Breckenridge Rd, east of Bakersfield, is a quintessential California goat trail that completely splits the room: it’s either the bane of your existence or an absolute godsend when you ride it. Connecting Comanche Drive near Bakersfield to Caliente-Bodfish Rd, this remote 37-mile ranch road climbs a steady 6,000 feet to the southern crest of the Sierra Nevada Range. It is narrow, bumpy, single-lane in most parts, and heavily littered with cyclic sand, potholes, and debris. And

Highway 49-Yuba Pass is an absolute masterpiece of a ride, combining pristine asphalt, sweeping curves, and deep Gold Rush history. This lightly traveled mountain pass sits at a low 6,100 feet, allowing it to clear early in the season while often remaining free of heavy congestion. The route begins with distinct canyon descents and ascents over the South and Middle Forks of the Yuba River before tracking the North Fork. Along the way, riders pass through historic Grass Valley

Nine Mile Canyon begins after a smooth, fast cruise across the flat sagebrush of the Kern Plateau, known here as Sherman Pass, flowing through the tiny off-grid mountain community of Kennedy Meadows. The eastern leg (pictured) of this ride is known as Nine Mile Canyon. The road takes a dramatic turn and drops a staggering 3,000 feet in its final 10 miles down to Highway 395. This two-lane stretch is wide open, fast, and intensely twisty, inviting speed whether you are carving

Highway 49 -The Little Dragon is a 22-mile segment of the total 284 miles of Highway 49 through historic Gold Rush territory winding north-south through the Sierra Nevada Foothills. But, it is often plagued by RV traffic and tourist congestion. However, local motorcyclists escape the crowds by aiming for a legendary 22-mile section between Coulterville and Bear Valley known as “The Little Dragon.” (Bear Valley is little more than an intersection.) Connecting these two tiny fo

Convict Lake Rd is one of the most easily missed spur roads off Hwy 395 in the eastern Sierra. I can say that with conviction (pun intended) because I was the one riding right by it - for 20 years! How would you know one of the most scenic spots in the Eastern Sierra is here unless someone told you. And, it’s a mere THREE miles off the highway! Three! Pure travesty for any sport touring rider to blithely roll on by and not know about this. Despite the short distance, you cann

Ice House Rd, east of Pollock Pines, CA, is one of our all-time favorite rides, plus 30 miles of it were repaved in 2025. It is pure riding bliss! But this post isn’t about that. It’s about the fire lookout along this ride you’ve been missing. And, while California has many fire lookouts, this one has a paved road all the way to the summit. Located along Ice House Road within the El Dorado National Forest, the Big Hill Fire Lookout holds a storied history of resilience. Situa

Bolinas Ridge, technically known as West Ridgecrest Boulevard, high above Mill Valley, CA, is widely celebrated by riders as one of the most scenic and unique motorcycle routes in California- and it’s one of my favorite California Motorcycle Roads. I have been bringing groups here for nearly 25 years- you have to see this road! It’s gonna blow your mind. Tucked away in Marin County minutes from San Francisco, this remote, two-lane paved backroad traces the crest of a high, tr

Highway 108 - Sonora Pass is one stretch of asphalt that captures the pure, dramatic extremes of California mountain riding. Reaching a breathtaking 9,624 ft at its summit, this alpine jewel is an absolute must-add to your Sierra Nevada bucket list. The true magic begins the moment you leave the historic Gold Rush town of Sonora behind. The landscape undergoes a stunning transformation, steadily climbing, morphing from rolling oak-covered foothills into dense, towering pine f

Mount Madonna Rd was the answer to my question of, How do I get off this road? I have ridden Hwy 152 Hecker Pass with groups in tow and solo riding more times than I can count headed into Watsonville. Awesome curves, great pavement and fast. And always stuck in traffic. How do I get off this road? What else ya got? Hecker Pass drives me batty. Mount Madonna Rd is the perfect alternative.. There are options. At the summit is Pole Line Rd which becomes Summit Rd then a dirt fir

Bottle Rock Rd is one of those easily missed gems that reminds you why this region between Calistoga and Clear Lake in Northern California is a motorcyclist’s paradise. Running parallel to Highway 175 from Cobb Mountain to Kelseyville, this ribbon of pavement offers a completely different experience from the main highway. While Hwy 175 carries the traffic, Bottle Rock is the alternative ride. Two lanes with a center line, it’s a bit goaty- rather bumpy plus lots of driveways

