Ride Suggestions for California coast into Oregon?

[Cjarava]

I’m meeting friends from Vancouver BC in Bend Oregon. I live in Phoenix, and have always wanted to ride the PCH. Any suggestions of a route? I want to mix it up; twisties and ride the coast mainly. Also, I’ll be camping so any campgrounds you know about along the way would be helpful.

Thanks.

[derstuka]

Soooo.....are you coming on the 8 thru San Diego? If so, I have a few ideas for ya, if you want to bypass the city of San Diego, and take some backroads. Would add a little bit of time, but be fun.

The coast is a cool ride....I would just pick up the 1 where the 10 ends in Santa Monica. I cannot help you much as far as coastal campgrounds, although I know that they are some nice ones. Be sure to stroll thru Monterey, as that is a pretty town.

[Lgn001]

I know of a couple of decent bike roads out there. Highway 199, almost at the CA/OR border, goes from Crescent City, CA into Grant Pass, OR. Once you are in Grants Pass, you are right next to Highway 5, and there are lots of ways over to the Bend area. I don't know about camping in the area, but Oregon usually has somewhere not too far away, no matter where you are.

If you want a serious amount of winding road, like over 100 miles of it, you can take Highway 36. It runs into Highway 101 (northern part of PCH) between Rio Dell and Fortuna. There tends to be a bit of gravel here and there from patches to the road, so be on the lookout. When you get to the Highway 36 / Highway 3 fork, take Highway 3 to Hayfork/Weaverville. Once you get to Weaverville, it is a short ride to one of several lakes, all with camping. I have no idea if reservations are required, but it is an annual tourist destination. From there, you can take Highway 3 north, which will bring you into Yreka, CA, about 15 miles from the Oregon border.

If you want something less twisty but really scenic, take Highway 299 off of 101. It starts in Arcata, slightly north of the route mentioned above. It follows a river in a ravine all the way to Weaverville, and is curvy enough to be satisfying. Once you hit Weaverville, same thing as above.

An option to Highway 3 north is to go west to Highway 5 in Redding, CA. Highway 5 at that point crosses over Lake Shasta and has a lot of scenic curvy road.

It has been a few years since I've been up there, but I do not remember any gas stations between the PCH and Weaverville. Ditto for Highway 3 north from the lake area to Yreka.

One other thing; Highway 1 up the coast can be a major pain due to RV's and slow drivers. Highway 101 is an alternative route, and is scenic. Northern CA can be blazing hot sometimes, but a person from Phoenix will probably not care. Highway 36 is rural, and there is no sun protection. 299, since it is a ravine, does have some.

Definitely keep your eyes open for the California Highway Patrol (and others). Although most of them park in plain sight, there are lots of nooks and crannies along the way.

I think that's it. Have a good trip!

PS Highway 96 can be problematic. Some of the locals will occasionally set up miniature road blocks and try to collect tolls when they run out of drinking money, and will get unruly if you do not want to play. Don't ask...

[reg71]

Are you gonna come up through soCal and Central Cali to get there? If so and the timing is right I can help you out for good scenic routes both to and from Hwy 1. Avoiding some of the traffic and/or boring spots. Let me know and I'll try to give you some route tips even if I can jump in on the ride for a bit...

[drewl]

Lgn001 nailed it. His routes are great for what you want. Have a good trip.

[TrickyGirl]

Originally Posted by Cjarava

I’m meeting friends from Vancouver BC in Bend Oregon. I live in Phoenix, and have always wanted to ride the PCH. Any suggestions of a route? I want to mix it up; twisties and ride the coast mainly. Also, I’ll be camping so any campgrounds you know about along the way would be helpful.

Thanks.

When are you planning on taking this trip?
My husband and I are planning on doing the trip from Vancouver, BC (where we live) down to California....we are leaving the last week in July and coming back the end of the first week in August....maybe we will see ya!

[Cjarava]

Originally Posted by reg71

Are you gonna come up through soCal and Central Cali to get there? If so and the timing is right I can help you out for good scenic routes both to and from Hwy 1. Avoiding some of the traffic and/or boring spots. Let me know and I'll try to give you some route tips even if I can jump in on the ride for a bit...

Yes, I plan on taking the 10 to were it ends. I was concerned with traffic, any advise would be great.

[Cjarava]

Originally Posted by drewl

Lgn001 nailed it. His routes are great for what you want. Have a good trip.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll map it out and report back after the trip.

Thanks.

