Accordion

Greetings All - I usually take PCH North to Long Beach and the furthest South I've taken it from the Irvine area is Crystal Cove where I usually head up Newport Coast and back home.

I never really head South very far on PCH due to the nightmare that is Laguna Beach on weekends.

Do any of you head South often? What's the status of PCH, say, all the way down to San Clemente or even Oceanside? Bike lanes? Congestion? Piece of cake?

Thinking about doing 60-70 miles on Sat or Sun and heading South rather than North but don't want to end up in a nightmare. It's bad enough heading through Corona Del Mar or Huntington Beach on PCH.

GP

Laguna is fine in the mornings.

From Dana Point to San Clemente there is a wide bike lane with a k rail seperating cars from bikes.

In San Clemente you can go through town or follow the signs and wind through a residential neighborhoods.

In south SC you ride on a a bike trail, then a frontage road past SONGS, through a campground, then another bike trail, then either I-5 or through the base to Oceanside.

oc_rider

Heading south on the PCH isn't that bad. Once you get into Laguna Beach, it will get crowded because of the traffic and lack of bike lanes. But once you're pass that it will be a piece of cake.

Which way are you going once you get to Dana Point? I suggest you take Goldern Lantern to the harbor and then make a left and go through the state park. From there just stay on the bike lane til you get to San Clemente. It will get congested again, but only for a little while. Then you'll have to take the trail that goes pass the power plant and Camp Pendleton. Don't forget to carry your driver's license so that you can get on the base. Either that you will have to ride along I-5.

calamarichris

Riding South from San Clemente through the campground, then Camp Pendleton is one of my favorite and staple rides! Very few stoplights, decent roads, and light traffic (plus the Marines on Pendleton are considerably more polite than your average citizen-motorist.) Just be sure to bring a photo ID and wear a helmet, or the MPs won't let you pass.

rooftest

What everyone else said. Since PCH doesn't go through Pendleton, you need to either ride through the base, or take the 5. I think taking the 5 sucks royally, so I go with the base.

CritEastwood

Coming from Bong Leach, you don't have to ride the PCH through Laguna to get further South. I usually cut through Tustin, ROI, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo and Capistrano to get to the coast's points South.

idoru2005

Problem with getting through Laguna Beach is that it's hilly and depending on the time of day, you have to take the lane to get through the most crowded portions. Taking the lane on hilly streets with lots of traffic is not fun. If you want to avoid this part, you can probably hop on a bus and resume riding south of Laguna Beach.

Further south, you have the option of going through the Marine base or take the I-5. Last time I rode to La Jolla, I took the I-5 and must say I actually prefer it to the Marine base. The shoulder is Wiiiiide and no-one gave me any problems. I don't think a single driver even noticed I was there. Not sure how it is heading North on that stretch of the freeway.

Garfield Cat

If you want 60-70 going south, then you need to consider the return trip on PCH through Laguna Beach and Corona Del Mar. Getting up early is ok to avoid going but coming back is a bit of a problem.

I am from Huntington Beach and the Marathon organizers already pitched up the tents on the parking lot. That Marathon is on the same day as Super Bowl Sunday. There will be like 21,000 runners there. So don't go on Super Bowl Sunday, this Sunday.

You want to avoid H.B. altogether this Sunday.

Accordion

Thanks all! Good advice. I didn't know about the marathon so you won't find me anywhere near that on Sunday!

Maybe Saturday I'll head out and hit San Clemente. Corona Del Mar usually doesn't bug me too much because it is so crowded speeds are low and I can easily take the lane and keep up with traffic. Not so sure about Laguna Beach. Maybe I'll take Crit's advice and do it all inland and pop out.

Thanks again!

GP

There is a route slip in post #1 of this thread https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...hlight=burrito that starts at the Irvine Amtrak and goes south.