Need route planning help! Colorado to PCH and back

[Clovis]

This August my lovely wife and I will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary. Traveling on the motorcycle has become somewhat of an anniversary tradition.

This year we want to hit up the Pacific Coast Highway.

Here's where I need help planning.

I'm not familiar with any motorcycle roads west of Moab, UT. I've never been on the PCH so I don't know where I should start the PCH and where I should end it.

Here's a rough route I drew up: https://goo.gl/maps/Y3cgp

Basic trip rules:

• The trip is more about the ride then the destination.
• Starting and ending location is Colorado Springs, CO.
• We have 1 week to complete this trip.
• Prefer to avoid interstates.
• First or second week of August depending on weather and work.
• Bike is a Gen 2 set up for touring. Will also have Justin's LED Rider LR4 auxiliary lights so some night riding is possible.
• We can comfortably cover 500-700 miles a day, maybe more 700 miles in a single day has been the most we've previously done.
• No camping planned (but could be open to it). Only the finest 2 star motels for us
• I kind of like the idea of going to Santa Monica in one shot, would be a SS1000 for both of us.

Questions:

1) Is the PCH better riding south to north or north to south?

2) Where should I enter and exit the PCH? Right now I'm thinking Santa Monica in the south and Eureka in the north. Should I go further south to San Diego? Further north past Eurka?

3) Any routes to avoid the boring desert highway sections in Nevada?

4) Must see sites along the way?

And lastly... With Colorado Springs being the starting/end location... any other trip suggestions? Basically anything up to 3500 miles is game.

Thanks!

Justin

 

[bigjohnsd]

Questions:
1) Is the PCH better riding south to north or north to south? In my opinion, North to South is preffered as you are on the Ocean side of the Road

2) Where should I enter and exit the PCH? Right now I'm thinking Santa Monica in the south and Eureka in the north. Should I go further south to San Diego? Further north past Eureka? Take I-25 N, CO-470 W/E470 W, I-70 W, CO-9 N and US-40 W to CO-13 N/Yampa Ave in Craig, Take I-80 W. Take US-191 N, US-26 W, US-20 W, US-93 N and ID-75 S to ID-21 @ Stanley ID, ID-21 S to Boise (Possibly the Best MC Road I've ever ridden). US-20 W and US-395 S to OR-140 W to Lakeview Continue on OR-140 W. Take I-5 N, US-199 S/Redwood Hwy and US-101 S to H St in Eureka, US-101 S to Mendocino County, right onto CA-1 S/CA-271 S, Get on US-101 S in Marin County from CA-1 S, cross Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco. From San Francisco I would take I-80 to Sacramento then US 50 across the Sierras and across the Lonliest Road in America because you have to get across that damn desert somewhere.

3) Any routes to avoid the boring desert highway sections in Nevada? There is Desert no matter how you go, the above route takes you North of a lot of it but you still have some in Oregon and idaho.
4) Must see sites along the way? Oh man, there are sooo many, but spend the night in Stanley ID and cruise the Sawtooths before you head down ID 20 to Boise.

 

[Morecowbell]

That looks like a fun ride. But in early August, I hope you have good mesh gear. The ride from Kingman to Barstow/Victorville will be TOASTY warm.

I wouldn't head down to San Diego to pick up the PCH. It's nothing but freeway slab until you get out west towards Santa Barbara. Unless you want to hit some of the twisty roads in the Santa Monica Mountains (really great roads, btw), I'd avoid the L.A. basin and Santa Monica entirely. If you do head through the Santa Barbara area, there are some nice roads through the Santa Ynez wine country. I would head west from Barstow on 58, through Bakersfield...crossing the San Joaquin Valley in August will suck too...and then get on 58 west out towards the coast. A few miles east of Atascadero, you really should try 229 from 58 up to 41. That is a FUN 9 mile stretch of road. Then take 41 to Templeton Rd, and then Vineyard Rd will take you to 46, which leads you to the PCH just south of Cambria. That's where the fun/scenic part of the PCH starts, in my humble opinion.

