Overall Route Rating
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4.38 out of 5 Rider Rating 4.38
43 Reviews

The Lost Highway 58 - Bakersfield to San Luis Opisbo

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By Guest (0 McR Points) on Jul 31, 2006

Rider Reviews

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KCRacin
10 McR Points
March 3, 2018
We (4) were at our hotel in Bakersfield looking…
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Guest
May 18, 2008
Just made this run a few weeks back and it was…
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Written Directions

Na

Scenery

Ask the locals in Bakersfield about Hwy 58 to San Luis Obispo and they'll tell you there's no such thing and then direct you to the super-slab Hwy 46. Don't listen. Beginning about a dozen miles west of Bakersfield, Hwy 58 is a roller-coaster all the way to the coast. Giant sweepers with giddying changes in elevation run through pastoral farmland for more than an hour. Then suddenly the road tightens down into twisting loops as you dive into canyon country. Just as suddenly, it all stops and you find you've arrived at San Luis Obispo's back door.

Drive Enjoyment

The asphalt is a little coarse but unbroken. Cross streets and even driveways are few and very far between. On the western end where turns get tight, they stay predictable with no decreasing-radius turns, gravel in the corners, or other hazards. Needless to say, traffic is non-existent. If you see two cars west of Simmler, it must be rush hour

Tourism Opportunities

It's not that the amenities are bad; it's just that there are none. Gas up in Bakersfield because it's the last you'll see unless you detour into Simmler about half way across the route. In fact, except for the occasional farmhouse, you won't see much of anything. Near the western end, about 30 miles out, there is a campground in Calf Canyon. But it's so remote you may be the only one there. (Not for the faint of heart.)

Motorcycle Road Additional info

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

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White Wolf
May 7, 2016
30 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring
Love this road! I live in Southern California and do a bunch of 2 day rides up into San Luis Obispo every year. This road is a "must do" on those rides. It gets included either coming or going. The original review is nails it, so there's not much to add. I will say I see an average of 3-5 cars for the entire trip, and maybe see a LEO one out of every 3-4 times I'm on this road. It's a long route, so road conditions vary, but overall I would the road is in very good condition... But the few sections that are bad can be very bad. I have come across a cow or two standing on the highway in the canyons on the Bakersfield side, so be aware of that possibility.
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Big Mike
October 13, 2015
2 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
This is a Top 10 ride! The mix of twisties, straightaways, and whoop-dee-do's make this a motorcyclists dream. However, this road is NOT for the novice. Some of the turns are very sharp and unbanked giving the rider the invisible push if you aren't paying attention. This route is good for all bikes, big and small! Hope to see you out there! ENJOY!
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F STOP
June 12, 2015
9 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Cruiser
Rode CA 58 from Barstow to San Luis Obispo today - temps in the low 90's. Long straight stretches, but then some great curves and vistas. Not for a novice. High drop-offs and tight curves, but a great ride!
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