Trips
Southern California rides, from an afternoon loop to a two-day crossing. Miles and times are estimates; plan for stops.
Plan a ride
Name a start, a destination and how many days.
Roberto’s loop: coffee at Civil in Studio City, Topanga and Old Topanga to Mulholland, up Stunt Road and down Piuma, the Old Place and the Rock Store, the Snake, Decker and Yerba Buena down to Neptune’s Net, then PCH home to Santa Monica.
Open the rideNorth from Santa Monica on Pacific Coast Highway to Neptune's Net, then Encinal Canyon and Mulholland Highway to the Rock Store and the Old Place, and back to the coast on Kanan Dume Road.
Open the rideStarts at Bike Shed Moto Co in the Arts District, uses the freeway to La Cañada Flintridge, then Angeles Crest Highway to Newcomb's Ranch and back. The roadhouse is currently closed, so turn around there. Check that Highway 2 is open before you go.
Open the rideFrom Ventura, State Route 33 to Ojai, then State Route 150 toward Santa Paula, including Dennison Grade, and back on the Santa Paula Freeway.
Open the ridePacific Coast Highway to Neptune's Net, then the 101 to Santa Barbara, and back over San Marcos Pass on State Route 154, with a stop at Cold Spring Tavern on Stagecoach Road.
Open the rideTwo canyon pieces. Santiago Canyon Road runs from Orange to Cook's Corner. Ortega Highway runs from San Juan Capistrano east to the Ortega Oaks pull-off and back.
Open the rideFrom Bouquet Reservoir, San Francisquito Canyon Road to the Rock Inn on Elizabeth Lake Road, and back.
Open the rideTwo days from Bike Shed to Las Vegas. Day one is the long one: Angeles Crest Highway (CA-2), Highway 138, and Highway 18, then across to Baker. Day two crosses the Mojave National Preserve on Kelbaker Road to Kelso, then Nipton and on to Las Vegas. Lodging in Baker or Primm.
Open the rideTwo days. The interstate gets you to Barstow. National Trails Highway, old Route 66, then runs through Newberry Springs, Ludlow, and Amboy. Kelbaker Road north reaches Baker. Day two is Baker to Primm to Las Vegas. Lodging in Baker or Primm.
Open the rideTwo days on Highway 1. Day one runs from Morro Bay through San Simeon and Ragged Point to Big Sur. Day two continues to Carmel. Riders leaving Los Angeles usually take US-101 as far as San Luis Obispo, then join Highway 1. Check that Highway 1 is open. Allow extra time; Highway 1 is slow going. Lodging in Big Sur or San Simeon.
Open the rideHighway 33 north from Ojai over Pine Mountain Summit to Maricopa. This is the mountain road, not the Dennison Grade loop.
Open the rideTwo days up US-395 from Lone Pine to Bishop, then on to Lee Vining and Tioga Pass. Tioga Pass is seasonal and is usually closed in winter. Check before you go. Lodging in Bishop or Lone Pine.
Open the rideSouth Grade Road (S6) up Palomar Mountain, East Grade Road (S7) down to Lake Henshaw, then Highway 76 and Highway 79 into Julian.
Open the rideFrom the town of Joshua Tree, Park Boulevard through Joshua Tree National Park, and out to Twentynine Palms. The park road is the ride. Summer afternoons on the valley floor are extreme.
Open the rideUp Glendora Mountain Road to Glendora Ridge Road, over to Mount Baldy, and down Mount Baldy Road. Snow closes the ridge in winter.
Open the rideLockwood Valley Road from Frazier Park to Highway 33 near Ozena, then Highway 33 south to Ojai.
Open the rideFrom Kernville, Sierra Way north along the Kern River and back. The road follows the river canyon.
Open the rideMount Baldy Road from Claremont up to the village at Mount Baldy, and back. A shorter climb than the Glendora Mountain Road loop. Snow closes it in winter.
Open the rideOrtega Highway (CA-74) from San Juan Capistrano through the Santa Ana Mountains to Lake Elsinore. The Cook's Corner ride is the separate Santiago Canyon piece.
Open the rideHighway 74, the Palms to Pines Highway, from Palm Desert up to Mountain Center, then Highway 243 into Idyllwild. Snow closes the top in winter.
Open the rideHighway S22, Montezuma Valley Road, from Ranchita down into Borrego Springs, then S22 east toward the Salton Sea.
Open the ridePacific Coast Highway from Laguna Beach past Aliso Beach to Dana Point. A short coast ride.
Open the rideBouquet Canyon Road from Santa Clarita out to the Rock Inn at Lake Hughes, then back through San Francisquito Canyon.
Open the rideHighway 18, the Rim of the World Highway, from San Bernardino through Running Springs to Big Bear Lake and back.
Open the rideFrom Baker through Shoshone to Badwater Basin and Furnace Creek. Badwater Road runs on the valley floor. Summer heat there is dangerous. This is a long day.
Open the rideSunrise Highway (S1) from Pine Valley up to Mount Laguna and back.
Open the rideAngeles Crest Highway past Newcomb's Ranch to Wrightwood, and back to Bike Shed. Check that Highway 2 is open before you go. Newcomb's Ranch is currently closed, so ride past it.
Open the ride