Advise needed!
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 33
From: Acworth
Advise needed!
Planning this years trip, here's my question: If your at Lake Tahoe, headed to the Ca. coast (close but north of the Golden Gate) what route would you recommend? We prefer scenic 2 lane roads, mnt passes and want to avoid anywhere with heavy traffic.. I see several roads going across - hwy 50, 88, 4 & 108, or maybe another? I just don't know... hoping the locals / experts can help me here.
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 8,196
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From: San Francisco
Avoid 50. Too much traffic and not that scenic. 88, 4, and 108 are all good for trans Sierra riding. Those are all south of Tahoe. North of Tahoe has 49 over Yuba Pass which is OK and 70 through the Feather River Canyon is very good. Route 20 (north of Tahoe) is also a good two lane road for getting across the Central Valley. It also winds up in the Clear Lake area which is nice.Tell me more about what you are planning and I'll try to help you with routing.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Idaho
I've been over all of these, plus 120. Two questions...
You didn't mention when you're taking this trip, but I assume this summer. All of these, including 120, but not 50, are closed all winter.
Second question: Just how "curvy" do you want? Hwy 4 is much, much tighter than Tail of the Dragon. It's a gorgeous ride and the pavement is good, but the road is so narrow there's no center line, because it's not wide enough. Take it easy, don't rush, and it's a hell of a ride.
108 is next, very curvy, but not scary. 88 is a gorgeous cruise through the Sierras. 120 is probably the least curvy, but it's most definitely still a mountain road. I was over it two weeks ago because a freak snow storm closed 108. It was 28 degrees at the east gate into Yosemite.
120 is one of the two main roads through Yosemite, so in the summer it's wall to wall campers, RV's, and slow moving cars.
My recommendation would be to make it a goal to ride them all!
You didn't mention when you're taking this trip, but I assume this summer. All of these, including 120, but not 50, are closed all winter.
Second question: Just how "curvy" do you want? Hwy 4 is much, much tighter than Tail of the Dragon. It's a gorgeous ride and the pavement is good, but the road is so narrow there's no center line, because it's not wide enough. Take it easy, don't rush, and it's a hell of a ride.
108 is next, very curvy, but not scary. 88 is a gorgeous cruise through the Sierras. 120 is probably the least curvy, but it's most definitely still a mountain road. I was over it two weeks ago because a freak snow storm closed 108. It was 28 degrees at the east gate into Yosemite.
120 is one of the two main roads through Yosemite, so in the summer it's wall to wall campers, RV's, and slow moving cars.
My recommendation would be to make it a goal to ride them all!
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Bit roundabout but you can got north out of Tahoe on 89 to 49 follow that into Nevada city / Grass valley then take 20 all the way to Clear lake then catch 29 into Calistoga then onto 128 and follow it on down into Napa then you skirt around the north bay into Marin. All secondaries. The first part of this avoids all the usual Tahoe tourist traffic and 49's a nice lesser traveled road.
If the valleys too much for heat and traffic you can drop out of Grass valley just outside Sac. and haul *** on 80 into the bay.
If the valleys too much for heat and traffic you can drop out of Grass valley just outside Sac. and haul *** on 80 into the bay.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Acworth
First, Thanks for the replies.
This trip starts end of June, 2016. Will be coming across 50 from Ely and plan to stay in Virginia City,NV. Next day, Up 341, down 431 and down to Lake Tahoe. That is where it gets cloudy for me. I hope to end up around Fairfield. Due to time, I'm afraid if I swing too far north I will run short on time. Anyway, then down the coast to Dana Point before turning east. I may have questions about getting thru / around LA later.
Thanks again for your expertise, it is appreciated!
This trip starts end of June, 2016. Will be coming across 50 from Ely and plan to stay in Virginia City,NV. Next day, Up 341, down 431 and down to Lake Tahoe. That is where it gets cloudy for me. I hope to end up around Fairfield. Due to time, I'm afraid if I swing too far north I will run short on time. Anyway, then down the coast to Dana Point before turning east. I may have questions about getting thru / around LA later.
Thanks again for your expertise, it is appreciated!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 8,196
Likes: 2,433
From: San Francisco
If time is an issue on the Tahoe to Fairfield portion, a simple solution is 89 into 88 into 12 into Fairfield. It is direct. You'll have one hell of a ride in the Sierra and you'll get to cross the Valley on a two lane road.
Any questions about routing through the Bay Area?
Any questions about routing through the Bay Area?
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Acworth
Thanks Michael, So between hwy 88 vs hwy 4 down to Stockton, distance wise is about 25 mi. or so, which route to you like best and why?
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
Last edited by Mikey 1450; Jun 6, 2016 at 10:27 AM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
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From: San Francisco
Both are good. Here is the big difference. The east side of Highway 4, up to the pass is extremely tight and curvy as IdahoHacker mentioned. The pavement is good. You'll be tossing the bike from side to side a lot. 88 is smoother and less curvy, a smoother ride and spectacular scenery. If you should decide to go in that direction (south) and have the time, consider going east on 108. That will enable you to go over Monitor Pass which is spectacular. But that will be a much longer ride.
So if you want it curvy, do Highway 4. If you want to glide through, do Highway 88. If you want a much longer ride but utterly spectacular, do Highway 108.
So if you want it curvy, do Highway 4. If you want to glide through, do Highway 88. If you want a much longer ride but utterly spectacular, do Highway 108.
