Riding California
California motorcycle rides: the roads, the seasons and the rules
California motorcycle rides run from the Big Sur coast to Sierra passes near 10,000 feet and desert two-lanes that dip below sea level, and some part of the state is in season every month of the year. This guide covers the best roads, when each region rides best, the helmet and lane splitting rules, and how riders use the free Rippin' app here.
- Helmet law
- All riders
- Lane splitting
- Legal
- Riding season
- Year-round, by region
- Rippin' price
- Free
Why ride it
Why California motorcycle rides are worth planning around
California rides like three states. The coast runs from the Mexican border to the redwoods, with Highway 1 hugging long stretches of it. The mountains give you the San Gabriels and San Jacintos in the south and the Sierra Nevada and its Gold Country foothills up north. The deserts, from Anza-Borrego to Death Valley, give you empty two-lanes and huge skies.
Southern California rides all year, with canyon roads like Palomar, Ortega and Angeles Crest an easy morning from San Diego, Orange County and LA. The Bay Area has the Santa Cruz Mountains and the coast south to Big Sur. Northern California is quieter and longer: Highway 36, Highway 49 and redwood roads where you pass a handful of cars in an hour.
The catch is people and closures. Metro traffic is heavy, the famous canyons draw crowds and patrols, and coast and mountain highways close for slides, snow and fire. Check Caltrans QuickMap before any long ride.
The roads
The best motorcycle roads in California
Ten classics, south to north. Every one is a public road with traffic on it, so ride your own pace and save the speed for a track day.
- Palomar Mountain, South Grade Road (County S6)Tight switchbacks up Palomar Mountain in north San Diego County toward the observatory. Watch for gravel in the hairpins, cyclists and busy weekend mornings.
- Ortega Highway (SR 74)Crosses the Santa Ana Mountains from San Juan Capistrano to Lake Elsinore. Watch for heavy commuter traffic and cars drifting over the line in blind corners. Ride it early or midweek.
- Palms to Pines Highway (SR 74 and SR 243)Climbs from Palm Desert into the San Jacinto Mountains, then SR 243 runs through Idyllwild down to Banning. Desert floor to pine forest in one ride. Watch for the temperature drop on top.
- Angeles Crest Highway (SR 2)Climbs from La Canada Flintridge into the San Gabriel Mountains toward Wrightwood, with long sweepers above Los Angeles. Watch for rockfall, winter closures up high and weekend patrols.
- Highway 1 through Big Sur (SR 1)Runs the coast from Carmel to San Simeon past Bixby Bridge and cliffs above the Pacific. Watch for closures: slides have shut parts of Big Sur for months, so check before a through trip.
- Highway 49, the Gold Country (SR 49)Follows the Sierra foothills through Gold Rush towns like Sonora, Placerville, Nevada City and Downieville. Watch for slow traffic in town and summer heat.
- Tioga Pass (SR 120)Crosses Yosemite past Tuolumne Meadows near 10,000 feet, then drops to Mono Lake. Watch the calendar: it closes every winter, often reopens late spring or early summer, and park entry rules change yearly.
- Sonora Pass (SR 108)One of the steepest passes in the West, with grades up to 26 percent near the summit. Brake early on the way down, and know it closes every winter.
- Highway 36 (SR 36)Runs from US 101 near Fortuna to Red Bluff through the Coast Range, well over a hundred miles of curves. Watch for long stretches with no gas or cell signal, plus slow trucks.
- Death Valley (SR 190)Crosses Death Valley National Park past Stovepipe Wells and Furnace Creek, below sea level. A winter and spring ride. Watch for dangerous summer heat, long gas gaps and the park fee.
When to ride
When to ride California, region by region
- The coastRideable all year. Late spring brings the marine layer, May Gray and June Gloom, which wets the road and your visor. Fall is often clearest. Winter storms bring the slides.
- MountainsSouthern California's canyons ride year-round, with occasional snow up high. The Sierra passes, including Tioga and Sonora, close every winter and reopen late spring to early summer.
- DesertsOctober through April. Summer in Death Valley and the low deserts is dangerous heat.
- Fire seasonLate summer and fall bring wildfire, smoke, sudden closures and Santa Ana winds. Check before you go.
The rules
California motorcycle laws: helmets and lane splitting
Helmets. California requires a helmet for all riders. See the IIHS helmet law overview for how states compare.
Lane splitting. California is where lane splitting is legal. It has been defined in state law since 2016, with no fixed speed limit in the statute, and the California Highway Patrol publishes safety tips worth reading. Nevada next door does not allow it, so stop at the state line.
This is a summary, not legal advice. Laws change, so check the California Vehicle Code or the California DMV before you ride.
