Highway 243, Banning to Idyllwild, CA

Highway 243 is one of Southern California’s most dramatic alpine ascents. Leaving the heat of the San Gorgonio Pass behind, the 243 immediately bites into the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains and begins an energetic climb.

For motorcyclists and driving enthusiasts, this ride is a masterclass in rhythm. Hwy 243 is all about the escape; you begin in the arid, boulder-strewn landscape of the high desert heading south from the I-10 freeway, but within just a few miles, the scrub gives way to manzanita and thick stands of Coulter pines and incense cedars. The air temperature drops 10 to 15 degrees during the 25-mile journey, providing a welcome reprieve from the valley heat.

The ride is defined by the tight, rhythmic S-curves of the lower section, which require active lean angles and smooth throttle transitions. As the lower elevations drop away in your mirrors, plan to stop at one of the several turnouts at the halfway point. These vistas offer panoramic views of the San Gorgonio Wilderness and the sprawling valley floor below, providing a sense of scale that is hard to match elsewhere in the region.

Upon reaching the summit, the road flows into the charming, forest-canopied village of Idyllwild at 5413 ft. Originally known as Strawberry Valley due to the abundance of wild fruit growing along the creek, the area became a hub for the logging industry by the late 1800s. At one time, at least 18 sawmills operated in these mountains, providing timber for the rapidly growing cities in the valleys below. The town is also famous for what it doesn't have: there are no stoplights and no major corporate chains. It remains a fiercely independent community that has famously elected a Golden Retriever named Mayor Max as its symbolic leader.

Idyllwild itself isn’t the true summit; elevations here vary significantly. The nearby community of Pine Cove sits nearly 1,000 feet higher on a ridgetop. From the village, ride west onto Highway 74 to drop down toward Hemet, or keep the momentum going south toward Palomar Mountain for the twisty rides of San Diego County.