USA: The California Coast and Yosemite National Park

We’ll pick you up at the airport and deliver you to your hotel. Later that day, you’ll get a chance to inspect your motorcycle and go over your tour itinerary. We’ll have dinner at a nice local restaurant before taking you back to your comfortable hotel for a good night’s sleep.

You’ll depart Seattle and head directly for the coast. The coasts of Washington and Oregon States are wild and rugged, and for the most part undeveloped.  Craggy, towering rocks dot the shore line and great forests stretch right to the waters edge.  With over 70 state parks along Oregon’s shore, there are plenty of curves and views along the shoreline to enjoy.

Today you’ll continue the ride down Oregon’s beautiful coastline, with the option of riding Oregon’s twisty three capes loop.  At quaint Cannon Beach, you can stop to see the much photographed Haystack Rock. As you head further south, the coast gets wilder and more pristine. Great rocks jut out of the ocean and the surf sprays around them.

If yesterday’s ride down the rocky coast excited you, today’s ride will be even better. Today’s curves take you high up along the cliffs, looking down at the rock-strewn coastline and crashing waves. There’s less development and more open road and a full day of fun coastal riding.  You’ll pass through the Oregon Dunes National Park and from there it’s just view after view of the coastline.

Today you’ll cross into California and you’ll feel the difference. The sunshine seems brighter, the beaches are warmer, and the people are friendlier. California is all it is reputed to be. There’s plenty of twisties today through the dense, beautiful, and towering Redwood trees. Enjoy riding the stunning Avenue of the Giants.  

From the Redwoods out to the coast, it’s nonstop twisties.  Then you’re on famous California Highway 1, and it’s a full day of nonstop curves, high above the beaches, through pleasant beach and surfer towns.  Finally you’ll head inland towards the rolling hills and vineyards of the stunning Sonoma Valley. Spend the evening eating a delicious a meal cooked with locally grown produce and sample some of the best wine produced in the world. 

Today you can take a break from the bike and take a wine tasting tour through the Sonoma or Napa Valleys. Spread a picnic on the grounds of a winery and just relax. Or jump on the bike and head across the Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco, one of the most exciting cities in the US. Just wandering around enjoying the city and its funky personality is a great way to spend the day.

Today you’ll head inland through the Napa Valley and cross the agricultural heartland of California to get to Yosemite National Park. In the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the road will get super curvy again on the Gold Rush Highway, through the Gold Rush towns. At the end of the day, you’ll wind up a few hairpins and pass through a few tunnels to finally be treated to stunning views of Half Dome and the Yosemite Valley and view the granite monoliths and stunning waterfalls of this amazing national park.

Today you’ll head up the backbone of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. You’ll ride past Mono Lake, through forested granite mountain ranges, to shimmering blue/green Lake Tahoe, the largest Alpine Lake in North America and California’s ski and outdoor recreation playground. In the evening, try your hand at gambling at a casino on the Nevada side.

In the morning you’ll ride around jewel-like Lake Tahoe, stopping in scenic Emerald Bay for a picture. Then you’ll continue past ranchland in valleys backed by mountains on either side.  Today you’ll start to pass some of the volcanoes that make up the “Ring of Fire” on the North American side: wild and beautiful Lassen and towering, snow-capped Shasta.  

Today’s ride takes you further north through the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.  The mountains are smaller and drier on the Eastern Oregon side, but still roller-coaster fun.  You’ll take a twisty ride around Crater Lake, an old volcano caldera which, after filling with water, turned into a deep blue-colored lake. Then you’ll continue north through the Deschutes National Forest to the cute town of Bend.

We leave Bend and ride past a few more good-sized, cone-shaped, snow-covered volcanoes: Mount Bachelor and Mount Hood, to arrive at the Columbia River Gorge, a 4000 foot deep, 80 mile long canyon holding the mighty Columbia River.  We spend the night in the world class town of Portland.

From here on north you’re back into the lush, rain forest-like atmosphere of the Cascade Mountains.  We take a side trip up a winding road to view Mount Saint Helens, which erupted in 1980 and is still steaming today.  Further north, the forest gets denser as we head up the flanks of our last volcano, mighty Mount Rainer. Then it’s back down, around and the end of the tour.

Today you can relax or explore the sights of Seattle, including Pike Place Market and the Space Needle. If your flight leaves today, we’ll take you to the airport.