Ducati Monster Forum

Hello, SoCal brothers.  I'm a norcal guy thinking about bringing my bike and girlfriend down to the LA area for some riding and hiking in February.  I was hoping there might be some good riding around Joshua tree and wanted to ask the experts so I could try to plan something out.

Please let me know what is available.

Cheers,
Tigre / Steve

[moto]

243 south out of Banning, up to Idyllwild is a good road.

You can continue south on the 74, south/west on 371 to south on 79.

From slightly south of Warner Springs, you can either:

Head east on S22 to Borrego Springs, then south on S2, then back west on 78 through Julian, back to the 79.
Head west on 76, then go for the S7-S6 loop up to Palomar Mountain.

Then head back the way you came, to Joshua Tree.

That's a 300+ mile loop.
Not all twisty, but pretty scenic.
Likely to be quite cold.

Thanks, Nick!  How late into the year does it take before that stretch warms up?

I thought it was always 85 and sunny down in SoCal.   :'(

I'd say April would be better, less rain and warmer.

http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/CANPJT:13?from=weekend_bottomnav_outdoors (http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/CANPJT:13?from=weekend_bottomnav_outdoors)
http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/92004 (http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/92004)
http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/coldandflu/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USCA1211?from=search (http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/coldandflu/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USCA1211?from=search)
http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/coldandflu/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/92549 (http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/coldandflu/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/92549)

Not always 85 and sunny.

Most of that run is at 3000-5000 feet elevation.

What about near Palm Springs?

In regards to riding routes or ? ? ?

Riding routes and weather (both).

deserts get very hot AND very cold.  =)

It's warmer around Palm Springs.

The route I described is a bit west of PS, so you could hook up with that route via the 74 out of PS.

Jan/Feb weather in PS is pretty good, but nights can be cold as fack.  JT is a short drive away.  Palm Springs is a bit of a gay mecca, so you should fit right in.  You can get a Gonda Ride up to San Jacinto and go for a snow hike.  Desert Hot Springs is nearby if you want to hang out in the buff in natural springs.

If you haven't been to JT, that's worth takin' a trip even if there isn't any riding.  Winter is a good time to go because it's not 120 during the day.  Take some shrooms with you. 

Re riding routes, you're going to find snow up in Idylwild this time of year.  Fun riding during warmer months.

Seems like a random choice for a vacation, Tigre. 

Thanks for the info. 

Obviously going for the gay mecca aspect.

Any other ideas on places to go where me and the old lady can hike and bike?

nick nailed all the routes I know.

You could also get down to the Salton Sea area, there are some areas out there that are beautiful in a austere kind of way.

You might be able to see the Death Valley wild flower bloom... http://www.nps.gov/deva/naturescience/wildflowers.htm (http://www.nps.gov/deva/naturescience/wildflowers.htm)

Thanks, guys.  I put together this route.  We'll probably stay in Palm Springs, so we'd start out in the morning and probably skip Idyllwild.  The temperatures all look pretty manageable, especially if we hit Palomar after lunch.

Is there a way over the top of Palomar?  Google Maps didn't seem to think so.  Do we need to back-track to get west-to-east?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=CA-74+W&daddr=CA-74+W%2FPines+to+Palms+Hwy+to:74+and+371+to:371+and+79+to:borrego+springs+to:CA-78+W+to:Julian,+California+to:E+Grade+Rd+to:Hwy+S7&geocode=FTjYAQIdtMAP-Q%3BFawaAAIdvkoN-Q%3BFQc7AAIdmPQM-SnBtc7EbqjbgDECf6XUKO6bVQ%3BFVtH_gEdttQI-Sn_Jp5TN5nbgDECbxxbKRJ4IA%3BFcBx-wEdHEIQ-Slxzb2O4CfagDGSUhacNNTClA%3BFfLG-QEdCvUR-Q%3BFVKf-AEdfwsN-SGFa5Blza9i6w%3BFcJM_AEdxNII-Q%3BFZSf_AEdFiAI-Q&hl=en&mra=ls&via=7&sll=33.434879,-116.323242&sspn=0.576447,1.234589&ie=UTF8&z=9 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=CA-74+W&daddr=CA-74+W%2FPines+to+Palms+Hwy+to:74+and+371+to:371+and+79+to:borrego+springs+to:CA-78+W+to:Julian,+California+to:E+Grade+Rd+to:Hwy+S7&geocode=FTjYAQIdtMAP-Q%3BFawaAAIdvkoN-Q%3BFQc7AAIdmPQM-SnBtc7EbqjbgDECf6XUKO6bVQ%3BFVtH_gEdttQI-Sn_Jp5TN5nbgDECbxxbKRJ4IA%3BFcBx-wEdHEIQ-Slxzb2O4CfagDGSUhacNNTClA%3BFfLG-QEdCvUR-Q%3BFVKf-AEdfwsN-SGFa5Blza9i6w%3BFcJM_AEdxNII-Q%3BFZSf_AEdFiAI-Q&hl=en&mra=ls&via=7&sll=33.434879,-116.323242&sspn=0.576447,1.234589&ie=UTF8&z=9)

Cheers,
Tigre

Out at the Borrego end, cut down on S3 and Yacqui Pass road, South out of Desert Lodge.

No way to get over the top of Palomar.
You can continue on S6, which is very twisty, locally known as the 'front' side of Palomar.
Then either loop back on the 76, or go back up S6 and down S7 to get back to the 76.

Julian has some great places to eat.  It's a little on the tourist-trap side of things, but it's a quaint mountain-ish town.  the group I ride with regularly goes out there for palomar and julian for lunch.

from the end of your route, you can take 76 west, to Pala Temecula Rd, up to the 79 east, and back the way you came, unless you want to double back.


Exercise caution on Palomar.

Caution because the roads are technical and tight/twisty/off-camber?

Caution also in choosing fuel stops and other preparations. That area will in fact kill you if you f-up. Its spectacular mind numbing nothingness way beyond the stretch of the eye. A new definition of horizon if you haven't been. But if you run out of gas in the middle of the Mohave Desert it's beyond not good.  If fill up in the toolies be prepared to spend nearly $5. a gallon.  

There is a bed and breakfast as close to JT as you can get that's stellar.
1year old construction strawbale adobe, stylish and as romantic as you can get not camping. Your own personal outdoor jacuzzi filled with fresh filtered water, you can sit and listen to coyotes in candlelight. Its rediculous.

  http://sacredsands.com/

I was thinking more about the other road users.

Got it -- thanks for the advice!

Cool -- thanks!

Sounds amazing.

indeed it does.  prices are a little less amazing however.

don't forget about Giant Rock and the Integratron

http://www.integratron.com/ (http://www.integratron.com/)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Rock (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Rock)

Didn't check out the integratron, but did go through Idyllwild, Palomares, Borrego Springs, etc.

Some great riding -- weather was near perfect.  Thanks for the route suggestions!

Cheers,
Tigre