Highway 155 - Glennville, CA

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 route acts as a dramatic transition corridor, launching you from the valley floor straight up into the high-alpine pines of the Greenhorn Mountains.

The initial stretch wastes no time getting technical. As you begin a steady ascent, you are thrown into a series of dizzying S-curves signed at a mere 15 mph. Recently resurfaced and constantly gaining elevation toward the to the summit, the pavement tightens into a giddy maze of narrow, blind switchbacks and rhythm-testing apexes shadowed by giant oaks and granite monoliths. Your throttle hand and suspension will be working overtime as you lean hard into the mountain, climbing high enough to watch the Central Valley completely disappear in your mirrors.

Once you crest the summit at Alta Sierra at 6,100 feet, the pine-scented air cools down dramatically before the highway drops you into a breathtaking, sweeping descent. The trees open up to reveal panoramic views of the Kern River Valley below.

By the time the road straightens out and deposits you onto the shores of Lake Isabella near Kernville, your tires are warm, there’s a little less fuel in the tank, and your adrenaline is absolutely pumping.