Up north at Santa Cruz, I'd exit the PCH for a bit...I'd take Empire Grade Rd or 9 (really fun north of Boulder Creek) to 35 (Skyline Blvd.) The views from that road are fantastic. In Skylonda, I highly recommend stopping at Alice's for lunch. It's a really cool place, popular with motorcyclists of all types. Continue up 35 to 92, and then decide your preferred route up to the Golden Gate. Highway 1 from Half Moon Bay up to SFO is scenic, but can be slow-going with traffic. I usually jump on 280 to make good time up to the city.

After crossing the Golden Gate, I'd take the exit for Highway 1 and then the Panoramic Highway. Fun road, great views...and it dumps you out on 1 near Stinson Beach. And then you head way north! The stretch of 1 from the coast to Leggett is some of the most fun you can have on a motorcycle. Also, north of Garberville...make sure you check out the entire length of 254, Avenue of the Giants. It's quite spectacular.

Highway 299 east from Arcata is nice and scenic and all that, but I'd much prefer to head east out of Fortuna on 36. That's another great stretch of road with much less traffic. I think the Pashnit website guy calls 36 one of the best roads in California, if I recall correctly. After Red Bluff, I'd take 36 east through Mt Lassen Natl Park, and rejoin your planned route.

 

[marcusorelius]

That looks like a fun ride. But in early August, I hope you have good mesh gear. The ride from Kingman to Barstow/Victorville will be TOASTY warm.
Also, north of Garberville...make sure you check out the entire length of 254, Avenue of the Giants. It's quite spectacular

Yes expect temps to be at least 105 to high as 120 in the desert around Barstow

Ave of the giants is cool. Here's a vid of the Duchess & I go'n through there last Sept.

 

[Roy Epperson]

We lived in the San Francisco Bay Area until 2-1/2 years ago. We would do day trips from there North and South on Hwy 1. We would do day trips South to Cambria via Hwy 1 and back. Unless we did an over-nighter, North day trips all the way on Hwy 1 were limited to Jennifer unless we were "flying" / not sightseeing.

There are two interesting sections of the PCH:

1. San Luis Obispo to Santa Cruz - https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=San+Luis+Obispo,+CA&daddr=Lucia,+CA+to:Monterey,+CA&hl=en&sll=35.942436,-121.300049&sspn=1.529851,2.606506&geocode=FUBfGgIdYOHO-Cknwmx7vubsgDFGD-_OwpACvA%3BFYahJQId6U3B-CEC20JGvX0yJymvAxzeCoGNgDEC20JGvX0yJw%3BFa55LgId7Ai8-CmR-7VwUuSNgDFePUrYCUlI7g&oq=Mon&mra=ls&t=m&z=9
2. San Francisco to Fortuna - https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=San+Francisco,+CA&daddr=37.8695168,-122.5895678+to:38.5722438,-123.3261886+to:38.6450632,-123.3962428+to:39.3884138,-123.812208+to:Leggett,+CA+to:Fortuna,+CA&hl=en&ll=39.909736,-123.698158&spn=0.181183,0.325813&sll=38.298559,-122.926025&sspn=1.482965,2.606506&geocode=FVJmQAIdKAe0-CkhAGkAbZqFgDH_rXbwZxNQSg%3BFczXQQIdgW6x-Cn9ioEcLI6FgDHYFN0rWTjFFw%3BFdOQTAIdFDGm-ClN6FrI6bCGgDG_AnzRKBvjUw%3BFUetTQIdbh-l-Cl_l4jt_bSGgDG8u-veSRL-0w%3BFf0EWQIdkMae-CnrB_PHJkuAgDHbh7zGMQ65UA%3BFYxMYAId9EKg-Cn5KKP_H8zUVDEuWeGg_PrfKA%3BFat6awIdpIKZ-CnPbLF9iwrUVDFu3-P0aHeUMw&oq=for&mra=dpe&mrsp=3&sz=9&via=1,2,3,4&t=m&z=12
   

San Luis Obispo / Santa Cruz

Between Santa Cruz and San Francisco you can stay on Hwy 1 and miss the congestion of the SF Bay Area until you get North of Pacifica. It is a long the coast. You can check out some of my pictures of these routes https://cnrepperson.com/motorcycles/rides/index.php or various sections of https://cnrepperson.com/photo_albums/californiaIndex.php.

