Overall Route Rating
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4.36 out of 5 Rider Rating 4.36
14 Reviews

The Golden 49

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By Guest (0 McR Points) on Aug 31, 2008

Rider Reviews

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Guest
December 14, 2008
The only issues with the "Mini Dragon"…
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Guest
October 14, 2008
We call this stretch of Hwy 49 the "Little…
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Written Directions

This route is easy to describe and easy to find. Start out in quaint Coulterville, CA and head south on CA 49 all the way down to historic Mariposa, CA.

Scenery

Beautiful scenery of the Sierras. Mountain overlooks, and the almost never ending sight of twisted asphalt ahead. 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. Starts you off full bore in quaint Coulterville, where you ride Highway 49's twisties high into the Sierras and end in the historic town of Mariposa, California. Although the trip is only 26 miles long, it is not for the faint of heart...it includes beautiful views, fueling stations, and 1st gear twisties the entire ride. And of course use caution as the road is nestled in the Sierras, and reaches elevations of 6,000 feet.

Drive Enjoyment

Great road all-around. No pots, dips, or heavy cracks to sabotage your journey. With smooth pavement the entire ride, you will feel at ease concentrating solely on the ride. The one and only drawback...depending on tire compound, 4-5 rides on this road and you are replacing a rear tire.

Tourism Opportunities

Coulterville has small country stores and a few historical landmarks. On your journey you will find overlooks and wonderful scenic views. Once in Mariposa, feel free to spend the day window shopping in the numerous country stores lining Highway 140. There are many historical landmarks in this small mountain town, and of course plenty of gas stations to re-fuel for the trip home.

Motorcycle Road Additional info

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

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Blq HAT
August 22, 2020
13 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Adventure Touring
Best stretch of road in California. Apparently there is some lovely scenery, I missed seeing most of it as 100% of one's focus is needed to stay on the road. I rode it on a Saturday, late afternoon, there was almost zero traffic; a glorious ride. Enjoy but be very careful.
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SJ_Phil
December 31, 2020
154 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
Sierra mountain roads are never the best. I often take this route, along with 120, 108, 4, 88, 89, I-50/80 from the Bay area to lake Tahoe and/or Reno.
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Boots And Jeans Riders
February 8, 2021
47 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
Highway 49. We have ridden this road several times. Its commonly known as the California's Little Dragon. This road has amazing twist, including switchbacks and sweepers. The surface is in great condition. The actual "Little Dragon" is only a 16 mile stretch from Coulterville to Bear Valley and is well worth the ride. Be careful, if you are not a confidence in your cornering skills, this road can be a very challenging ride for a beginner. I would suggest that you prepare for this road by starting with easy to intermediate roads. But once you decide to ride the Little Dragon, you won't be disappointed and you will come back for more.
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