The Best Motorcycle Rides in California

California is basically cheating when it comes to motorcycle riding.

You get coastal cliffs, canyons, alpine passes, redwoods, high desert, wine country, and farm roads – often in the same long weekend. It’s no wonder so many “best rides in America” lists are basically “a tour of California.”

This isn’t a tourist brochure. It’s a real rider’s guide to the routes that come up again and again in curated ride lists, tour company routes, and actual rider recommendations – the roads that are worth burning vacation days and tire tread for.

We’ll break it down by region so you can build your own loops.

Southern California: Canyons, Crestlines, and Coast

1. Pacific Coast Highway – Dana Point to Santa Monica (and beyond)

You could ride PCH for hundreds of miles, but the Southern California section from Dana Point up through Santa Monica is the classic warm-up.

What you get:

  • Ocean views on your right (or left on the way back)

  • Pier towns, surf breaks, and beach traffic to watch

  • Gentle sweepers mixed with tighter cliffside sections

  • Easy access to food, coffee, and fuel

On a weekday morning, this stretch can be magic – cool air, light traffic, and that “I live in a postcard” feeling. Weekends? Add tourists staring at the ocean instead of their mirrors.

Good to know:
Fog can roll in, especially near spring and fall. Keep an eye out for sand in the lanes and cars diving for parking spots without warning.

2. Angeles Crest Highway (SR-2)

If you’re anywhere near LA and ride a motorcycle, Angeles Crest is mandatory.

The ride in a sentence:
66 miles of mountain pavement climbing out of La Cañada Flintridge, running ridgelines through the San Gabriel Mountains, topping out above 7,000 feet.

Why riders love it:

  • Long, linked curves that reward smooth riding

  • Big elevation changes and sweeping vistas

  • Classic rider stops like the Newcomb’s Ranch area (even post-restaurant, the hangout vibe remains)

  • The feeling of leaving the city behind in about 10 minutes

When to ride:
Late spring through fall is your safest window. In winter and early spring you can run into ice in shaded corners and occasional closures. Services are limited, so fuel up before you head up.

3. Ortega Highway (SR-74)

We talked about Ortega on the “most dangerous roads” page – but it also makes almost every “best SoCal rides” list for a reason.

Route:
From San Juan Capistrano to Lake Elsinore, about 25–30 miles of continuous twisties over the Santa Ana Mountains.

What makes it a favorite:

  • Technical corners that keep you engaged the entire way

  • Great views as you crest and drop toward the lake

  • Easy access from both Orange County and the Inland Empire

Weekday mornings can feel like your own private ribbon of asphalt. Weekends get busy – with riders and with enforcement.

If you go:
Treat it like a sport ride, not a racetrack. Pace yourself, watch for centerline drifters, and pick your times carefully.

4. Mulholland Highway & “The Snake” – Santa Monica Mountains

Mulholland is more than just the Snake – it’s a network of canyon roads that connect the Valley to the coast.

What you get on Mulholland and its side canyons:

  • Tight, technical corners and elevation changes

  • Access to roads like Latigo Canyon, Decker, Stunt, and others

  • The Rock Store area – one of the most famous bike hangouts in California

The Snake section itself is short but intense: steep grades, blind turns, and just enough straight between them to be dangerous if you get greedy with the throttle.

Pro tip:
String Mulholland together with PCH for a canyon-to-coast loop. Hit it early and be off the mountain before the big crowds show up.

5. Palomar Mountain Loop (CA-76 / S6 / S7)

In San Diego County, Palomar Mountain is the mountain.

A classic loop uses:

  • CA-76 along the base

  • South Grade Road (S6) to climb with its famous hairpins

  • East Grade Road (S7) to descend with wider sweepers

Why riders talk about Palomar:

  • South Grade’s relentless switchbacks – one after another

  • Wide open views on East Grade

  • Cool temperatures and forest scenery at the top

  • The Palomar Observatory as a quirky sightseeing stop

If you like tight technical riding, you’ll either fall in love with Palomar or decide once is enough. Either way, it’s worth doing.

6. CA-33 (Ojai to Cuyama Valley)

If you want a SoCal ride that feels just a bit more remote, CA-33 out of Ojai is your road.

What it offers:

  • A climb out of Ojai into Los Padres National Forest

  • A mix of tighter canyon sections and wide sweepers

  • Long views across the back side toward the Cuyama Valley

  • Fewer crowds than the coastal routes

You can run it as an out-and-back from Ojai or include it in a bigger loop that ultimately connects to the Central Coast.

Central California: Coastline, Lakes, and Wine Country

7. Big Sur Coast – Hwy 1

This is the picture in your head when someone says “California ride.”

Roughly 70 miles of Highway 1 between roughly Carmel and San Simeon, with:

  • Sheer cliffs plunging into the Pacific

  • Famous landmarks like Bixby Bridge and McWay Falls

  • Narrow shoulders and constant curves

  • That “I can’t believe this is real” feeling

Spring and fall are sweet spots: better visibility, slightly less tourist chaos, milder temps. Summer can be crowded and foggy; winter can bring slides and closures.

Planning tip:
Check Caltrans before you go. Landslides can close sections for months, and detours in this part of the world are not short.

8. June Lake Loop

Just off US-395 in the Eastern Sierra, the June Lake Loop is short, scenic, and perfect as part of a longer Sierra trip.

