California Coast

650 miles with 36,000 feet of climbing
Fort Bragg - Bodega Bay (113 miles with 7,400 feet of climbing)
Bodega Bay - Half Moon Bay (101 miles with 7,000 feet of climbing)
Half Moon Bay - Carmel (111 miles with 4,900 feet of climbing)
Carmel - Cambria (98 miles with 6,600 feet of climbing)
Cambria - Solvang (115 miles with 4,900 feet of climbing)
Solvang - Malibu (114 miles with 5,200 feet of climbing)
This ride covers 650 miles of the about 2,000 mile long Pacific Coast Bicycle Route between Canada and Mexico. It leads through parts of Northern California, all along the Central Coast, and through parts of Southern California.
The ride is designed to be a six day series of centuries finishing in Los Angeles. While there is not a single major climb, the overall amount of climbing is significant. Most of the route follows Highway 1, also known as Pacific Coast Highway, Coast Highway, Shoreline Highway, and Cabrillo Highway - one of the most scenic roads in America.

Fort Bragg to Bodega Bay

California Coast - Day 1 • Route Profile
Route Profile • Fort Bragg to Bodega Bay
Cat. 3: Mile 89
Cat. 4: Mile 19, 28, 81, 93, and 102
Day one starts in Fort Bragg, a logging town surrounded by redwood forests. The route simply follows the Coast Highway. Two worthwhile options include a detour through the town of Mendocino and an out-and-back visit of Point Arena Lighthouse. Fort Ross, a former Russian settlement, is another point of interest along the course. The route visits several small towns and includes a mentionable climb near Jenner.

Bodega Bay to Half Moon Bay

California Coast - Day 2 • Route Profile
Route Profile • Bodega Bay to Half Moon Bay
Cat. 3: Mile 56 and 79
Cat. 4: Mile 1, 8, 13, 38, 49, 67, 71, and 88
The second day starts in Bodega Bay, known as setting for Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds". The route again follows Shoreline Highway. An alternate on quiet back-country roads is available between Valley Ford and Tomales. While many cyclists choose an inland route when approaching San Francisco, this ride follows the more scenic but less safe Highway 1, climbing the Pacific shoulder of Mount Tamalpais. The section through San Francisco and its suburbs requires the use of surface roads. South of San Francisco on the Coast Highway, the route includes a climb and following descent through an area known for landslides and erosion, referred to as "Devil's Slide".

Half Moon Bay to Carmel

California Coast - Day 3 • Route Profile
Route Profile • Half Moon Bay to Carmel
Cat. 4: Mile 8, 11, and 13
Day three starts in Half Moon Bay, the oldest city of San Mateo County, and leads through a large rural agriculture area. The ride continues on Cabrillo Highway until Santa Cruz, optionally using the former stagecoach route through Pescadero, which runs parallel to the coast. Starting in Santa Cruz, the course follows surface roads and the bike path until Monterey peninsula. One of the highlights of the day includes 17-Mile Drive, which passes by famous Pebble Beach Golf Course.

Carmel to Cambria

California Coast - Day 4 • Route Profile
Route Profile • Carmel to Cambria
Cat. 3: Mile 67 and 28
Cat. 4: Mile 16, 63, and 73
The fourth day starts in Carmel, known for its natural scenery and artistic history. The route again follows Cabrillo Highway. This part of the coast is known as Big Sur and is absolutely stunning. Towards the beginning, the course crosses a few historic bridges, including Bixby Bridge. There are only three tiny towns along this section, Big Sur, Gorda, and Lucia. Towards the end, the course passes San Simeon, home of Hearst Castle and one of only two beaches in California where elephant seals come ashore (the other one is in Año Nuevo and is less accessible). The route includes two mentionable climbs, one in Big Sur, and the other one close to Ragged Point.

Cambria to Solvang

California Coast - Day 5 • Route Profile
Route Profile • Cambria to Solvang
Cat. 4: Mile 77, 98, and 104
Day five starts in Cambria, a quiet little seaside town. The route follows Cabrillo Highway until Morro Bay. From here it leads inland towards San Luis Obispo, before returning to the coast in Shell Beach. The course then continues to lead inland, passing through Guadalupe and Orcutt. Eventually it follows Foxen Canyon and Ballard Canyon all the way into Solvang.

Solvang to Malibu

California Coast - Day 6 • Route Profile
Route Profile • Solvang to Malibu
Cat. 3: Mile 18
Cat. 4: Mile 7 and 111
The sixth day starts in Solvang, the "Danish Capital of America". The route leads through Santa Ynez Valley and then climbs San Marcos Pass (the highest point of the ride), before descending to the coast in Santa Barbara. From here it follows the coast, passing through several cities and towns, including Ventura, Oxnard, and Port Hueneme. At Point Mugu the route continues on Pacific Coast Highway, which leads into Los Angeles County.

California Coast • Interactive Map

California Coast • Pictures

California Coast • Mendocino
Mendocino
California Coast • Mendocino Coast
Mendocino Coast
California Coast • Point Arena Lighthouse
Point Arena Lighthouse
California Coast • Fort Ross
Fort Ross
California Coast • Sonoma Coast
Sonoma Coast
California Coast • Stinson Beach
Stinson Beach
California Coast • Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
California Coast • San Mateo Coast
San Mateo Coast
California Coast • Monterey Peninsula
Monterey Peninsula
California Coast • Lone Cypress
Lone Cypress
California Coast • Bixby Bridge
Bixby Bridge
California Coast • Big Sur Coast
Big Sur Coast
California Coast • Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
California Coast • Big Sur Coast
Big Sur Coast
California Coast • Elephant Seals in San Simeon
Elephant Seals in San Simeon
California Coast • Morro Bay
Morro Bay
California Coast • Shell Beach
Shell Beach
California Coast • San Marcos Pass
San Marcos Pass
California Coast • Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara
California Coast • Malibu
Malibu
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See Also: Multi-Day Rides