"California (CA) offers an incredible diversity of motorcycle road scenery. The state is blessed with over 1,100 miles of Pacific Coast shoreline, countless miles of arid canyon and twisted mountain road riding, vast stretches of alpine mountain roads, and some of the most appealing cities in the world. And, as one of the most popular tourist states in America, the Golden State is sure to offer motorcyclists looking for things to do off the bike an amazing menu of choices.
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Best Rated Motorcycle Roads & Rides
Color Key: top-5 ranked routes in the state
#1#2#3#4#5
Routes ranked below the top-5 are drawn in gray
Jesus Maria drops down into a small river valley and then climbs up the foothills to Railroad flat. This whole area burned in a fire in 2017 but has really grown back except for the big trees that…
When I ride this route it feels like I’m in a different country, the scenery is vastly different from what is seen on mines rode in my opinion and runs alongside Del Puerto Creek. There’s a park you…
Lots of high desert foliage, some nice mountain ranges and beautiful pink sand dunes - especially beautiful in the spring when the desert is blooming
There are a lot of rolling hills and large shade oaks near the many creek crossings. the residential homes are sometimes a little rundown, but there is also a lot of construction and improvement…
Um ... this really isn't a scenic ride. You'll be too busy enjoying the turns. There are sections of switchbacks and esses as well as high speed corners. But if you insist of glancing around, the…
Some great views east to Clear Lake and beyond, but who has time to notice?
This route takes you from the Valley up into the Seirra foothills and beyond. Lots of twisties with trees from pine to redwood. Views are wonderfull. During the winter months you can take hwy 26 up…
This route carves up the scenic English Hills into a breathtaking series of roads, complete with thick forest covering the road, amber (or green if winter) hills, beautiful lakes complete with…
This begins in rural farm and ranch country just outside of Sequoia National Park, and meanders into arid rolling hills and small mountains, becoming more scenic with every mile. Nice vistas include…
scenery is great during the end of winter but before summer, all the grass is green and stretches for miles and miles. in the summer it turns a gold color, like many of the California hills.
This route is through a rugged, often hot part of Arizona. This area was so barren at one time that the U.S.Army on one occasion in the late 1800s experimented with using camels for transportation (…
Narrow, winding, hilly backcountry roads. Rural scenery, homes, farms, forests. No traffic.
Follows the South Fork of the Yuba River. Awesome in Spring runoff. Great mountain views, especially from Donner Summit. Historical interest, railroad history, early settler route.
Along this route is mostly rural residential properties. There are many horse pastures and on some days, there are dozens of camels out in the last property before the northern end of OJH turns into…
I did this segment after doing ketumr's segment as I was heading up to Death Valley. The road was in considerably better shape than Kelso Cima Rd (the original Mojave National Preserve Tour route…
This route covers great open fields with many land animals. Trees, small hills and plenty of sun!
This is a stretch of highway running between the city of Chula Vista (eastlake) and along the CA-94 Highway all the way to the beautiful Town of Julian, beautiful and surreal landscape. There are…
While a short ride, Mesa Grande Rd contains all the elements of riding on a rural scenic California byway. It is like riding Carmel Valley Rd (Monterey County) but in 20 minutes instead of 90. The…
Starting from high desert valley, you head up into mature old pine forests. Great open views where you can see for miles. Campo ALto is 8172 feet elevation. Then when you head east through the Pine…
This route takes you from the west side of Fairfield up to Berryessa through a small valley in the Vaca Range which forms Napa Valley's eastern border. You will pass small farms and ranches,…
