Overall Route Rating
speedo-meter speedo-arrow
speedo-meter-grey
4.5 out of 5 Rider Rating 4.5
2 Reviews

Walker Pass - Rte 178 - Lake Isabella

Motorcycle Route Author

profile Image
By mrroboto (67 McR Points) on May 28, 2019

Rider Reviews

See All Rider Reviews
SJ_Phil
154 McR Points
March 8, 2021
Went out for a weekend camp trip to Lake Isabella…
Read More
Thumbsup
No Image Found
David_Harleyson
54 McR Points
June 29, 2021
Left out of Palmdale in the AM heading up through…
Read More
Thumbsup

Written Directions

Starts (or ends depending on direction of travel) in Inyokern where 395/14/178 meet. Stay on 178 the entire way and you'll head past Lake Isabella and eventually into Bakersfield.

Scenery

This ride starts as Joshua Trees that start small and sparse and increase in quantity and size for the first 1/4 of the ride as your elevation increases. The midway point has a small town on the left with Lake Isabella on your right. Finally you descend through large boulders and rock walls on your left with a roaring river on your right.

Drive Enjoyment

The pavement is in great shape. The ride is mostly curvy with enough straightaways for passing when necessary. After passing Lake Isabella the road opens up into a two-lane highway for a little bit and then gets tight and twisty. Passing will be a challenge at this point but there are many signs for slow traffic to use the turn outs.

Tourism Opportunities

At the midway point by Lake Isabella you'll be able to gas up and have a quick bite. There's a Mexican restaurant called El Portal Mexican grill that may surprise with you some tasty eats and a friendly staff.

Motorcycle Road Additional info

Many corners are without guardrails and have steep drop offs so it's not for the novice or timid but there is nothing difficult or tricky about the ride so most should do just fine on it. If you're brave, you can stay in Inyokern after a day in Death Valley. While Inyokern isn't pretty, the Mayfair Inn is clean and the dive bar next door has cold beer and there's a couple food spots that shouldn't make you sick. This is a great way to get back into Central California after a day of riding in Death Valley.
 

Add Photo/Video
Share Your Comments ( 2 )
  Earn McR Points
Write a review
SJ_Phil
March 8, 2021
154 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
Went out for a weekend camp trip to Lake Isabella. Rode up to Johnson's Bridge where the Sherman Pass Road insects. Back door into Sequoia NP. I kind of want to do this again... CA-178 was a good ride if you could around the traffic. I like the twisties. I can easily imagine it being a really boring ride if you get stuck behind a commercial vehicle. One can go fishing right off the die of the road. Which I did..caught two pretty quick. A trout and a cat fish.
Was this road review helpful?
Thumbsup
0 riders found this road review useful
No Image Found
David_Harleyson
June 29, 2021
54 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
Left out of Palmdale in the AM heading up through Tehachapi Willow Springs Rd and Woodford-Tehachapi for some grub at Keene Café. Instead of taking SR178, we took the Bealville Rd exit to Cliente Bodfish Rd up and over to Lake Isabella and on up to Mammoth Lake; all on a rented 2019 Ultra Classic, from San Diego HD/Eagle Rider, that was loaded up for our 10 day – 10 stop trip throughout California. We definitely shaved some weight off those floorboards, what a freaking blast.
Was this road review helpful?
Thumbsup
0 riders found this road review useful