Southern California - Scenic ride suggestions?

Hi folks, I'm new to bikeforums. My fiancee and I started road cycling about a month ago and absolutely love it. We have some time off coming up and are planning to do 2 good rides during that time. I'd like to hear any suggestions for a good, scenic 25-35 mile ride in the reachable from the greater Southern California area. Primarily, I'm hoping to find a ride that has scenery like the picture on this Thule website (secluded countryside roads near a body of water):

http://www.thule.com/en/US/Products/BikeCarriers.aspx

I don't mind moderate hills or inclines and the occasional challenging climb, but nothing too extreme please. I've read many other threads in this forum and so far we're thinking of trying Solvang and the Joshua Tree National Park (and yes, I know it's a desert so it won't have any water).

Solvang:
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/solvang/134289232

No specific route planned for JTNP, but will probably try some of the suggestions on this thread:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?628309-Riding-in-Palm-Springs-Joshua-Tree


Any suggestions for other routes at Solvang and JTNP, or a totally different place to bike would be appreciated!

Have you ridden from Camp Pendleton (Las Pulgas) north to San Clemente? It's not a country road but the path has no cars through some areas and very few through San Onofre beach. The road parallels the ocean so you have a real big body of water.

Agree. Keep in mind that, after rain like we got last night and this morning, the tunnel under the freeway (about a mile north of Las Pulgas) is really muddy for a few days.
The portion south of Las Pulgas (on Camp Pendleton) is really beautiful right now -- lots of spring flowers, ocean views in places, little traffic on the base, and very comfortable weather.


Have you ridden from Camp Pendleton (Las Pulgas) north to San Clemente? It's not a country road but the path has no cars through some areas and very few through San Onofre beach. The road parallels the ocean so you have a real big body of water.

Thanks for the suggestion, will definitely check that out. So far I've only done local LA/OC routes - various parts of the SGRT, Hermosa Beach area, LA River Trail, Irvine/San Diego Creek trail, etc. I'm looking to go farther away since we'll have more time off. Your suggestion sounds like a beautiful ride.

How are you with speeding cars and lots of traffic? Cuz that's what you're gonna get on the 246 in Solvang. For a low traffic route, plus beautiful scenery and rolling hills I suggest Santa Rosa Rd off of the 1 in the Santa Ynez Valley.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/lompoc/57548300

I did it over the Easter break and I saw only 4 cars on Santa Rosa plus there are wineries. They weren't opened on Easter Sunday so there was even less traffic. Yellow, purple and blue wildflowers dotted the green hillsides. I've never seen it so green.:) It was the best ride I've had in a long time.

I did a loop from Vandenberg Village to Buellton via Santa Rosa Rd then on the 246 back. But I'm use to riding in LA traffic, plus I'm from the Santa Ynez Valley so I've ridden on that stretch for years.

Santa Rosa plus there are wineries. They weren't opened on Easter Sunday

Borderline whether to give a +/- on the Fred factor. That looks like a good ride. Easter Sunday, nice low traffic would be nice. Closed wineries, oh my.

i heard turnbull canyon in whittier is nice... the upper RHRT is very scenic... well for a wile...


that's all i know...

How are you with speeding cars and lots of traffic? Cuz that's what you're gonna get on the 246 in Solvang. For a low traffic route, plus beautiful scenery and rolling hills I suggest Santa Rosa Rd off of the 1 in the Santa Ynez Valley.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/lompoc/57548300

I did it over the Easter break and I saw only 4 cars on Santa Rosa plus there are wineries. They weren't opened on Easter Sunday so there was even less traffic. Yellow, purple and blue wildflowers dotted the green hillsides. I've never seen it so green.:) It was the best ride I've had in a long time.

I did a loop from Vandenberg Village to Buellton via Santa Rosa Rd then on the 246 back. But I'm use to riding in LA traffic, plus I'm from the Santa Ynez Valley so I've ridden on that stretch for years.

Sold! That ride looks great. We will most likely try that route if and when we go to Solvang this weekend. So you said that you looped from Vandenberg Village to Buellton via Santa Rosa Road, then took the 246 back? Just clarifying because the mapmyride link didn't show the 246 part.

Thanks for the heads up about the traffic. I've ridden around Downtown LA a few times and I'm still getting used to riding with cars close-by, but I think I'm ok with cars whizzing by. I get nervous at intersections more than anything; I hate looking behind me to check if a car is making a right (and might run me over in the process!).

Maybe not as good as some others, but here's some areas with potential:


Santa Barbara is nice (kinda up north 2hrs).
GMR, Mt. Wilson (tough climbs).
Griffith Park/Observatory & Mt. Hollywood Drive (smaller climb) for nice views of downtown LA.
Palos Verdes.
Santa Monica Mountains (off PCH) for awesome views of valleys & Pacific ocean.

Sold! That ride looks great. We will most likely try that route if and when we go to Solvang this weekend. So you said that you looped from Vandenberg Village to Buellton via Santa Rosa Road, then took the 246 back? Just clarifying because the mapmyride link didn't show the 246 part.

