California

Click the links to see maps, tracks, itinerary, and description for each trip

2024.10

- - - Big Bear Lake CA
    - Kernville
    - Shaver Lake
    - Lee Vining
    - Arnold
    - Kyburz
    - Truckee
    - Clio
    - Chester
    - Grass Valley
    - Oakhurst

2021.11

- - - Big Bear CA
    - Taft
    - Atascadero
    - Monterey
    - Paso Robles
    - Hollister
    - Oakdale
    - Jackson
    - Placerville
    - Sonora
    - Mariposa
    - Exeter
    - Tehachapi

2020.09

- - Blythe CA
  - Chino Valley AZ
  - Page AZ
  - Escalante UT
  - Bullfrog Marina UT
  - Blanding UT
  - Cortez CO
  - Silverton CO
  - Norwood CO
  - Green River UT
  - Price UT
  - Manti UT
  - Cedar City UT
  - Caliente NV
  - Boulder City NV
  - Palm Desert CA
  - San Diego CA

2020.07

- Blythe CA
- Flagstaff AZ
- Cortez CO
- Ouray CO
- South Fork CO
- Salida CO
- Aspen CO
- Georgetown CO
- Steamboat CO
- Rawlins WY
- Lander WY
- Pinedale WY
- Island Park ID
- Salmon ID
- Helena MT
- Seeley Lake MT
- Libby MT
- Cheney WA
- Wenatchee WA
- Naches WA
- Gov’t Camp OR
- Sisters OR
- Crescent Lake OR
- Ashland OR
- Weed CA
- Mineral CA
- Truckee CA
- Pollock Pines CA
- Mariposa CA
- Exeter CA
- California City CA
- Banning CA

2020.06

- - - - Parker, AZ
      - Wikieup, AZ
      - Kingman, AZ
      - Flagstaff, AZ
      - Page, AZ
      - Escalante, UT
      - Hanksville, UT
      - Green River, UT
      - Price, UT
      - Ferron, UT
      - Hanksville, UT
      - Torrey, UT
      - Richfield, UT
      - Panguitch, UT
      - Mesquite NV
      - Las Vegas, NV
      - Big Bear, CA
      - Idyllwild, CA

2019.07

- - - - Solvang CA
      - Monterey CA
      - Rohnert Park CA
      - Fort Bragg CA
      - Arcata CA
      - Gold Beach OR
      - Reedsport OR
      - Newport OR
      - Aberdeen WA
      - Sequim WA
      - Raymond WA
      - Florence OR
      - Crescent City CA
      - Garberville CA
      - Gualala CA
      - Gilroy CA
      - Santa Maria CA
      - San Diego CA

2019.06

- - - - Blythe, CA
      - Wickenburg AZ
      - Kingman AZ
      - Flagstaff AZ
      - Page AZ
      - Escalante UT
      - Torrey UT
      - Price UT
      - Green River UT
      - Torrey UT
      - Kanab UT
      - Page AZ
      - Flagstaff AZ
      - Wickenburg AZ
      - Blythe CA
      - San Diego CA

2019.05

Palm Desert CA
Blythe CA
Buckeye AZ
Prescott AZ
Phoenix Anthem AZ
Globe AZ
Mammoth AZ
Tombstone AZ
Patagonia AZ
Kearny AZ
Young AZ
Sedona AZ
Cottonwood AZ
Wickenburg AZ
Blythe CA
San Diego CA

2019.04

Blythe, CA
Needles, CA
Shoshone, CA
Beatty, NV
Lone Pine, CA
Bishop, CA
Tonopah, NV
Beatty, NV
Primm, NV
Needles, CA
Palm Desert, CA
San Diego, CA

2018.11

Palm Desert, CA
Blythe, CA
Gila Bend, AZ
San Manuel, AZ
Buckeye, AZ
Brawley, CA
San Diego, CA

2018.06

Idyllwild, CA
Tehachapi, CA
Kernville, CA
Exeter, CA
Shaver Lake, CA
Madera, CA
Sonora, CA
Topaz Lake, NV
Murphys, CA
Oakhurst, CA
Big Bear, CA
San Diego, CA

2018.04

Kernville CA
Clovis CA
Sonora CA
Amador CA
Quincy CA
Alturas CA
Caldwell ID
Eureka NV
Pahrump NV
San Diego CA

2017.08

Bishop CA
Susanville CA
Burns OR
Garden Valley, ID
Lakeview OR
Portola CA
Arnold CA
Oakhurst CA
Exeter CA
San Diego CA

2016.11

Brigham City, UT
Cedar City, UT
Boulder City, NV
Death Valley, CA
Lake Isabella, CA
Oakhurst, CA
Angels Camp, CA
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Winnemucca, NV
Garden Valley, ID

2016.10

Burns, OR
Klamath Falls, OR
Weaverville, CA
Arcata, CA
Garberville, CA
Lakeport, CA
Downieville, CA
Chester, CA
Burns, OR
Garden Valley, ID

When should I ride in California?

Planning dual-sport motorcycle rides across multiple states requires balancing weather conditions to avoid snow, cold temperatures, and other seasonal challenges. Below are recommendations for the best months to ride California—while avoiding snowfall, unmelted snowbanks in high mountain passes, and temperatures below 45°F, or excessive heat. These suggestions focus on optimal riding conditions, considering elevation, regional climate variations, and typical weather patterns.

California

Recommended Months: April, May, September, October

Details:

- April: Coastal areas and foothills warm to 50s-70s°F, with minimal rain. Lower Sierra passes (e.g., Sonora Pass) start clearing, though high passes like Tioga may still have snow early in the month. Deserts (e.g., Mojave) are pleasant before summer heat.
- May: Most Sierra passes open by mid-to-late month, with 60s-80s°F statewide. Snowmelt completes in mid-elevations, and deserts remain rideable (70s-80s°F).
- September: Post-summer heat fades (60s-80s°F), and high passes stay clear. Coastal fog lessens, and wildfire smoke risk drops late in the month.
- October: Cooler but still snow-free (50s-70s°F), ideal for mountains and deserts. High passes close late in the month if early snow hits. (Southern California lower elevations may also be suitable during winter months, but be aware of potential winter storms.)

Avoid: December-March (snow in mountains), July-August (desert heat 90s-100s°F).

Recommended Best Month: May

Summary: California’s diverse terrain includes coastal areas, deserts, and high Sierra Nevada passes. May offers mild temperatures (50s-70s°F) across most regions, with snowmelt largely complete in lower mountain passes like those in the Sierra foothills. High passes (e.g., Tioga Pass) may still have lingering snow early in the month, but by late May, they’re typically clear. Avoid winter months (December-March) due to heavy snow in the mountains and summer (July-August) for extreme desert heat.