Events
California motorcycle events and rides
California's calendar is mostly local and never stops: bike nights, club rides, swap meets, and charity rides and toy runs around the holidays. The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride, a worldwide charity ride usually held in May, has rides in cities across the state, and plenty of California riders head to Nevada for the Laughlin River Run in spring and Street Vibrations in Reno in the fall. Check the organizer for dates.
In Rippin', open Meets to find bike nights, rallies, charity rides and toy runs near you and RSVP; repeating meets show their next date. Any rider can post a meet, and hosts can use Organizer Pro for recurring meets and official events. More on motorcycle events in Rippin'.
Live from the app
California on Rippin' right now.
154 upcoming events and 136 rider-added roads in California on the map today. This list updates whenever the site is rebuilt; the app always has the latest.
- Thu Oct 15 · weeklyGhost Birds Bike NightPomona
- Fri Oct 16Boots & bikesQuaid Harley-Davidson
- Fri Oct 16Wild Card Adventure Bike Rally at ZAKARMojave
- Fri Oct 16Trunk or Treat - Malcom Smith MotorsportsMalcom Smith Motorsports
- Fri Oct 16Trick or Treat Bike Night & Live GiveawayRiverside
- Fri Oct 16 · weeklySlow Race Fridays - SRF MeetRiverside
- Fri Oct 16Huntington Beach Harley Davidson bike nightHarley-Davidson
- Sat Oct 17Slow Cones - Group ClassIndian Motorcycle of El Cajon
- Sat Oct 17PTSD & Suicide RIDE2ZERO FundraiserDesert Hot Springs
- Sat Oct 17Cars, Bikes, Coffee - Element SocietyTorrance
- Sat Oct 17Motorcycle Swap Meet Upland, CAUpland
- Sat Oct 17Route 66 100 yr. Anniversary car showOld Town
- Sat Oct 17C&F Foreign Motorcycle Parts Swap MeetUpland
- Sat Oct 17Rev & Rally for Special Olympics SoCalEl Cajon
- Sat Oct 17Steel Horse Saturday - National City HDNational City
Showing the next 15 of 154. See every meet on the live map.
Roads riders added in California
Local knowledge
Riding tips for California
- Check Caltrans QuickMapSlides, snow and fire closures all show up there. A closed Highway 1 or Tioga Pass can add hours.
- Split carefullyLane splitting is legal, but drivers still change lanes without looking. Keep your speed close to traffic.
- Canyons aren't racetracksThe popular canyons see crashes and patrols every weekend. Ride your own pace. Rippin' never rewards speed on public roads.
- Mind the gas gapsHighway 36, Death Valley and the Eastern Sierra have few stations. Fill up when you can and carry water in the desert.
Rippin' in California
How the Rippin' motorcycle app works in California
Rippin' was started by riders in Southern California, so the app is furthest along around San Diego and Los Angeles. Up north the map is far emptier, with more open land for the first riders. All of this is free on iPhone and Android.
- Claim turfRide a loop that closes back on itself and the land inside becomes your turf. Ride a tighter loop to carve someone else's. See how Turf Wars works.
- Play poker runsShops, cafes, bars and dealerships deal a card when you arrive. Learn about poker runs, or become a poker stop.
- Add roadsRiders add segments and a person on our team checks each one. Here's how roads get added.
- Ride togetherSquads keep chat, plans and turf in one place, and group rides put everyone on one live map.
Go deeper
Rippin' ride guides for Southern California
Two California regions have full ride guides built from the roads riders have added in the app. The San Diego motorcycle rides guide covers Palomar, Sunrise Highway to Julian, the East County sweepers and the coast. The Los Angeles motorcycle rides guide covers Angeles Crest and the San Gabriels, the Malibu canyons, and Ortega and Santiago Canyon out of Orange County. Both show every rider-added road on a map and update as riders add more.
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
What is the best motorcycle road in California?
Highway 1 through Big Sur is the most famous. Riders argue just as hard for Angeles Crest, Palomar, Highway 36 and Tioga Pass.
When is motorcycle season in California?
All year somewhere. The coast and Southern California ride year-round, the deserts October to April, and the Sierra passes from late spring or early summer until snow.
Is lane splitting legal in California?
Yes. It has been defined in California law since 2016, with no fixed speed limit in the statute. Laws change, so check before you ride.
Do you have to wear a helmet in California?
Yes. California requires a helmet for all riders. See the IIHS overview.
Is there a free motorcycle app for California riders?
Rippin' is free on iPhone and Android: ride recording, turf, poker runs and meets. Download it here.
Where are motorcycle events in California?
Bike nights and charity rides run statewide every week. Open Meets in Rippin' or check the live list on this page.
Claim your piece of California.
Download Rippin' free, ride your favorite loop, and put your name on the map.