With the exception of Santa Monica to Ventura via the Malibu coast (Hwy 1) you are on Hwy 101 until San Luis Obispo. Hwy 1 leaves Hwy 101 about 25 miles North of Santa Barbara and joins 101 in Arroyo Grande. It is a nice ride but not on the coast and "flat" land - for a local better than riding 101 unless you wanta get somewhere. Unless you have another reason to go to Santa Monica in the interest of time and seeing the "interesting" PCH, I would start or end my PCH tour at San Luis Obispo.

San Luis Obispo to Santa Cruz can easily be done in a day with stops along the way to take in the views. Limited lodging North of Cambria until you reach Monterey. Going North on once you get North of Hearst Castle, you are on narrow twisty two lane with many steep drop offs to the ocean and steep walls on the other side just off the shoulder. Be care of "tourists" especially in the steep sided twisty sections. I have had many encounters with cars and RVs taking their 1/2 out of the center of the road or worse. Well worth the trip but stay on your toes!

San Francisco to Fortuna

We would to over-nighters to Fort Bragg via Hwy 1 and the next day Hwy 1 to Leggett and then Hwy 101 back. SF to Fort Bragg is a long day. There are a number of motels and B&B in Fort Bragg and Mendicino. North of Leggett are a number of Redwood forest parks to see.

As with most scenic roads, you get a different perspective each direction you go.

 

[Roy Epperson]

Alternate routes from Santa Cruz to Pacifica

1. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Santa+Cruz,+CA/Pacifica,+CA/@37.0313132,-122.1169969,12z/data=!4m39!4m38!1m30!1m1!1s0x808e441b7c36d549:0x52ca104b2ad7f985!2m2!1d-122.0307963!2d36.9741171!3m4!1m2!1d-122.0628025!2d37.0164384!3s0x808e413f5d6d8171:0xaefcd4cb3aa72813!3m4!1m2!1d-122.079671!2d37.0604552!3s0x808e469cc997c743:0xb3d28e1d6d84f552!3m4!1m2!1d-122.1354924!2d37.2652188!3s0x808fb2de62765b4b:0x1b3279b9490d1d9a!3m4!1m2!1d-122.2630976!2d37.3830271!3s0x808fa5df076741df:0x9c1679c118f7f1c9!3m4!1m2!1d-122.4788814!2d37.5042782!3s0x808f73b85aed8bad:0x86b1300ddeba30fa!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f772fd14a9679:0x44b02f7f17a1c438!2m2!1d-122.4869194!2d37.6138253!3e0https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Santa+Cruz,+CA/Pacifica,+CA/@37.0313132,-122.1169969,12z/data=!4m39!4m38!1m30!1m1!1s0x808e441b7c36d549:0x52ca104b2ad7f985!2m2!1d-122.0307963!2d36.9741171!3m4!1m2!1d-122.0628025!2d37.0164384!3s0x808e413f5d6d8171:0xaefcd4cb3aa72813!3m4!1m2!1d-122.079671!2d37.0604552!3s0x808e469cc997c743:0xb3d28e1d6d84f552!3m4!1m2!1d-122.1354924!2d37.2652188!3s0x808fb2de62765b4b:0x1b3279b9490d1d9a!3m4!1m2!1d-122.2630976!2d37.3830271!3s0x808fa5df076741df:0x9c1679c118f7f1c9!3m4!1m2!1d-122.4788814!2d37.5042782!3s0x808f73b85aed8bad:0x86b1300ddeba30fa!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f772fd14a9679:0x44b02f7f17a1c438!2m2!1d-122.4869194!2d37.6138253!3e0
2. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Santa+Cruz,+CA/Pacifica,+CA/@37.1989996,-122.1866914,14z/data=!4m44!4m43!1m35!1m1!1s0x808e441b7c36d549:0x52ca104b2ad7f985!2m2!1d-122.0307963!2d36.9741171!3m4!1m2!1d-122.0628025!2d37.0164384!3s0x808e413f5d6d8171:0xaefcd4cb3aa72813!3m4!1m2!1d-122.079671!2d37.0604552!3s0x808e469cc997c743:0xb3d28e1d6d84f552!3m4!1m2!1d-122.1990557!2d37.1677644!3s0x808e523fb0ba000d:0xf07fdc2d2873b1b6!3m4!1m2!1d-122.1354924!2d37.2652188!3s0x808fb2de62765b4b:0x1b3279b9490d1d9a!3m4!1m2!1d-122.2630976!2d37.3830271!3s0x808fa5df076741df:0x9c1679c118f7f1c9!3m4!1m2!1d-122.4788814!2d37.5042782!3s0x808f73b85aed8bad:0x86b1300ddeba30fa!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f772fd14a9679:0x44b02f7f17a1c438!2m2!1d-122.4869194!2d37.6138253!3e0

