116 miles with 4,400 feet of elevation gain*
Locate ride on interactive map.
[Interactive Course | enlarge]
[Route Profile]
Dana Point Century (Eastbound) - Counties Visited:
Orange County, Riverside County, and San Diego County
Dana Point Century (Eastbound) - Cities/Towns Visited:
Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Murrieta, Temecula, Fallbrook, Bonsall, Oceanside, and San Clemente
Dana Point Century (Eastbound) - Climbs:
Mile 15 (cat. 3) and 54 (cat. 4)
Dana Point Century (Eastbound) - Stops (Self-Supported):
Mile 28 (Lookout), 67 (Fallbrook), and 87 (Oceanside Harbor)
Dana Point Century (Eastbound) - Description:
This ride starts in Dana Point and follows a big loop north-east to Lake Elsinore, south-east to Temecula, south-west to Oceanside, and back north-west to the starting point.
After San Juan Capistrano, Ortega Highway climbs gradually to the highest point of the route, before winding down to Lake Elsinore. The ride then follows straight roads towards Temecula, passing through Wildomar and Murrieta.
It continues on Old Highway 395, before crossing over Freeway 15 and climbing East Mission Road to Fallbrook. South Mission Road leads down to Bonsall and Highway 76, which in turn leads towards Oceanside.
The route then follows the bike path, passing through Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base (picture ID required) and visiting San Clemente, before returning back to Dana Point.
Dana Point Century (Eastbound) - Pictures:
[Lookout]
[Lake Elsinore]
[Fallbrook]
Dana Point Century (Eastbound) - Personal Notes:
For a long time, Ortega Highway has been popular with motorcycles but relatively unsafe for bicycles.
The Ortega Highway Safety Improvement Project, expected to last from 2007 to 2010, is adding four-foot shoulders to each side of the road, among other enhancements. Until it is completed, the best option is to ride very early in the day when traffic is minimal.
Dana Point Century (Eastbound) - Current Weather:
See also Dana Point Century (Northbound) and Dana Point Century (Southbound).