Parkfield-Coalinga Rd is dirt. Well, that’s not entirely true. It’s hard-pack dirt on the south side of the Diablo Range, but delightful near-new pavement (repaved a few years ago) awaits once you reach the summit for the descent toward Highway 198—plus a couple of shallow water crossings in the springtime. We are headed for Parkfield, CA —the self-proclaimed 'Earthquake Capital of the World'. Parkfield is a tiny town (population 18) built directly over the seam of the San An

Cherokee Road is not the obvious choice, but when you look at Oroville, CA on a map and spot a narrow, squiggly line snaking out from the edge of the city flowing northward, it’s impossible not to wonder: Where does that go? Running north from Oroville, this road serves as a scenic bypass that trades the hurried valley floor for the rugged, volcanic plateau of the North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve. To your west, the basalt cliffs of Table Mountain rise sharply—famous fo

Turri Rd, near San Luis Obispo, CA is the perfect backroad for anyone navigating the gap between the Pacific Coast and SLO. Running parallel to Highway 1 to the north and Los Osos Valley Rd to the south, it offers a tranquil alternative to the main arteries. To find it, peel off Highway 1 onto S. Bay Blvd outside of Morro Bay and head south toward Los Osos to reach Turri Rd. Riding eastward, the road transforms into a rhythmic roller coaster of gentle dips and relaxed rises.

King Ridge starts in Cazadero, CA—a small redwood town known for Willys Jeeps and a classic general store where our groups always stop for ice cream. Willys America, a world-renowned restoration shop and parts supplier dedicated to the Willys-Overland line, sits atop a five-acre former lumber mill right in town. It’s been a fixture there for as long as I can remember- decades. After snapping photos of your favorite vintage Willys and finishing your ice cream, the road forks j

Cantelow Rd is likely a road you’ve never heard of unless you ride a bicycle. Found due north of Vacaville, CA, it parallels the I-80 corridor to the south and Highway 128 to the north. Most of this road is single-lane, but paved, bumping over the low English Hills and connecting the I-505 freeway with Pleasants Valley Rd. Not long—a mere 6 miles—but if you have a penchant for backroads and the road less traveled, you may enjoy this alternative to the much faster and hurried

Gazelle-Callahan Rd is the ultimate reason to peel off Interstate 5 in Far Northern California. If you're heading north of Weed toward Yreka, there is a better way. At the tiny hamlet of Gazelle (little more than an intersection), leave the slab behind and set your sights on the 4,921 ft Gazelle Summit. As you roll westward on Gazelle-Callahan Rd, Mt. Shasta looms in your mirrors—a massive 14,179 ft stratovolcano holding seven permanent glaciers that last erupted just 200 yea

Lower Rock Creek Road / Sherwin Grade is a 13-mile diversion north of Bishop, CA that parallels the main highway. It won’t get you there faster, but it will add some fantastic curves to an otherwise bland ride up Highway 395. If you follow these daily posts, you’ve likely figured out the theme: the goal of riding 395 is to get off 395. While most travelers blithely bypass this stretch on the modern highway, those who peel off the main artery are rewarded with a masterpiece th

Gold Lakes Hwy is located five miles east of Sierra City, CA at Bassetts along Highway 49-Yuba Pass. It is one of the most scenic—and easily missed—routes over the Sierra Nevada Range. I have to admit, during my early forays into these mountains decades ago, I had no idea this ‘shortcut’ to Graeagle was even there; I blithely stuck to the main highway entrenched in my tunnel vision, completely unaware of the alpine allure just a few miles away. This High Sierra region is know

Highway 38 in Southern California starts at Big Bear Lake and winds through the San Bernardino Mountains, climbing up and over the 8,443-foot Onyx Summit before beginning a long, steady descent toward the I-10 freeway. The route flows through high-speed S-curve sweepers that offer incredible views peering over the edge into Mill Creek Canyon. These massive, fast sweepers and constant-radius turns provide a rhythmic, effortless pace that is rare for such a dramatic mountain pa

Highway 36 in Northern California is a road we blather on and on about... And I’ve ridden it more times than I can count, plus introduced many, many of my Pashnit Motorcycle Tour participants to Highway 36 over the last two decades plus. Rode it again a day ago and my brain reacts with the same Pavlovian response- giggles. Such a fun road to ride with two wheels. Constant lean angle for 140 miles, a place where you can always see the next curve. I won’t blather, I’ve already