Wilder Ridge Rd is an unknown backroad that connects Mattole Rd on The Lost Coast with Shelter Cove Rd to the south. Is it a shortcut? Not a chance. It is remote, narrow, no-center-line goat for most of its length. At the Honeydew General Store, the main Mattole Rd continues across the bridge, Wilder Ridge Rd splits off and heads due south. The road is paved, except for a steep, loose gravel triple hairpin about three miles south of town. Why this short section has never been

White Mountain Rd is the second highest paved road in California, climbing from 7,200 feet to over 10,000 ft in just 12 miles. While Yosemite's Tioga Pass gets close, it never quite breaks that 10,000-foot ceiling. Setting out from Highway 168 east of Big Pine, CA, the tarmac quickly wiggles into a steep canyon full of whoops, serving up an addictive sequence of twists. White Mountain Rd sets north from Highway 168 & snakes up the barren mountain, and is utterly enticing spur

Eleven Pines Rd is a hidden treasure buried deep in the Sierra Nevada. Easily passed over, this forgotten ribbon of pavement connects Mosquito Ridge Rd at French Meadows Reservoir with Wentworth Springs Rd, near Uncle Tom's Cabin, by plunging into the rugged Rubicon River Canyon. While most riders know the much-loved roads on either end, few realize the history resting beneath their tires. The route traces a historic corridor first utilized by miners, packers, and early pione

Metcalf Rd in the South Bay, just on the southern edge of San Jose, CA, is the launchpad for an all-day epic adventure—situated mere miles from one of California’s most densely populated metropolitan areas. Connect a specific series of twisty backroads, and you can ride all the way from Morgan Hill to Berkeley while crossing over freeways, rather than riding on them. How does it work? Metcalf starts the day with a steep, technical climb to a destination actually labeled on th

Six Mile Rd is an easily missed connector in the Central Sierra foothills, running parallel to Highway 4 just outside Vallecito and rolling right up into Murphys, CA Sitting right at the bottom of a long straightaway, it is incredibly easy to blast right past because your brain is already focused on the epic Ebbetts Pass mountain curves ahead—or you're just stuck in a line of slow-moving traffic heading up the hill. Do yourself a favor and hang a left onto this narrow, no-cen

Bean Hollow Rd is one of those short ribbons of asphalt that most riders blast right past without ever noticing, but it is absolutely worth the detour. Located just outside Pescadero, CA, Bean Hollow Road parallels Highway 1 and cuts inland through rolling coastal ranchland. The road itself is only a few miles long, but it serves up immediate access to dramatic oceanfront bluffs, open pastureland, and sweeping views of the Pacific that are completely hidden from the main high

Beckwourth-Genesee Rd near Portola is an easily overlooked mountain ribbon that flows north out of Beckwourth, CA. Found just a few minutes outside of Portola, this tiny high-country community sits at the 5,000-ft level and is likely best known for the Western Pacific Railroad Museum on the west end of town—at least if you’re a rail fan. At this museum, you can actually rent and drive a real, full-sized vintage diesel-electric locomotive, and the museum spans 37 acres with ov

Powerhouse Road is an easily missed canyon ride in the Central Sierra foothills, cutting a rugged north-south path from Auberry to North Fork, CA. For motorcyclists, this isn't just a point-A-to-point-B route—it’s a dramatic, technical plunge into the historic heart of California's early hydroelectric grid. This particular stretch of the San Joaquin River is packed with infrastructure; Kerckhoff, Redinger, Big Creek and the Mammoth Pool dams are all clustered within a short d

Highway 121 eastbound out of Napa, CA is the ultimate motorcycle escape route, throwing you directly into the rugged ridges of the Vaca Mountains. While it’s certainly not the only way out of town, it ticks the boxes for the motorcycle mind: a sequence of tight, repetitious S-curves that serve as the gateway to Lake Berryessa and a vast network of even twistier backroads. But there’s a catch. This ribbon of asphalt is also the primary artery for weekend boat traffic heading t

Highway 155 eastbound from the tiny outpost of Woody is a spectacular, easily-missed gem that serves up an absolute clinic in Sierra Nevada foothill riding. Who notices this road but bikers and sports car owners? With the hurried Hwy 178 in the Kern River Canyon to the south taking all the tourists headed for Lake Isabella and Kernville, Hwy 155 goes completely unnoticed. And we like it that way. Leaving the rolling ranch lands of the Southern Sierra foothills behind, this ro