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The best motorcycle trips in California: California is practically the only state in the Union where the weather is good enough to allow you to bike year-round. With more sunshine than practically anywhere else, and only a smattering of rain, you can saddle up in January and go for a carefree ride while the rest of the country is shivering in their cabins beside their log fires.
What’s more, there’s so much motorcycling in California. It’s as if the state was made for it. From the Angeles Crest Highway to Route 33, there’s something for everyone.
In this post, we take a look at some of the joys of biking in this impressive landscape and where you should go.
The best motorcycle trips in California
The Joshua Tree National Park
Motorcycling is a freedom-filled experience no matter where you do it, but there’s something uniquely special about making your way through a pristine national park. There are no blots on the landscape, no industrial buildings getting in the way of the views: just mile after mile of open road through stunning territory.
That’s the experience that you get when you head to the Joshua Tree National Park, around two hours from LA. If you’re starting in the city, it’s an ideal first stop-off on a trip into the state’s interior. If traveling in the winter, temperatures are comfortable, allowing you to take your time. During the summer months, you’ll want to be out of the saddle and resting in the shade after 10 AM and before 5 PM.
Route 33
What would California be without Route 33? A motorcycle accident attorney near me said that it was perhaps the most scenic major route in the entire state.
Route 33 is for bikers who are looking for a bit of elevation. It offers twisting, turning roads from the Ojay freeway at Ventura that make their way into the mountains. You can go as a group, but it is actually one of those experiences that work really well solo too.
The Redwood Highway
Also known as California 101, this road looks like something out of a dream. The trees that line it come all the way up to the asphalt and are impossibly large. Some have trunks that are the same width as the road itself!
You can find the start of the road on US 199 as you head south from Crescent City. Follow it for several dozen miles and you’ll eventually wind up in the Jedediah Smith National Park. Here, you’ll make your way through some of the most impressive forests in the world, with towering redwoods all around.
As you might imagine, it’s a great place for a picnic, so make sure that you take some sandwiches with you.
The Golden Gate Route
Lastly, if you’re the type of biker who loves sightseeing, then you’ll want to take the Conzelman Road from San Francisco—it’s one of the best motorcycle trips in California. This runs over the Golden Gate Bridge and is a great place to get away from the city for a quiet coastline adventure. It’s close to the ocean, so hopefully, you’ll feel fresh, even if you travel during the summer. Over the summer I toured all of San Francisco on a side car and it was way better than via a car or tour bus!
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