Pacific Coast Highway Self Guided Motorcycle Tour

Welcome to Seattle, Washington! Take a deep breath of northern air as you step outside the airport terminal and catch the complimentary airport shuttle to your hotel, and in the distance, your first sight of Seattle’s famous Space Needle. Grab a bite to eat, have a drink and then get a good night’s rest because tomorrow you begin the first part of an exciting journey.

If you’re getting in a day or two early, we suggest you rent a car or pick up your motorcycle in advance and pay a visit to Neah Bay, the northernmost town on the US West Coast or take a ferry to Vancouver Island and explore the beautiful island. You might even want to make it a little round trip, take the ferry across the coastal waters of British Columbia to Vancouver; from here its 140 miles back to Seattle. Or explore Seattle’s unique musical heritage.

Your scenic ride all the way to Los Angeles starts with a ferry from downtown Seattle to Olympic National Park. Olympic National Park is a diverse and stunning area. It is part fog shrouded coast with booming surf and waves-manicured beaches. Admire rock arches and sea stacks, crashing waves, the calls of gulls, bald eagles and black oystercatchers. At low tide you may even see raccoons feeding on shellfish.
The other part is spectacular alpine country dotted with sparkling lakes, lush meadows, glaciers, and North America's finest temperate rain forest. It is very, very remote out here – a place that not many people are lucky enough to ever venture to.

You’ll stop at Forks of ‘Twilight Zone’ fame, before reaching your wilderness lodge for the night.

You continue south to Ocean Shores, and then stop at Aberdeen, once home to Kurt Cobain, where you leave the Olympic Peninsula. Crossing the Columbia River you’ll enter Oregon. Then on for a visit to the Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks, near the mouth of the Columbia River, which commemorate the Lewis and Clark Expedition. In Astoria visit Fort Clatsop which was the final encampment of the Lewis and Clark Expedition during the winter of 1805-1806, before they returned east to St. Louis.

Just a little further south you pass through the town of Seaside which gained equal historical importance as the location of the Lewis and Clark Salt Cairn, where the expedition extracted salt from seawater to make fresh water.

After so much history and information it’s back on your iron horse to wind your way down the Oregon Coast Highway to Tillamook, where you stay for the night.

You’ll start with a lovely ride out to Cape Meares and Cape Lookout – for beautiful views and great riding. Today you’ll experience the remoteness of western Oregon with its verdant forests, breath-taking bays, small coastal fishing logging and beach towns. At Yaquina Bay the road hugs the coast and you’re presented with magnificent vistas from Yaquina Head, Oregon’s tallest lighthouse. You enter Siuslaw National Forest and the number of curves is beginning to increase. There are no tourist sights here – being out here is the attraction itself! Maybe it's the feel of being taken back to a simpler time, where life moved a little bit slower. Maybe it's the taken-care-of feeling you get as you cross over a covered bridge in a rainstorm. Maybe it's all of those things and different ones for different people. It’s all back to nature here on the Oregon Coast.

As you ride into Gold Beach take a look at the Rogue River where there’s a chance you’ll see wildlife such as bear, otter, deer, eagles, osprey, herons and more. Today you get a true feel for a real coastal ride. You’re in for a real treat – big trees, and lots of them! Our southbound route takes you through different redwood state parks and touches Redwood National Park, your second National Park on this tour; needless to say the Pacific Coast Highway is also called the Redwood Highway up here. After about 65 miles you reach the pretty city of Eureka with its beautiful harbour and picturesque Victorian houses. This is your stopping point for the night.

Today’s highlight is the road through Humboldt Redwoods State Park called Avenue of the Giants. Now this is what we call an avenue! This world famous 31 mile scenic drive is by far the most outstanding display of these giant trees in the 500 mile redwood belt. Along the Avenue there are a number of sleepy small towns. Stop to browse in quaint gift shops for your redwood memorabilia and to take in the tranquillity of this mighty place.

At Leggett you make a sudden right turn and find yourself on Hwy 1. Right here at Drive-Thru Tree Park visit another sight on this tour; the name already gives it away: a tree to drive through. The enormous Chandelier Tree derives its name from the enormous branches balanced on either side of the trunk. These branches, which are the size of small trees, begin about a hundred feet up the trunk.

Back on the road you head west towards the coast again. The number of curves increases and the route, now also named Shoreline Highway, is a thrill to ride. You cruise past MacKerricher State Park and reach Fort Bragg, the largest coast town between San Francisco and Eureka, located on the Mendocino Coast.

Just a little further south is the funky and eclectic little town of Mendocino which became infamous through its massive cultivation of marijuana. Today Mendocino is the only town on the California Coast that is designated as a Historical Landmark. Established in the 1850s the architecture is reminiscent of Maine with its grand Victorians and quaint Saltbox cottages.

Back on your iron horse you’ll soar on down the rugged coast. As you cross Russian River the road seems like a horizontal roller coaster ride all the way to Bodega Bay. In 1963 Alfred Hitchcock decided that this would be the ideal location for his next movie, “The Birds”. You’ll see that he couldn’t have found a more surreal spot for this film when you check out the over 150 year old Potter School House; an original relict from the movie shoot.

Point Reyes National Seashore and Muir Beach, where the road leaves the ocean and cuts inland. Visit charming Sausalito. with its stunning views of the San Francisco skyline, Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge. Clocks seem to tick a little differently here, it’s very relaxed and a great place to stop for a break.

Now hit the road and get the final ride done for the day; but it’s not just any piece of road, it’s the world famous Golden Gate Bridge. Don’t forget to put a flower in your hair when you reach your hotel.

A free day to enjoy the beautiful city of San Francisco, a funky, individual, and surprisingly small place – certainly the most liberal city in the USA. There’s plenty to do here - a trip to Alcatraz (book well in advance), cable car rides, or a fabulous sunset cruise with live music and food (which we can book for you).

Roll out of the city on the beautiful, winding Skyline Boulevard, stopping for a coffee and then onto the Pacific Coast Highway, the famous Route 1, to Santa Cruz for lunch, fun and sun on the beach. This is one of the best rides in the world, ending in the coastal grandeur of the Monterey Peninsula, whose crescent shaped bay and cypress groves have been celebrated by poets, authors and artists. In the evening, take in the Carmel shops, Steinbeck's Cannery Row and the wonderful ambience of the bay. And Laguna Seca is just around the corner too!

This morning you ride 90 miles along the cliff edges of Big Sur, the most spectacular section of Highway 1. Rocky cliffs form a sublime landscape, redwood groves line river canyons and the Santa Lucia Mountains rise out of the blue-green Pacific. About halfway along you come to Esalen, named for the long-gone native tribe who once enjoyed the natural hot springs on a cliff top high above the raging surf. At San Simeon you can stop for a guided tour at Hearst Castle. Carrying onward visit tiny seaside art communities and miles of sandy beaches till you reach your hotel at Pismo Beach. Welcome to Southern California!

This area is the home of the California beach scene, and you have time to enjoy it all. After cutting inland at Santa Maria to enjoy the great back roads and scenery you get back on Highway 101 at Santa Barbara and cruise straight into Malibu, the famous beach colony. After another 20 miles you’re in Santa Monica, LA’s oldest and biggest resort. Once a wild beachfront playground, it’s now a self-consciously liberal and healthy community. Finally, it’s time to wend your way back to Los Angeles, return your motorcycle and enjoy your final evening.

Today is the day to pack your bags, filled with the experiences and memories of a fantastic tour down the West Coast, through the three beautiful states of Washington, Oregon and California. It’s time to head home.