The Best Motorcycle Rides in California

The Golden State is the third-largest state by land area in the country, which means we’ve got pretty much endless options when it comes to places to ride your motorcycle. North or south, east or west — there are routes through the forest, along the Pacific coast, and in the desert that will give you picturesque views and hours of motorcycle riding pleasure. Here are a few more of our favorite California motorcycle riding options to spice up your life.

Death Valley Junction

This scenic route takes you through the United States’ hottest and driest desert, so you should only go here if you’re prepared to ride in warm weather and you like arid and somewhat desolate landscapes. Death Valley is beautiful and dotted with mountains and desert vegetation, along with interesting creatures that love the hot weather. 

You’ll be riding over Route 190 and Route 178 for the most part. To reach Death Valley Junction from Los Angeles, you’ll want to take Route 14 north to Ridgecrest, then get on CA-178 E north to its junction with CA-190 E. You can either go back in reverse or take CA-127 S until it reaches I-15 W, which you can take all the way back to LA.

Route 33 from Ventura

Looking for a beautiful forested route that’s got plenty of twists and turns to keep you engaged? Try this route! Starting in Ventura, you can take CA-33 N for about 55 miles through Los Padres National Forest up to the junction at CA-166 W, where you can either turn back around or take a left to go west until you reach Highway 101, which will take you back south along the coast.

Joshua Tree National Park

If you feel like heading two hours east of LA, you can take a gorgeous ride through one of our state’s best parks, Joshua Tree National Park. Following a two-lane highway, you’ll head through the desert, where you can see iconic Joshua trees amid a desert backdrop. Start in Chiriaco Summit and take Pinto Basin Road up to its junction with Park Boulevard, which will take you in a winding fashion to the town of Joshua Tree.

Angeles Crest Highway

This misty and majestic route will take you through the Angeles National Forest on the outskirts of the metro area. You’ll be able to view both the Mojave Desert and the Saint Gabriel Mountains on this curving route through the mountains. Be mindful that this route isn’t always open, so it pays to check online first. To get to Pinon Hills on the other side of the forest, you’ll start at La Cañada Flintridge and take CA-2 E for a little over 60 miles. 

Stop by our dealership located near Westminster, CA, to take a look at our selection of new and used motorcycles for sale. Indian Motorcycle® of Orange County is proud to serve all of our southern California customers in and around the Los Angeles metro.