Riding the PCH
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Intermediate
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Western Australia
Riding the PCH
Hi
Looking for a local perspective on riding the PCH from Los Angeles to San Fran. Suggestions on must take roads, roads not to take etc. We are not wedded to Hwy 1 and 101 if there is good scenery and roads off the PCH eg: parts of Hwy 9 and Big Basin Hwy closer to SF.
3 Ultras (with our brides) riding in early July this year and taking 2 days with an overnighter at San Simeon.
Our schedule means Day 1 from Santa Monica is a Friday and Day 2 to SF is Saturday so understand the potential traffic issues closer to LA, but it is what it is
Thanks for your help
Looking for a local perspective on riding the PCH from Los Angeles to San Fran. Suggestions on must take roads, roads not to take etc. We are not wedded to Hwy 1 and 101 if there is good scenery and roads off the PCH eg: parts of Hwy 9 and Big Basin Hwy closer to SF.
3 Ultras (with our brides) riding in early July this year and taking 2 days with an overnighter at San Simeon.
Our schedule means Day 1 from Santa Monica is a Friday and Day 2 to SF is Saturday so understand the potential traffic issues closer to LA, but it is what it is
Thanks for your help
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 444
Likes: 6
From: Baa Haaba, Maine
You should be fine as far as traffic depending on what time you leave and where you leave from.
While I'm not local, we just did that exact trip last spring. I'd do Highway 1/101 with only two days. We left LA late morning (11am), went to see the Hollywood sign, and overnighted in San Luis Obispo, south of San Simeon. You can get a special night tour of Hearst Castle, which covers most of the areas, albeit quickly, and is better than a regular tour, imo. You MUST pre-order your tickets online or you won't get them, and they book quick.
Once you leave Santa Monica, depending on time, try to hit Cold Spring Tavern, and old stage coach stop for lunch, http://www.coldspringtavern.com/
On your way up to SF, run up (and down) the Naciemiento Highway for some incredible views of the PCH http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nacimiento-Fergusson_Road
Once you hit Carmel/Pacific Grove area, you can take a detour over to the coast (can't ride 17 Mile drive, sorry) you can ride Ocean Dr in Pacific Grove, which is almost as nice. 1 north from there is a little nicer than 101, but if you want to make time, take 101.
Once in SF you can go across the bridge and hit Muir Woods National Park http://www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm and see the red woods.
Like I said, we just did this trip, and with two days, you will be hustling to cover the distance from LA to SF and see things, enjoy the ride, etc. You will spend WAY more time from San Simeon to SF looking at things than the first part. We took all day from San Luis Obispo to get to Pacific Grove with all the picture stops! On our way home, we left SF around 1pm, and made it to Morrow Bay (with a hailstorm/rainy weather) for the eve, and from Morrow Bay we rode to LA with plenty of stops and some riding in the canyons, a stop at the Rock Store http://www.rock-store.com/ for lunch, and made it to Marina Del Ray around 3pm or so.
We had a BLAST doing this trip (we had 13 days and didn't have enough time!), and if you have any specific questions, you can PM me if you want to take this discussion offline.
Steve
While I'm not local, we just did that exact trip last spring. I'd do Highway 1/101 with only two days. We left LA late morning (11am), went to see the Hollywood sign, and overnighted in San Luis Obispo, south of San Simeon. You can get a special night tour of Hearst Castle, which covers most of the areas, albeit quickly, and is better than a regular tour, imo. You MUST pre-order your tickets online or you won't get them, and they book quick.
Once you leave Santa Monica, depending on time, try to hit Cold Spring Tavern, and old stage coach stop for lunch, http://www.coldspringtavern.com/
On your way up to SF, run up (and down) the Naciemiento Highway for some incredible views of the PCH http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nacimiento-Fergusson_Road
Once you hit Carmel/Pacific Grove area, you can take a detour over to the coast (can't ride 17 Mile drive, sorry) you can ride Ocean Dr in Pacific Grove, which is almost as nice. 1 north from there is a little nicer than 101, but if you want to make time, take 101.
Once in SF you can go across the bridge and hit Muir Woods National Park http://www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm and see the red woods.
Like I said, we just did this trip, and with two days, you will be hustling to cover the distance from LA to SF and see things, enjoy the ride, etc. You will spend WAY more time from San Simeon to SF looking at things than the first part. We took all day from San Luis Obispo to get to Pacific Grove with all the picture stops! On our way home, we left SF around 1pm, and made it to Morrow Bay (with a hailstorm/rainy weather) for the eve, and from Morrow Bay we rode to LA with plenty of stops and some riding in the canyons, a stop at the Rock Store http://www.rock-store.com/ for lunch, and made it to Marina Del Ray around 3pm or so.
We had a BLAST doing this trip (we had 13 days and didn't have enough time!), and if you have any specific questions, you can PM me if you want to take this discussion offline.
Steve
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 290
Likes: 1
From: Ventura, CA
In LA get to the PCH. Sunset Blvd will take you there. (stop at Neptunes Net for a beer onthe way). Ride it till it connects back to 101 in Oxnard. Take State Beaches exit just past Ventura River for a nice 5 mile ride along the beach then back on 101. (take California street exit in Ventura and go up to Main Street, 1/4 block left to Anacapa Brewing for a local made beer. then continue down Main and it tuens back into 101). Take Hwy 154 exit in Santa Barbara, goes up over the mountains and past lake Cachuma then connects back to 101 in about 40 miles or so. Stay on 101 till San Luis then get back on PCH towards Morrow Bay. Now ride PCH all the way to SF.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 444
Likes: 6
From: Baa Haaba, Maine
Aussie, The Big Sur part of the PCH Morro Bay to Carmel/Pacific Grove is one of the best riding roads we've been on anywhere. And we've ridden The Putty Road and Bells Line in NSW, as well as the Grand Pacific Drive in your country.
Enjoy your visit.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 13,422
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From: Las Cruces, NM
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 290
Likes: 1
From: Ventura, CA
The ride between San Luis and Monterrey is one one the nicest rides anywhere. You just never know what the weather is going to be. It can be sunny and 80 and you'll never have a prettier ride or it can be foggy and 50 and you'll be freezing your **** off any day of the year. I've ridden it in a T-shirt and with heated gear in July.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,374
Likes: 20
From: Felton Calif
I live in Santa Cruz and I ride down to Morro Bay and back every now and then just because it is so pretty watch out for the Condors they swop down pretty low over the highway. Hwy 9 is a good ride also
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 149
From: High in the Colorado Rockies
Check out the elephant seals that are at San Simeon (close to Hearst castle). They have taken over a big stretch of the coast. SJ Ron
(google it for exact location and more info)
(google it for exact location and more info)