Mountain View Rd is a wild, tossing, and rocking 26-mile roller coaster that leaves Boonville westward, launching you right past the tiny Boonville Airport and straight up the hill. If you love sudden elevation shifts, the initial, bumpy one-lane climb hits you with multiple hairpins with a steep grade that immediately gets your attention. This road is a stretch of surreal, imperfect perfection that bridges the gap between the quiet valley town of Boonville, through a redwood

East Grade Rd from Lake Henshaw to the Palomar Observatory is one of Southern California’s finest mountain rides. Stretching roughly 17 miles, this legendary asphalt ribbon ascends from the high-desert valley floor at around 2,700 ft to the pine-crested ridges of Palomar Mountain, topping out near 5,600 ft. The ride begins along the wide, scenic shores of Lake Henshaw, (stop by the overlook) where the road quickly transitions into a technical, rhythmic ascent. Unlike its tigh

Highway 229, affectionately known as Rossi’s Driveway, is a unique five-mile stretch of pavement in San Luis Obispo Co that connects Hwy 58 to Hwy 41. Anchored near the small ranching community of Creston, this “state highway” features a northern half with quick straights. The route then climbs steadily up to a low rise marked by large dual water tanks before the second half plunges into a narrow canyon, flowing down the hillside along a dry creek bed. Characterized by a very

Peachy Canyon is exactly the place you want to be. For a motorcyclist navigating California’s Central Coast Range, the space between Templeton and San Miguel is a playground of pavement. While these towns sit a scant 14 miles apart as the crow flies, the motorcycle mind naturally demands a detour—stretching that boring straight line into a 60-mile revelry of technical riding. This south-to-north sequence kicks off on Willow Creek Rd, instantly trading highway monotony for a s

Granite Rd north of Bakersfield, CA ticks all the boxes. Leaving the flat, sun-baked oil fields of Oildale behind, Granite Road immediately sweeps you into a different world. For a motorcyclist, this northward run toward Glennville is pure, unfiltered backroad bliss. The Central Valley fades in your mirrors as the tarmac begins to rise and ripple into the foothills of the Greenhorn Mountains. The road accurately earns its name. As you lean the bike through sweeping curves, th

Skyway Rd, running between Magalia and Butte Meadows, CA, is a Sierra Nevada gem you’ve likely never heard of—unless you live nearby or prefer to keep your best riding roads close to the chest. This remote corridor used to be a dirt path over a low mountain summit. I remember riding Skyway Rd after dutiful study of a Thomas Guide back in the mid-1990s and getting stuck in the snow on my Yamaha Venture. As soon as I learned the county had completely paved the route around 2012

Tollhouse Road is a much-loved Sierra Nevada ribbon of asphalt that offers a dramatic, twisty ascent into the mountains east of Fresno, CA. Beginning at Highway 168 (a fun but traffic-heavy route) near the valley floor, the road immediately plunges riders into deep California history as it winds eastward toward the town of Tollhouse, passing the intersections for Pittman Hill Rd and Burrough Valley Rd. Tollhouse originated in the 1860s during the lumber boom. It grew around a

Twin Lakes Rd is a ride I had never heard of. We were in Bridgeport, CA filling up with expensive gas & my ride buddy on the GSA asked if I had ever been to Twin Lakes. Never heard of it was the reply. He pointed to 20 feet away – That’s it right there. Not a clue. I know now to ride any paved road that pushes westward from 395. Your reward for the curiosity is always just up ahead. Twin Lakes Rd is an out-and-back spur that begins at the Shell station in Bridgeport, and head

Cherry Lake Rd is an overlooked, remote mountain route in the Sierra Nevada Range that connects Hwy 120 near Groveland, CA with Hwy 108 near Sonora, CA. This ride remains an easily missed remote route to most riders while heading toward Yosemite National Park (south end) or flowing uphill on Hwy 108-Sonora Pass from the tiny foothill community of Tuolumne on the north end. The south end is found 14 miles west of Groveland, the Cherry Lake Loop is an all-paved 52-mile back cou

The Lake Clementine Dam outside of Auburn, CA, officially known as the North Fork Dam, is tucked deep into the canyon of the Auburn State Recreation Area along Foresthill Rd, just a few miles past the Foresthill Bridge outside Auburn. I’ve ridden between Auburn and Foresthill (headed for Mosquito Ridge) for 30 years and never knew this dam was even there. Unlike the massive structures you might typically envision—such as Hoover or Shasta—the Lake Clementine Dam was specifical