 

[Slardy]

While taking route 550 North out of Durango is a very scenic ride, you will be missing one of the best scenic highways in Western Colorado: The Unaweep-Tabeguache Scenic and Historic Byway. I tried to cut and paste some links into this message but I can not! What is the problem with the website? Google the Byway and also look at some of the YouTube videos on SR141.

You can see the most exciting parts of SR550 and SR 141 by taking SR550 north to SR62, north of Ouray. SR62 to SR145 to SR141 North. You will not be disappointed in this ride.

Depending on how much money have to spend on accommodations, check out the Gateway Canyons Resort. I can not afford it but maybe you can.

Slardy

 

[russperry]

While taking route 550 North out of Durango is a very scenic ride, you will be missing one of the best scenic highways in Western Colorado: The Unaweep-Tabeguache Scenic and Historic Byway. I tried to cut and paste some links into this message but I can not! What is the problem with the website? Google the Byway and also look at some of the YouTube videos on SR141.
You can see the most exciting parts of SR550 and SR 141 by taking SR550 north to SR62, north of Ouray. SR62 to SR145 to SR141 North. You will not be disappointed in this ride.

Depending on how much money have to spend on accommodations, check out the Gateway Canyons Resort. I can not afford it but maybe you can.

Slardy

I didn't go all the way north on Co141, but the ride between Silverton and Moab was fantastic - after that you're facing a long hot ride across central Utah and Nevada but there's not much to do be done about that. There is still something beautiful about the stark terrain, and you certainly can get to some entertaining speeds across those long stretches of lonely road.

Here's one memorable moment - getting stuck in a sand trap near Sand Mountain, Nevada, just east of Fallon. Incredibly fine sand and there were a couple of uneasy moments getting there, but it had been packed in the parking lot at the Pony Express marker so I thought I was home free. Unfortunately the earth seemed to part in the middle of the parking lot and the big beast and I dove into it like a submarine heading to periscope depth. It was lonely out there and I was riding solo at the time, but luckily got myself extricated.

These iPhone panes are from Motion X GPS which I use to record my trips. It gives a lot of cool data including elevation changes, miles, speeds, etc....and these are the data from that journey from Silverton to Austin. In the small image you can see another of the Pony Express markers right there in Austin - one of the IBR bonus point sites.

You can ignore that one data point on the second image - must have been some kind of electrical glitch

 

[rckendall]

While I am new to FJRs and never done any long distance rides like you folks, I did just ride my new to me FJR from Colorado Springs to the California Coast. A friend plotted some nice twisties for me in Colorado, but at some point I knew I needed to make some longer miles. I enjoyed rte 6/50 through Utah, then 6 through Nevada. Good fast two lane roads and a few mountain passes to make it interesting.

I then took rte 120 through Yosemite to 41, which took me to Paso Robles. I have seen a lot of desert, having lived in California for almost 50 years, and I will say again that I enjoyed the trip through Nevada's dessert. I will warn you though that making good time in Yosemite is difficult. It was about 100 miles I believe from where 120 left 395 to the exit of 41 on the southern portion of Yosemite.

Good luck and Happy Anniversary!

Richard