With a full tank of gas, embark on this mountainous ride from Livermore for a three-day adventure, led by Pashnit Motorcycle Tours.
Day 1. Spend the morning cruising over foothills on Highway 108 as you ride through gold-rush country. Acquaint yourself with the monoliths of Yosemite National Park by way of lunch at the historic Ahwahnee Hotel. Venture off to Tioga Pass and Tuolumne Meadows. Cap off your evening at 10,000 feet, with a view of Mono Lake.
Day 2. Wake up to a sunrise over Mono Lake. Continue your ride to the ghost town of Bodie as you travel west over Sonora Pass. At 10,000 feet, partake of sweeping vistas and back-road riding. Have lunch at the historic gold-rush town of Columbia and re-fuel for the mountain passes ahead. By the end of the day, make the descent toward the eastern side of the Sierra and over Monitor Pass.
Day 3. After breakfast, head for Placerville, passing near the rivers and streams of 49er country and over mountain passes on winding roads. Get a 360-degree panoramic view of the Crystal Range just west of the Lake Tahoe basin. On its website, Pashnit Motorcycle Tours describes the view: "To the west on the clearest of days, we can see clear across the entire state to the San Francisco Bay Area." Finish the day in Placerville.
Pashnit Motorcycle Tours
2941 Camino Heights Dr.
Camino, CA 95709
530-391-1356
pashnittours.com/tour_3.html
Pashnit Motorcycle Tours, named for the passionate state of mind its founders believe motorcycle enthusiasts have, also offers this four-day tour. Departing just outside of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the journey ventures along Highway 1, circling central California.
Day 1. Wind through redwood groves and stop at Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Pass near Monterey and cruise the Big Sur coastline. Rest shoreside and have lunch before winding along the coast near Hearst Castle. End the day with an evening barbecue in San Luis Obispo.
Day 2. With the Sierra Nevada mountains just on the horizon, take the small roads as you head north of Bakersfield. Romp through the foothills, climbing from sea level to about 7,300 feet atop Portuguese Pass. Witness the giant sequoias before you wind back down the mountain on the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway.
Day 3. Ascend more than 5,000 feet back into the Sierra Nevada mountains on the Generals Highway and continue to Morro Rock. Stand at 6,725 feet and look down to California's large Central Valley. Stop briefly at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park and then continue northward to Yosemite National Park. Make your way to Sonora in the gold country. Have lunch at the historic Ahwahnee Hotel and head out, homeward bound.
Pashnit Motorcycle Tours
2941 Camino Heights Dr.
Camino, CA 95709
530-391-1356
pashnittours.com/tour_4.html
For the road enthusiast looking for a shorter trip, many companies offer day tours. In most cases, the guide will arrange to meet you at a departure location and tour with you to your desired destination, personalizing your itinerary. Day tours usually include a lunch stop and a guided range of up to 200 or more miles of riding time. Destinations include the Sierra Nevada mountains, Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe/Reno and surrounding areas, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park and the wine country/Bodega Bay areas, among many others.
Motorcycle Road Tours
P.O. Box 1
Coulterville, CA 95311
209-878-0117
motorcycleroadtours.com/motorcycle-day-tours-California.html