Highway 66 along the CA-OR border begins in Ashland, Oregon, and stretches across the southern edge of the state. Something special happens as we move across this imaginary line that delineates this state border. The terrain changes, the climate changes, and the road surface changes—subtle things motorcyclists notice. It just feels... different. Between the remoteness, the hilly terrain, and the small towns, the one thing we did not expect was the superb quality of the road s

Highway 120 – Tioga Pass opens tomorrow, Friday May 15 to wrap up every motorcyclist's eagerness to mark the final high Sierra pass to open. 120, 4, 108 & Sherman Pass – now all open. Hwy 120 is the backbone of Yosemite National Park, and tomorrow’s opening of Tioga Pass marks the return of California’s most spectacular high-altitude transit peaking at 9945 ft. Starting at Crane Flat, the road rolls past the Tuolumne Sequoia Grove – always stop if you’ve never seen them in pe

Highway 180 is the gateway to one of the most dramatic spectacles in the Sierra Nevada: the Kings Canyon Scenic Byway. Leaving Wilsonia and the giant sequoias behind, the road plunges nearly 4000 feet into the heart of the deepest canyon in North America. This is a descent like no other, featuring smile-inducing s-curve sweepers that cling to the canyon walls and provide unobstructed views of the Kings River far below. As you drop deeper into the gorge, the landscape shifts f

La Porte Rd is the one everyone forgets. While the adage says there are 22 Sierra Nevada passes, most of the attention naturally gravitates toward the heavy hitters: Monitor, Ebbetts, Sonora, and Tioga. However, just to the north lies a trio of passes that are frequently skipped: Yuba, Oroville-Quincy, and La Porte Rd. Located in Sierra County—a rugged region with only 3,200 permanent residents spread across nearly 1,000 square miles—this route offers exactly what a motorcycl

Highway 198 in the Central Coast Range is the road most riders never see coming. Stretching westward from the oil-rich hills of Coalinga toward the Salinas Valley, this route is a remote, high-speed adrenaline shot through the heart of the Diablo Range. While many coastal travelers stick to the flat valley floor, riders that veer onto 198 are rewarded with a rhythmic s-curve sequences of sweepers and elevation changes. And bonus, portions of Highway 198 were resurfaced a year

Cecilville Rd is home to a stretch of road in Far Northern California we simply call "The Racetrack." It isn’t a race, and it’s not a track, but once you lean into that first series of bends, you’ll understand the name. Tucked away near Callahan, this is arguably the one of the most perfectly engineered, well-graded motorcycle road in California. It offers a rhythmic tempo of curves and mountain views with zero traffic, zero guardrails, and zero distractions. The climb takes

Highway 1 North is the shizzle. Forget the tourist crowds of Big Sur; the real magic of Highway 1 starts north of the Golden Gate. Stretching 218 miles from San Francisco to its terminus at Leggett, Highway 1 North is an absolute legend in coastal riding. This isn't just a road; it’s a technical odyssey featuring endless hairpins, smooth pavement, and a rugged, blue-water backdrop that stays with you long after the kickstand is down. For those in the know, the journey begins

Highway 89 through Lassen Volcanic National Park is the pinnacle of High Sierra riding for those who want to experience the dramatic collision of fire and ice. And no—it’s not open yet. Annual snowfall near the summit can exceed 40 feet in some seasons; while every year is different, it is rare to ride over the peak prior to May 31. This isn’t just a mountain pass; it is a 30-mile high-altitude traverse that crests at 8,512 ft, making it the highest paved point in the Souther

Highway 4 - Ebbetts Pass is now open. As a connoisseur of roads, I’m often asked what my favorite twisty CA road is. After all, your goal has been to ride them all… Ebbetts Pass is one of my all-time favorite motorcycle roads in all the state. Really? I have to reply with if you want to experience the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range at its most raw and technical, Hwy 4-Ebbetts Pass, is the destination. This isn’t a high-speed mountain road; it is a 76-mile journey from Angels Ca

Everitt Memorial Highway is one of the only paved roads climbing the side of Northern California’s 14,179-ft Mount Shasta. It doesn’t exactly jump off my AAA Sectional Map, and it isn't obvious unless you’re crossing roads off a bucket list or someone told you about it. However, if you want to experience the sheer scale of the Cascades without ever leaving the pavement, this is the ultimate vertical journey. How many times have you ridden up-and-down I-5 in Northern Californi