Canada BC | Alberta | Saskatchewan | Manitoba Ontario | Quebec | Maritime Provinces

Calgary-California

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 10, 2014 | 10:17 PM
  #1  
empire_corsa's Avatar
empire_corsa
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
Default Calgary-California

Hi guys, my girlfriend and I are planning to go to California in May . Leaving from Calgary and I'd like to know if anyone here has done it before ? we are leaving on the 10th of may, we are planning to by Montana, Idaho, Utah, Nevada,
Is there any roads to avoid or roads that I MUST take for scenery

Please let me know, It will be my first trip in the states

Thanks !!
 
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2014 | 07:58 PM
  #2  
skidder's Avatar
skidder
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,566
Likes: 85
From: Calgary
Default

I've made the ride with my Wife a few times from here.
How long do you have for the ride?
 
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2014 | 09:31 PM
  #3  
rmeg08's Avatar
rmeg08
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 399
Likes: 1
From: Vernon, BC
Default

I've heard the west coast shoreline is a must ride. Gotta have the extra time though.
 
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2014 | 10:22 AM
  #4  
empire_corsa's Avatar
empire_corsa
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
Default

I have two weeks off. We are planning to go by san Francisco and then take the route 1 go to L.A and spend a few days then come back by vegas .
 
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2014 | 10:24 AM
  #5  
empire_corsa's Avatar
empire_corsa
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
Default

Originally Posted by skidder
I've made the ride with my Wife a few times from here.
How long do you have for the ride?
Wich road did you take ? and how is the ride?
 
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2014 | 02:30 PM
  #6  
MLJMT's Avatar
MLJMT
Cruiser
10 Year Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Hell
Default

Prepare to freeze your ***** off if you are unlucky (if and) when you go through Crescent City California. Ran the 101 from south of Centralia Oregon many years ago in August. I can't ever remember being that cold and damp in my life. It was also one of the most scenic and fun rides.
 
Reply
Old Apr 13, 2014 | 04:27 PM
  #7  
skidder's Avatar
skidder
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,566
Likes: 85
From: Calgary
Default

Originally Posted by empire_corsa
Wich road did you take ? and how is the ride?
If I was going to San Francisco I,d take 93 South to Missoula Mt. then the 12 West through Idaho(Lolo Pass).
Take a left in Clarkston and ride South on the 129 to The Rattlesnake Pass till you reach Enterprise,Oregon.
From Enterprise you have a choice to go West on the I-84 to Portland and then South to SFrancisco.
The 395 South is interesting in areas and can be boring once you hit the Oregon Outback.
Must rides in Northern California are the 96 to Eureka.
The 36 between Redding and Fortuna is a hit with me, probably California's best.
The coast is nice to ride but give yourself plenty of time, it's a slower pace.
I,m not sure of how much fog you may run into but in the summer you can get socked in till lunch time.
2 weeks should work, depending on how much time you plan to not be riding, you can haulback through Vegas and I-15 North with 3 nights on the road easy back home from L.A.
Enjoy.
 
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2014 | 07:25 PM
  #8  
zeus33's Avatar
zeus33
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 35,506
Likes: 27
From: Calgary eh
Default

Originally Posted by empire_corsa
Hi guys, my girlfriend and I are planning to go to California in May . Leaving from Calgary and I'd like to know if anyone here has done it before ? we are leaving on the 10th of may, we are planning to by Montana, Idaho, Utah, Nevada,
Is there any roads to avoid or roads that I MUST take for scenery

Please let me know, It will be my first trip in the states

Thanks !!
It sounds like you're planning to take the I15 all the way. It's a big freeway, I've done it many times. Not too exciting but you make good time.

Lot's of people like to take the 101 down the west coast. Great scenery and a great road, but everytime I've taken it it's rained. So be prepared to get wet if you go that way.

Last summer the wife and I went to California, we travelled down through central Idaho, into Nevada then across to Cali at Reno. Hitting the east side of California and zig zagging across the Cascade mountains. Personally I try to avoid southern and western California. Remember there are 38 million people living there, more people than the entire population of Canada. Not my idea of a realaxing holiday to be fighting the traffic on the soCal freeways.

But great riding and scenery in the mountains of Cali.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
Old Apr 19, 2014 | 11:36 PM
  #9  
empire_corsa's Avatar
empire_corsa
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
Default

freeway is not the greatest but I only have 2 weeks. And I have my rain gear lol ... My plan is going thru San Francisco then take the 101 to LA or somewhere around there we don't really have plans it's gonna be day to day
 
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2014 | 11:40 AM
  #10  
zeus33's Avatar
zeus33
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 35,506
Likes: 27
From: Calgary eh
Default

Originally Posted by empire_corsa
freeway is not the greatest but I only have 2 weeks. And I have my rain gear lol ... My plan is going thru San Francisco then take the 101 to LA or somewhere around there we don't really have plans it's gonna be day to day
From SanFran to LA you'll want to take HWY #1, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway. It goes along the coast, very pretty scenery.

You should take the 101 all the way from Oregon to San Fran. I think you'd like it, you'll see the Redwood Forest.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bigwave916
Road Trips
27
Jun 19, 2017 11:29 AM
krw
Great Lakes
12
Aug 2, 2012 08:22 PM
AtticusFinch
Road Trips
3
Dec 30, 2011 08:57 PM
wrkn247365
Touring Models
6
May 12, 2009 01:43 PM
ILTim
Great Lakes
4
May 2, 2008 12:56 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:01 AM.

story-0
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-6
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-8
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE