!
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… wonderful scenery … transitioning to desert on the Indian Wells side … starts out twisty as you climb to the top … at the top the road is fairly straight … a couple of restaurants. I can recommend Paradise Corner at the intersection of Hwy 74 and Hwy 371
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… you will truly be amazed at the breathtaking view of Mt. Elsinore as route 74 sits thousands of feet above the lake and its valley. 74 then quickly descends down to the lake and town … two bar/diner places along the ride that cater specifically to the bike crowd Hell's kitchen and "Lookout Roadhouse"
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… fantastic panoramic view of the Laguna and Volcan Mountains … old stagecoach wheel tracks still survive after almost 150 years ... pink desert hues of the Borrego Badlands … The Lazy Lizard bar is a real gem of a desert pub in Ocotillo
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… the most technical road in Southern California … climbing mountains and have great vistas of the surrounding areas and you'll be traveling through some lush forests … rock solid 5 in the motorcycle road quality category … have to stop at "Mother's Kitchen" at the top
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… see some of the only remaining rural areas in the vicinity of LA while meandering through some awesome twisted mountain roads … plenty of sweet mountain views and then you'll go through some cool shady canyon roads … it was like I found a whole new world on these back roads
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… scenery on this trip is the best coastal scenery you are going to find in LA County … only 40 minutes or so from downtown LA. If you live in/near LA and haven't discovered it yet, you've really been missing out on an incredible coastal area! … tours of an old lighthouse
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… huge rock formations, grand vistas of mountains and valleys, and, best of all, a GIANT sequoia nearly 300 feet tall … perfect layout with tight curves and tight switchbacks with plenty of elevation changes … your tires will grab on to this stuff like glue
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
… world-class scenic ride takes you along the famed California Route One starting in Monterey California and ending (or starting) in Morro Bay ... see a number of light houses, 18th century Spanish missions … don't miss one of California's most visited tourist site - Hearst's paradise
Scenery:
|
Road Quality:
|
Amenities:
|