Leave Oakhurst at dawn, before first light. Ride into Yosemite NP, have the entire road to Glacier Point all to yourself plus brand new pavement. Sun comes up over half dome- no better place to start your day. https://www.pashnittours.com/

Wentworth Springs Road is a ride I described as "what motorcycle dreams are made of"—a pristine ribbon of pavement carved into the rugged landscape of the El Dorado National Forest. Spanning approximately 31 miles, the route flows atop a ridgeline known as the Georgetown Divide, connecting Georgetown at Highway 193 to Ice House Road. Originally a dirt wagon trail used by gold miners and loggers, the route underwent a modern transformation in 2003 when the final 15-mile stretc

If you’ve ever ridden north or south on Highway 395 near Lone Pine, CA, you’ve likely seen it—a faint, jagged scar cut into the distance that climbs straight up the mountain in a relentless series of switchbacks. I’ll admit, I passed by this road for multiple decades, before my curiosity finally got the better of me. What is up there? Horseshoe Meadows Road is one of California’s most dramatic and technically demanding paved ascents. Located just south of Lone Pine, this ro

Mt. Umunhum Road opened to the public in 2017, offering an all-new, twisty climb to the 3,486-foot summit of the peak. Sitting atop the summit is the relic of a decommissioned Cold War military base. Its centerpiece, an 8-story concrete monolith known locally as "The Cube," can be seen from across the South Bay Area. While most of the original Air Force base buildings have been razed, this massive structure was left as a silent tribute to the Cold War infrastructure that was

Highway 49 between Nevada City and Downieville is widely considered the crown jewel of the Gold Country. Starting the ride at Java John’s amidst the Victorian charm of Nevada City, the road climbs briefly out of town before immediately plunging into a high-intensity descent toward the South Yuba River. This section is a masterclass in rhythmic engineering, characterized by tight, technical twisties that cling to the canyon walls. The elevation changes are dramatic, offering r

Montezuma Hills Rd near Rio Vista, CA is a forgotten, undulating ribbon of asphalt that feels more like a roller coaster through the iconic Windows XP "Bliss" wallpaper—which, as it happens, was photographed just a few counties over in Sonoma, CA. This easily missed back road is defined by numerous wind turbines of the Shiloh Wind Power Plant, all spinning in the relentless flow of the Delta Breeze, a natural phenomenon where ocean air flows inland from San Francisco Bay as m

Bayne Road starts in Coloma, CA, the spot where gold was discovered in 1848, sparking one of the largest mass migrations in American history. Today, the entire town of Coloma, found between Placerville and Auburn, is a State Historic Park. Bayne Rd is remarkably easy to miss—I rode right past it for 20 years. It isn’t something you’d pick off an old fashioned paper map, and your GPS will ignore it. To find it, ride across the iconic one-lane bridge over the American River and

Beasore Rd is found east of Oakhurst, CA across the road from the Bass Lake Resort. Better known as the Mammoth Pool Loop, Beasore Road flows east through a relentless series of mountain S-curves, climbing into the Sierra Nevada Mountains over a low 7300 ft summit for 35 miles toward Clover Meadow. Dead end road. Well, sort of. In the mid-20th century, there was a massive push to build a paved highway connecting North Fork, CA (via the Minarets Road/Beasore area) directly acr

Sawyers Bar Road stands alone as a holy grail of Northern California motorcycling for riders who crave remote, single-lane mountain pavement. (And yes, all paved.) This loop route begins in the quiet town of Etna (pop. 627) and immediately demands your full focus. It climbs sharply toward the 5,900-foot Etna Summit, offering staggering views of the Russian Wilderness to the west before plunging into the dense depths of the Klamath National Forest. This road is more than just

Highway 108 - Sonora Pass is one of our favorite mountain passes. With very little snow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains right now & Highway 89-Monitor Pass near Markleeville already open, I'm betting on an early open date. Earliest recent open date for Sonora Pass was a decade ago on April 17, 2015 during the last drought. That’s generally considered the earliest documented spring opening in recent decades. Mid-April is less than a month away. But don't get too excited, Mid-Ma