New West Coast Ride Planning Page
Due to relentless hassling about my previous west coast ride plan, I've put together this NEW AND IMPROVED route! Moving time has been decreased for nearly every day, half a day has been added to enjoy San Fransisco, we're now moving from north to south, and other fun changes! Unfortunately I had to eliminate a couple stops, but I have limited time, and the trip is already longer than I wanted.
When:
End of September, 2018
8 Riding days, plus a travel day to Portland before, and a travel day out of Las Vegas after at a minimum. I made a route for an option 9th riding day (at the beginning of the trip) with some destinations Alicia and I were hoping to see, but didn't fit into the main route. With the extra riding day figured in, and plan on one day in Las Vegas after the ride, we now have the potential for a 12 day trip.
Where:
We're starting in Portland Oregon and ending in Las Vegas 8 days later. You could split off after Yosemite and before Las Vegas if you'd like to stay in California.
The 8 day route is 2100 miles (average about 260 miles per day). Average ride time is around 6 hours per day. I feel that's a reasonable amount of ride time, as it gives us about 3 hours a day for breaks and lunch, and we'll still land at our hotel with time to clean up, have dinner, and hang out.
The optional day turns the trip into a 9 day, 2380 mile route. It also adds a Washington to the trip, making it a 4 state ride!
Note the large overview map below is not nearly as accurate as the smaller section maps; it simply shows some of our stops, without taking into account my preferred routing. Also, you can click the "More Options" link in any of the maps to open them directly in Google Maps.
When:
End of September, 2018
8 Riding days, plus a travel day to Portland before, and a travel day out of Las Vegas after at a minimum. I made a route for an option 9th riding day (at the beginning of the trip) with some destinations Alicia and I were hoping to see, but didn't fit into the main route. With the extra riding day figured in, and plan on one day in Las Vegas after the ride, we now have the potential for a 12 day trip.
Where:
We're starting in Portland Oregon and ending in Las Vegas 8 days later. You could split off after Yosemite and before Las Vegas if you'd like to stay in California.
The 8 day route is 2100 miles (average about 260 miles per day). Average ride time is around 6 hours per day. I feel that's a reasonable amount of ride time, as it gives us about 3 hours a day for breaks and lunch, and we'll still land at our hotel with time to clean up, have dinner, and hang out.
The optional day turns the trip into a 9 day, 2380 mile route. It also adds a Washington to the trip, making it a 4 state ride!
Note the large overview map below is not nearly as accurate as the smaller section maps; it simply shows some of our stops, without taking into account my preferred routing. Also, you can click the "More Options" link in any of the maps to open them directly in Google Maps.
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Optional Riding Day 0
Portland, OR Cannon Beach (Film sight of The Goonies) Cape Disappointment State Park Riding in Washington (I'd really like to check this state off my list since we're so close) Silver Lake (distant viewing of Mount St. Helen) Portland, OR 300 miles |
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Day 1
Portland, OR Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Mount Hood Bend, OR 250 Miles |
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Day 2
Bend, OR Forest Service Roads around Hills Creek Lake and Diamond Peak.* Medford, OR 275 Miles *The Forest Service Road section of this route is about 60 miles, and is a mixture of road surfaces (including at least 50% unpaved). The estimated ride time is 2 hours. There is a detour that is nearly double the distance, but on much larger roads, so it has a similar ride time. |
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Day 3
Medford, OR Oregon Caves National Monument Crescent City, CA Highway 101 Redcrest, CA 275 Miles |
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Day 4 (Coast Day!)
Redcrest, CA Avenue of the Giants Highway 101 Glass Beach in Fort Bragg Highway 1 Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco, CA 275 Miles |
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Day 5 (San Francisco Day!)
Half Day in San Francisco Napa Valley Area (Stay in a Winery Lodge) 100 Miles |
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Day 6
Napa Valley Area Hit the highway to get through Sacramento Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Lake Tahoe Stanislaus National Forest Nevada! Bridgeport, CA (North Yosemite Boarder) 260 Miles |
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Day 7 (Yosemite Day!)
Highway 108 North of Yosemite Enter Yosemite from the west Yosemite Valley Visitors Center Tioga Road (Through the heart of Yosemite) Mammoth Lakes 270 Miles |
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Day 8 (Last Day*)
Mammoth Lakes Furnace Creek Visitors Center (Death Valley) Badwater Basin (Death Valley) Dantes View (Death Valley) Las Vegas 400 Miles (Longest day, but the roads to flatten out and speed up) * This is my anticipated last day, so the route heads to Vegas. It could easily be the turning point for those who want to stay in California longer. You could spend more time in Yosemite, or head back to the coast to Big Sur (about 300 miles away). |