Thanks for the heads up about the traffic. I've ridden around Downtown LA a few times and I'm still getting used to riding with cars close-by, but I think I'm ok with cars whizzing by. I get nervous at intersections more than anything; I hate looking behind me to check if a car is making a right (and might run me over in the process!).

Yeah I didn't follow mapmyride cuz I was going back to my mom's through Harris Grade off the 246. If you don't mind traffic, 246 is ok. It has wide shoulders until you turn off to La Purisma mission. Then it goes down to 1 lane with foot and a half wide shoulder. But at least the cars are moving much slower. And the mission is another place you can visit. It is the largest mission (acreage wise) in the CA mission system. Great hiking there. Enjoy and have fun.

There's is lots of scenic rides in LA, OC, San Diego and Centura counties. If you don't mind travelling north check out the SLOBC website. Lots and gorgeous rides are posted there (with route) slips. Many are my all time favorites.

One of my favorite LA rides is part of the Cruising the Conejo route that goes through Hidden Valley and down to Camarillo and back through Moorpark. More or less country roads, not much traffic. I also like the ride from Ventura to Ojai - mostly on bike trail. Very scenic. In OC, a local favorite is the Santiago Loop. There are lots of variations of that - but basic route has you travelling through Limestone/Blackstar Canyon on Santiago Rd. You go by Irvine Lake and along Santiago Creek. Another favorite ride - Cool Breeze, goes from Ventura up past Santa Barbara and back. Gorgeous scenary throughout especially through Goleta.

Most of San Diego is beautiful to ride in especially inland. Check out some of the San Diego bike club wensites if you are interested.

Pick up a copy of http://www.amazon.com/Bicycling-Los-Angeles-County-Guide/dp/0897329503 - pretty well written in my opinion.

I had a good time on the lower Upper Santa Ana River Trail in Riverside from Hidden Valley Wildlife Area (trailhead) to Fairmount Park. 20 miles RT. You can ride to the end at Waterman Blvd and that's 40 RT.

It was quite green and scenic - a real river with water and kids swimming, trees, meadows, historic RR bridge, a trail side personal "mountain" (Roubidoux), a very posh dog park and a park designed by Edward Lee Olmstead. Quite a change from the concrete rivers in LA and OC

You can check out the photos, trail map and review at Traillink.com

<http://www.traillink.com/viewtrail.aspx?AcctID=6358179>

In fact, that's a great place to be rooting about for rides.

For Solvang area, your route is pretty good - but, as mentioned, 246 is highly trafficked and high speed. Ballard Canyon and Happy Canyon are awesome though. Along Ballard Canyon you can stop by Rusack Winery for some nice wines and a gorgeous picnic area.

Santa Rosa Road is also nice, but not worth it as a ride if that is the only road you will be on. Instead of that I would recommend starting in Lompoc and heading down CA-1 and then to Jalama Rd to Jalama Beach:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8HKEZakuboQ/SiYXKt3gEFI/AAAAAAAAFa8/QR36LKeAJF0/s400/CIMG3780.JPG

I did a blog entry on a Santa Rosa Rd to Jalama Beach ride here if you want some more info and pictures: http://www.toughascent.com/blog/?p=27

Have you ridden from Camp Pendleton (Las Pulgas) north to San Clemente? It's not a country road but the path has no cars through some areas and very few through San Onofre beach. The road parallels the ocean so you have a real big body of water.

Great ride here. I usually start around Laguna Beach area, down through Doheny/Capo Beach, San Clemente than you jump on the path down to Las Pulgas. You're on the road with cars probably 5-10%, and it's neighborhoods. Recommended for sure.

How are you with speeding cars and lots of traffic? Cuz that's what you're gonna get on the 246 in Solvang. For a low traffic route, plus beautiful scenery and rolling hills I suggest Santa Rosa Rd off of the 1 in the Santa Ynez Valley.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/lompoc/57548300

I did it over the Easter break and I saw only 4 cars on Santa Rosa plus there are wineries. They weren't opened on Easter Sunday so there was even less traffic. Yellow, purple and blue wildflowers dotted the green hillsides. I've never seen it so green.:) It was the best ride I've had in a long time.

I did a loop from Vandenberg Village to Buellton via Santa Rosa Rd then on the 246 back. But I'm use to riding in LA traffic, plus I'm from the Santa Ynez Valley so I've ridden on that stretch for years.

My fiancee and I just did this ride today (just got back home!). The scenery on Santa Rosa Road was beautiful. The number of hills/climbs were just right (both of us are beginners). We started from Buellton right by Pea Soup Anderson's, went west on Santa Rosa Rd, then back up via PCH and the 246 east. The one thing we were definitely not ready for was the vicious headwind on Santa Rosa Rd! By the time we got towards PCH, I was so pissed at the headwind that I was ready to curse it out. Oh well, I'd rather have the headwind on the first half of the trip rather than the second! This is the first time we've ridden this type of distance (I think the most we've done previously was about 20-23 miles RT).

Rallison, I wish I had read your route/blog before we went today. That looks great! We're planning on another long ride for Sunday, so we might try that then.

Thank you everyone else for the suggestions too; we will definitely try all of them at some point.

Ojai-bike path from Ventura and Lake Casitas is a nice place to visit. :)

PCH is a nice ride if you dont mind the occasional hostile motorist.