What’s there:

  • Four alpine lakes connected by a looping road

  • Sweeping views of peaks and water

  • Campgrounds, cabins, and small-town stops

  • A relaxed pace – more scenic than technical

Ride it when you’re doing Tioga, Sonora, or other Eastern Sierra routes, and give yourself time to actually stop and walk around. It’s that pretty.

9. Napa Valley / Lake Berryessa

North of the Bay Area, Napa Valley and the Lake Berryessa area give you a different flavor of California riding.

What to expect:

  • Vineyard-lined roads with gentle curves

  • Lakeside twisties and hillside climbs near Berryessa

  • Plenty of places to stop for food, coffee, and scenery

This is less about peg-scraping and more about a relaxed, scenic ride with good pavement and good views. On weekends, expect traffic – especially during harvest season.

10. Sacramento River Delta Levee Roads

If you want something flat, weird, and beautiful in its own way, the Delta levee roads are a unique ride.

You’ll find:

  • Narrow roads perched on top of levees

  • Two-lane stretches right next to the water

  • Old bridges, tiny towns, and farm fields

  • Almost no elevation change – but lots to look at

This is an ideal “kickback” ride. Take it easy, enjoy the scenery, and watch for local traffic, farm vehicles, and occasional rough patches of pavement.

Northern California: Redwoods, Canyons, and High Passes

11. PCH – San Francisco to Leggett

The northern extension of PCH from San Francisco up to Leggett is a different beast than SoCal’s beach town vibe.

Here you get:

  • Foggy cliffs and rocky coastline

  • Tighter, more technical sections north of Jenner

  • Remote feeling as you reach Mendocino and beyond

  • A mix of ocean views and dense forest stretches

You could combine this with a run through wine country, over to the Sierra, or up toward Oregon. It’s a natural backbone for a bigger trip.

12. Avenue of the Giants

If you haven’t ridden Avenue of the Giants, put it on your short list.

About 30 miles through Humboldt Redwoods State Park:

  • Towering old-growth redwoods right up against the road

  • Filtered light through massive trees

  • Low speeds and a very chill vibe

  • Campgrounds and hiking spots if you have time to linger

This is pure soul riding – the kind of place where you slow down on purpose.

13. Feather River Canyon (Hwy 70) & Lake Tahoe Loop

In the Sierra foothills and northern ranges, you’ve got:

  • Feather River Canyon (Hwy 70) – a technical canyon ride with river views, tunnels, and rail lines

  • Lake Tahoe Loop – a circumnavigation of Tahoe using a combination of highways and local roads

Both give you a mix of:

  • Tight canyon corners

  • Long views

  • Frequent elevation changes

  • Real four-season weather

In summer and early fall, they’re spectacular. In winter? Think ice, snow, and caution.

14. Sierra High Passes – Tioga, Sonora, Ebbetts, and Friends

These deserve their own category.

  • Tioga Pass (SR-120) – gateway to Yosemite’s high country

  • Sonora Pass (SR-108) – steep, narrow, and dramatic

  • Ebbetts Pass (SR-4) – tight and remote, with a “goat trail” feel in sections

  • Carson Pass (SR-88) and other connectors

What they share:

  • High elevation and big views

  • Technically challenging sections

  • Weather that can change by the hour

  • Short summer/fall riding windows

These roads can be the highlight of your riding year – just don’t treat them like a casual Sunday spin.

Westgard Pass: A Hidden Gem

Compared to big names like PCH and Angeles Crest, Westgard Pass barely makes the Instagram feed – which might be why riders who know it love it so much.

You get:

  • A quieter, more remote feel

  • High desert scenery

  • Curves without the crush of tourist traffic

If you’re already in the US-395 corridor doing Eastern Sierra routes, tacking on Westgard can be a great way to escape the crowds.

How to Think About “Best Rides” (And Still Make It Home)

Every route on this page shows up again and again in curated ride guides and rider write-ups for a reason:

  • They’re fun.

  • They’re beautiful.

  • They’re memorable.

They’re also places where, if a distracted driver turns left in front of you…
if someone crosses the centerline…
if a rental car slams on the brakes for a photo…

you can be in deep trouble very quickly.

A few things to keep in mind before you roll:

  • Time it right. Weekday mornings are almost always better than weekend midday.

  • Check conditions. Caltrans for closures, chain controls, and slides; weather for wind, fog, and temps.

  • Respect your own limits. A road’s reputation doesn’t care how many years you’ve been riding.

  • Know your exit plan. Fuel, food, cell service, and shelter matter when things go sideways.

And if someone takes you out on one of these rides?

That’s where we come in.

When the Best Ride Turns into the Worst Day

At McCarthy Motorcycle Law, we represent riders and families after serious crashes on exactly these kinds of roads – Ortega, Angeles Crest, PCH, Big Sur, Palomar, the Sierra passes, and beyond.

We can help with:

  • Investigating what really happened

  • Dealing with CHP reports and insurance companies

  • Fighting biker bias and “you were going too fast” assumptions

  • Making sure your medical bills, lost wages, and long-term needs are actually accounted for

Our case evaluations are free, confidential, and go straight to our inbox – not a call center.
If we can help, we’ll tell you how. If we can’t, we’ll point you in the right direction.

Because California has some of the best motorcycle rides in the world.
And you deserve a lawyer who understands what it’s like to be out there when something goes wrong.

Your ride. Your rights. Our fight.