DROC Long Ride to Carpinteria

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The long way to Carpinteria
Saturday, July 11th, we’re taking the long, scenic way to one beach: PCH along the ocean, a climb into the Santa Monica Mountains, the flowing back roads through Ojai, and a drop down to Carpinteria for lunch. The destination is simple. The route is the whole point.
Plan for a full day in the saddle. This is roughly 300+ miles round trip and a full-day ride, about 8 to 9 hours from kickstands-up to back home (KSU 7:50 AM, back not before 3:30 PM, often later). It’s a mix of freeway, open coast, and tight canyons, so come rested and ready to ride all day. The payoff is some of the best riding in Southern California packed into one day.
Know before you go
- Distance: 300+ miles round trip
- Duration: full day, about 8 to 9 hours including stops
- Fuel: a tank good for ~120 miles between fill-ups is ideal; top off at every gas stop
- Bring: water, snacks, sunscreen, and a layer, it’s cool on the coast and warm inland
- Pace: highway slabs plus technical canyon roads, ride within your limits
Top 5 moments on this ride
PCH through Malibu. Once we drop onto the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica, it’s wide-open ocean cruising past the Malibu Pier and Zuma Beach, the Pacific on your left the whole way. Pure California postcard miles.
Encinal Canyon Road. We peel off PCH in Malibu and climb Encinal Canyon, a quiet, beautifully paved ribbon of switchbacks and sweepers up out of the coast into the mountains, one of the best wake-up roads around.
The Mulholland crest & Rock Store country. Ridgeline twisties through the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, past Lake Eleanor and Paradise Falls, the classic SoCal motorcycle playground.
The Ojai Valley Scenic Overlook. CA-150 from Santa Paula serves up long, flowing sweepers through citrus groves before cresting at the Dennison Grade pull-off, the postcard view down over the whole Ojai Valley. We’ll stop for photos and a breather.
The CA-150 drop to Carpinteria. The final descent out of the Ojai hills back down to the ocean, opening up to the coast just before lunch on the sand.
Ride Plan
Check the route on Google Maps: