Motorcycle Touring Trips in Southern California
Sunny weather means sunny rides through the wonderful country of Southern California. Slap on your road leathers and bust out your map app, because it’s time to plan a motorcycle touring trip! Southern California has plenty of scenic routes with all those windy, twisty turns and breathtaking views for classic American adventure. Whether you want a mountainous ride with beautiful views or clean roads to blaze down, Southern California has a motorcycle touring route fit for you.
Here at Bartels Harley-Davidson® we’re more than just dealers — we’re riders too! So we understand that half the battle of motorcycle touring is finding the right route to take. That’s why we’ve put together this short list of some terrific touring routes in Southern California.
Read on and if you have any questions about motorcycle touring, or you just want to check out some of the best new and used Harley-Davidson® motorcycles around, head to our showroom in Marina Del Rey so our staff of knowledgeable and courteous professionals can help you find what you need.
Idyllwild
A fun and curvy ride that will have you enjoying the road so much that you might miss the wonderful scenery passing by. Since this route pulls into higher elevations, it’s recommended mostly for warm-weather riding. The destination town of Idyllwild is small and tucked into the mountains for some great views and small town charm. This is a route with purpose, taking you by palm trees in the desert and the dense woods of the mountains. With well-maintained roads clear of traffic, you’ll really be able to enjoy this purposeful ride!
Ortega Highway
Also called Highway 74, the Ortega Highway is a twisting 30-mile ride through the Santa Ana Mountains. This is a must-do ride that’ll take you from Lake Elsinore east toward San Juan Capistrano, or you can ride it the other way around! You’ll run into commuter traffic during the weekdays, so plan a weekend trip. There are plenty of places to pull off and enjoy the view of Lake Elsinore or grab a bite to eat at a cozy diner. There are also camping spots if you’re feeling like an overnight adventure. The route has a lot of tight turns and elevation changes, with speed limits typically at 55 mph, making for a solid combination of sweeping turns and twisties.
Big Bear
Take a long ride through the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains and national forest with the Big Bear route and enjoy the crisp mountain air and twisty roads. There are postcard-worthy vistas and a high-mountain feel without the hard work of a harrowing hike. The Big Bear area is famed as a ski resort during the winter, but during warmer months its sparse population makes for some great open roads. The roads are in good condition and usually clean. You’ll find lots of fun roadside diversions and plenty of food to fill up on as you explore Highway 38 and 18.
Southern California isn’t limited to these great motorcycle touring routes. It’s a big region, after all! If you’re looking for more tips and suggestions for some riding trips, head to Bartels Harley-Davidson and let us answer all your questions. We’re located in Marina Del Rey, California and we’re proud to serve Santa Monica, Malibu, and all of Southern California. Come in today and let us show you the true meaning of customer satisfaction.