Riding In So Cal

[Sully1300]

In June I am planning on flying to Las Vegas with my wife. She will be in conferences all day each day so my plan is to rent a BMW GT (I wish I could find an FJR for rent, but can't) for three days and try and find all the twisty riding I can in southern California. A couple years back I did something similar but stuck to the surrounding Las Vegas area. The riding, once out of town was great (Lake Mead, Valley of Fire, etc.).

I have never been riding in So Cal so I would love to hear from many of my fellow riders on some recommended patches of pavement. I am looking to put in about 300 miles each day. I've got some ideas of potential rides like Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, etc., but I would love to hear of some of your favorites.

In fact, if you could do just three all day rides in So Cal before you died what would they be?

 

[madmike2]

June is "perfect" for Yosemite. Tioga Pass (Hwy 120) and Sonora Pass (Hwy 108) are traditionally opened for Memorial Day weekend, so the road will be nice (but chilly, so dress warmly), the park shouldn't be full of tourists and the waterfalls will be majestic because of the Spring run-off.

If you've never been there, put it on your "A" list. Trust me, pictures do not do the valley justice. By all means, if the roads are open, go up to Glacier Point and see the valley from the overlook. When entering the valley floor (it is a one-way loop) plan to pull over and stop once you clear the trees. Otherwise you'll be twisting your head and wandering all over your lane.

 

[twowheelnut]

I'll keep it close to the Southern Sierras...

Hwys, 49, 190, 120, 245, 178, Kern River Hwy, Sherman's Pass, 198/General's Hwy. If you gotta see the coast; 58, Cerro Noroeste/Lockwood Valley/33/150.

There are more, but I don't wanna spoil you for life.

 

[MikeYork5]

Keep heading west - Hwy 1 between San Simeon and Big Sur the most beautiful ride in the country if not the world (IMHO).