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25 Photos from My 1,500 Mile Motorcycle Ride through California and Oregon

1,500 miles. 4 days. 2 states. 1 awesome adventure - a photo essay

By: Drew Perlmutter + Save to a List

DAY 1.

San Francisco, CA > Eureka, CA 

It all started on an early foggy morning on HWY 1 just north of San Francisco. The morning was spent heading north up the coast, battling the heavy fog and cold weather.

 

Mt. Tamalpais State Park 

From HWY 1, I took a quick detour through Point Reyes National Seashore. Beautiful, open farm land and rolling fog made for an interesting ride. 


As I headed further north, the fog soon started to give way as the sun finally came through. Mountains continued to line the coast and the ride got more and more beautiful with each mile.


A quick stop at Salt Point State Park along HWY 1 was a great idea. The light fog and shining sun really made for some great atmosphere. 


From here, I continued north and then east over the mountains and inland toward the Redwoods.


Riding through Avenue of The Giants. Seeing the Redwoods in person for the first time was incredible. Photos don't even begin to do them justice. 

After spending some time amongst the giants, I headed back west towards the lost coast for some final riding before sunset. 

The poor road quality and bad weather made for a difficult trek, but the secludedness of the area made for one of the most enjoyable rides. It was then a short hop to Eureka to rest for the night.

DAY 2.

Eureka, CA > Medford, OR

Dry Lagoon State Park, CA. One of my favorite parts of the trip was watching the morning fog roll over coastal cliffs and black sand beaches. From here I continued on and headed north along US 1.


Redwood National and State Parks, CA. Again, I found myself riding amongst these giants. This time it was early morning and the foggy weather and empty roads really made for a great experience. I continued my ride through the park and further north and soon found my way into Oregon.


Natural Bridges, OR. Riding along the Oregon Coast was unreal. Mile after mile provided incredible overlooks, each better than the last.

Sisters Rock State Park, OR. One thing that has always fascinated me is when forests and mountains meet the sea. Separately, I have always been drawn to these two environments, but was rarely exposed to both together. Getting to explore them simultaneously is an experience I have trouble putting into words. The Oregon Coast was filled with countless examples of these wonderful surroundings. After a quick visit to the park, it was time to head back east for my next stop.


Crater Lake National Park, OR. I really don't even know where to begin with this one. I find Crater Lake to be one of the most fascinating national parks and it has always been high on my list of places to visit. Seeing this park in person was unbelievable. I really couldn't even begin to put the experience into words.


Snow in July, who would've figured? After almost 500 miles of riding, a nice break to cool off was just what I needed. The snow covered roads surrounding the lake were crazy to see in the middle of summer. 


After spending a few hours amongst the snow covered mountains, it was time to head back into town for the night.

DAY 3.

Medford, OR > Garberville, CA


Mt. Shasta, CA. An early start took me south and back across the border into California. This was the view at mile 1,000 of the trip, definitely fitting. 


The weather quickly heated up and rose into the 90's. I opted for a route that ran through Six Rivers National Forest. This took me away from the coast and along deep valleys and vast rivers, which provided miles and miles of beautiful riding.


Somes Bar, CA. After a day of riding throughout the mountains I continued south for the last leg of the trip. The summer heat was starting to wear me out, so a quick swim in the Salmon River provided much needed relief. 


Garberville, CA. It wasn't until just after sunset that I made it in for the night.

DAY 4.

Garberville, CA > San Francisco, CA


Richardson Grove State Park, CA. After a restless night, I decided to get a jump start and begin to cover the remaining 200 miles to San Francisco. It was around 4am when the cloudy skies opened up revealing an incredibly clear morning - so much so that I just had to stop. This 30 second exposure was taken just off the 101 before the night passed.

From here, it was only a few more hours until I made my way into the city. 1,500 miles round trip and one incredible adventure. I can't wait for the next one.

We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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