California Coast and Yosemite Motorcycle Tour

California’s coast and its mountains are two different holidays, and this self-guided loop out of San Francisco manages both. Seven nights, around 1,085 miles, and a route that runs down the Pacific Coast Highway, turns inland for Sequoia and Yosemite, then climbs to Lake Tahoe before returning over the Golden Gate Bridge.

The opening days are pure coast. Skyline Boulevard and Santa Cruz lead to Monterey, then Highway 1 continues south past Hearst Castle and Morro Bay towards San Luis Obispo. The riding is gentle, 120 to 145 miles a day, and the Pacific is rarely out of sight for long.

Inland is where the character changes. The route crosses the Carrizo country towards Visalia, then enters Sequoia National Park and its groves of giant trees before reaching Yosemite at El Portal. From there Tioga Pass climbs out of the valley past Mono Lake to South Lake Tahoe, a high alpine day that feels a long way from the beach two mornings earlier. The final run back into San Francisco finishes across the Golden Gate.

EAGLERIDER supplies the bike and books the accommodation for each night, with Harley-Davidson touring models and Triumph and BMW sport machines available. Fuel, meals and insurance are arranged separately. Because it is self-guided there is no group pace and no roll call, just a planned route and the freedom to ride it as slowly as the scenery deserves. For a week that shows two completely different sides of California, this is a strong way to spend it.