took a ride up there with my friend and his nsx a bit ago. fun road, lots of twisties, but too many bikers and rocks. anyone have any other recs of fun roads in southern cali?

here's a pic at the top.

 

Just to the left of your photo is Azusa Canyon Road, closed now for 30 years, but open to Rangers and spunky hikers. It may open one day, cutting about 50 miles off the Azusa to Newcomb's Ranch Restaurant run.

Go on a week day or at night. Much less traffic. ACH is spectacular at night, with a full moon! Beware of rock slides, though; I've broken a wheel near where you took the photo, in thick cloud cover that drifted over at just the wrong moment.

Depending upon at which end of Angels Crest Hwy. you start, you can take this 250 mile loop.

From the West end: take the 210 freeway east to the Sunland/Tujunga area. Take the Foothill Blvd. exit. Proceed east to Oro Vista. Turn Left. After you pass through about six stop signs worth of residential street, you'll turn right onto Big Tujunga Canyon Road. Big Tujunga Canyon snakes eastbound, crossing Angeles Forrest Highway. Turn Right onto Angeles Forrest. This takes you to Angeles Crest Highway, just east of the Mount Wilson Observatory entrance. Turn left. Proceed past Newcomb's Ranch Restaurant, and past the town of Wrightwood. Keep going. When you reach the top of the hill to Highway 138. Turn right. Continue on 138 past the 15 Freeway. Take 138 past Lake Silverwood (very tight turns) toward Crestline and Blue Jay. When you reach Rim of the World Highway (18) take it toward Big Bear Lake/City. Turn left on Big Bear Road and go down "the back side" way. Take Hwy 18 north and west to Bear Valley Road. Turn left. Drive to the 15 Freeway. Go home from here.

I used to take this route several times a week when preparing for long-distance motorcycle rides. Have fun!

 

i saw that road, it was gated off at the time. in fact, in the picture in the background, you can see several bikes. there were 3 bikers (motorcycles) trying to squash their bikes UNDER the gate to get to the closed off road. it was amusing. two bikers on one side, one on the other trying to get it under and not scratch their paint.

edit: found a pic of them.

 

ACH was re-paved recently and the new asphalt is really rough and rocky. It feels horrible too. I've been running Big Tujunga instead. It's still a little wind blown and rocky. You have to hit it super early if you want to avoid bikes and traffic.

I haven't done the nighttime action, that sounds fun. Also watch out for deer, I guy know hit one about a month back.

 

All great info!

 

Yes, deer, coyotes, skunks, mountain lions, snakes, tarantellas, raccoons, and BIG owls that fly toward your headlights. HID lights are a must on this road at night!

Almost every weekend, there will be groups of ACH users in cars or on bicycles or motorcycles that stop at Newcomb's Ranch Restaurant. Each group seems to choose the time of day when they arrive: sport bikes and bicycles about 8-9 a.m.; touring bikes and sports cars from 10-12 noon; cruisers after noon. You may see Jay Leno there, or at the Rock Store near Malibu. Saw him on his jet bike at Newcomb's.

Two anecdotes: I was leaving Newcomb's to eat on the benches, outside, on weekend, and heard a deep roar in the near distance. After a while, a Ford GT rolls up. Then another. Then another. Then 99 more! The San Diego Ford GT club was on a drive. I have a video of my walk through the parking lot. Leaving Newcomb's another day, and just East of there, two, new Ferraris were parked nose-to-nose, the drivers just chatting and laughing.

The Saab Sonnet, Lotus, Miata, and Morgan 3-wheeler clubs stop by about every weekend!

Of course, all sorts of Porsches frequent there, as well. No clubs that I know of; Porsche drivers seem to be more 'lone-wolfish".
Marshal

 

If you're ever in the Chino Hills area, you may want to drive on Carbon Canyon Rd.

It's not as fun or as long as Angeles Crest, but it's a satisfying drive. It has a very fun S-turn that has a change in elevation.

Traffic can sometimes hurt the fun factor and there is a town in the middle, which causes you to slow down to about 25 mph. However, I would still recommend it. Just take it easy.



There's a semi-twisty road in Rancho Palos Verdes that has great views of the ocean, but I would have to look it up.

 

Don't forget Glendora Mountain Road and Baldy Mountain Road. 20 mph is fast in some sections of either.

Farther north, there is CA 33. That's a 190 mile whoop-de-doo.

Farther north still is CA 36 (or 299 and 36): Red Bluff to Fortuna; 200+ miles. Or, Red Bluff to Lassen National Park. Or, Fortuna to Lassen!

Or, 101 to Fort Bragg Road, through the forest to Fort Bragg City, then Highway 1 back.

Or, make the run to Julian (San Diego county) for Mom's Pies. Bumbleberry Crumb -- yum!

Or, 395 to Manzanar. Stop in Bishop for a steak and a cold one.

Marshal

 

No one's yet mentioned the cop quotient on Angeles Crest, particularly on weekends, so I will: Beware on weekends, as they sometimes blanket the area. They're usually after motorcycles, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind picking off a Porsche or two.

 

Highway 33 is very cool ride. Some sections the road is so narrow there really isn't room for cops to hangout. Just watch for bicycle riders. Also in the winter it can get pretty cold up there so early morning your tires can be very cool. Ojai is a good place to stay with your wife. She can spa and you can drive!