[R.W.]

Since you've never done Hwy 1 and everybody should experience it once, I would take it till about 20 miles south of Eureka and then catch Hwy 36, Hwy 36 is considered one of the best motorcycling roads in the country, after the pure bliss of Hwy 36 you would take Hwy 3 which is good as any road in the world and is about 40 miles west of Redding off Hwy 36. Hwy 3 will take you into Yreka where you would catch I-5 for about 40 miles till you hit Hwy 66 "wonderful set of twistys" Hwy 66 would take you to Hwy 97 past Crater Lake and into Bend...

[RVFR]

^ What they said, I agree whole heartily

[reg71]

Originally Posted by Cjarava

Yes, I plan on taking the 10 to were it ends. I was concerned with traffic, any advise would be great.

Okay, I don't know hwy 1 once you get past Santa Barbara to the south very well so I start there. If you are going from the south heading north, I'd get off in Santa Barbara and take 154 up past Lake Cachuma. It'll get you off Hwy 101 for a while which Hwy 1 runs into at several spots along the way. It is also a little shorter than the other way. Hwy ! doesn't hug the coast much at the part you'll be skipping anyway.

It'll put you back on Hwy 101 North of Buellton and south of Santa Maria. Just stay on 101 for a bit cause Hwy 1 still is quite a ways from the water at this point and goes through several small towns of little interest. 101 will take you up to what we call 5 cities and then Hwy 1 is rejoining it. You'll know when the ocean breeze hits you and you see the big blue puddle off on your left.

You'll only be by the water for a short time then the road will curve off through some small hills. This is just south of San Luis Obispo. You can take an exit and head over to Avila ( a decent little beach town) or keep going up to SLO for plenty of dining options. Again, if you give some heads up, Brian (SLOVFR), tori, or myself may be able to meet up with you and help you find some good roads through our neck of the woods.

Ok, at San Luis Obispo (SLO) you can catch the Hwy 1 exit again towards Morro Bay. It's an ok ride (not much for curves but a little scenery). Morro Bay is a neat town, though. If you decide to go to north county (where I live) stay on 101 and then take the Santa Margarita exit. Get on Hwy 58 (you'll turn right in town and cross som RR tracks and be heading generally east) You'll come to a turnoff on your left that keeps you on 58 keep following it or you'll go to the pozo saloon. If you see the saloon, stop in for a burger and then turn around and head back to grab 58. (pozo rd is nice little stretch of road, too though) Once on 58 watch for a left hand turn onto 229. This is a 6 mile stretch of road guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. It's tight and twisty and pretty newly surfaced. Just watch for trucks pulling horse trailers and harleys running into your side of the road. here are a few pics from 229 Hwy 229 pics

Ok, 229 will T- off at hwy 41, if you go left you can follow it all the way back to Atascadero (where I live) and then on through to Morro Bay. Now granted my way to get to Morro Bay is a bit longer, but it'll be much much more fun. Or if you want you can catch 101 in Atascadero then take Hwy 46 west to catch Hwy 1 just north of Morro Bay a bit. (I know a couple really fun roads to make this part of the trip longer, too)

From Morro Bay to Cambria you are not by the water on Hwy 1 and it's pretty straight but you pretty much have to get on at 46 or else you cant get across the mountains for a good ways up north.

Past Cambria, you see San Simeon and that's where the seals hang out. There is also an old lighthouse around there, but I don't think you can get too close. (at least I never have) Just north of that is Hearst Castle which is a neat place to visit. Welcome to Hearst Castle

After Hearst Castle you get closer to the water and the road get more fun. Don't get too distracted by the scenery cause the road can bite you. You'll start heading up the cliffside towards Ragged Point and will run into cage traffic. Especially watch for RVs cloggin up the road. If you can time this during the week as opposed to weekend you are much better off. If you are anti double yellow passing, you are in for a tedious ride. If you do pas on double yellow, just make damn sure you can see ahead. Lots of people get hurt in the next 100 miles of hwy 1.

You can follow this all the way up to Big Sur. You might want to take a break there for a bit to vent your frustrations on all the lookie lous that nearly ran you over then get back on the road and keep heading towards Monterrey then up towards Castroville. That's about as far north as I usually take it, but I'm sure someone can help you with the parts up closer to the bay area. That takes you though one of the most well known sections and therefore most crowded. I'll PM you my info and when you get near Santa Barbara county, maybe I can come down and escort you the long way through our little playground.