Oroville-Quincy - Highway 162

The Oroville-Quincy Highway (Highway 162) is a masterclass in high-speed Sierra engineering found due east of Chico, CA & flowing out of the eastern side of Oroville. While many up-and-over passes in the Sierra Nevada Range are defined by steep climbs and tight, repeating hairpins, Highway 162 offers an entirely different allure. This is a wide, well-maintained ribbon of asphalt famous for sequences of wide-open-sight lines, continual S-curves and sustained speeds, allowing you to settle into a deep, almost hypnotic cadence of rhythm.

Leaving Oroville behind and crossing the towering Bidwell Bar Bridge over the waters of Lake Oroville, the route begins a steady climb. It flows into a series of perfectly cambered sweepers where you can find the right gear and maintain momentum for miles, rolling side-to-side through transitions that follow the natural spine of the ridges.

This ride evokes thoughts of Gollum who repeatedly says, ‘My Precious’. That's you- once you ride this road a few times uttering this phrase to yourself in a thin, raspy, wet-sounding utterance. Your next thought will inevitably be: "This road is freaking awesome."

There is no discernible summit—just a repeating "slalom" of S-curves through the Sierra headed for the cool timberline of Bucks Lake for lunch at the Bucks Lake Resort which has an open deck out back with an expansive view of the lake. This road was designed for the pursuit of the perfect line, offering a high-speed flow that is remarkably rare in the high country.

Circle back around via Highway 70-Feather River Canyon, or even better is LaPorte Rd for a full loop.

https://www.pashnittours.com/sierra-crest