Throughout its 50-year history, Rider’s editorial offices have been based in the vicinity of Ventura County, California, which is northwest of Los Angeles and nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the mountains of Los Padres National Forest – an ideal location that provides us with year-round riding and world-class motorcycle roads.
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One of my favorite local rides is a 150-mile loop that starts in downtown Ventura at San Buenaventura City Hall, a stately 112-year-old building that looks straight down California Street to the famous “C Street” surf break. The first stop is at Grant Park, which is situated in the hillsides above city hall and provides sweeping views of the city, the coast, and, on a clear day, Channel Islands National Park.
The ride continues east along the coastal mountain foothills to Santa Paula, an agricultural town in the Santa Clara Valley. Overlooking the runway at Santa Paula Airport is Flight 126 Cafe, a nobody-is-a-stranger diner that serves hearty portions for breakfast and lunch.
Riding north on 10th Street (State Route 150), on the right is “The Warning,” a bronze statue that memorializes two police officers who rode through the city’s streets in the middle of the night on March 13, 1928, alerting residents to evacuate. Miles upstream, the St. Francis Dam had collapsed just before midnight, and a wall of water was headed down the valley to the ocean. More than 400 people perished in the disaster, but many were saved by the officers’ heroic efforts.
SR-150 continues north into Santa Paula Canyon, passing Thomas Acquinas College and climbing graceful curves to the Upper Ojai Valley. At the top, The Summit Drive-In is a great place to stop for a milkshake (peanut butter is my favorite). After a leisurely ride past horse farms and ranches, there is a fun series of curves on Dennison Grade as it descends into Ojai Valley.
Ojai is a quaint mountain town that some Hollywood A-listers call home. A string of shops, restaurants, and tasting rooms along Ojai Avenue make it a popular weekend destination. As SR-150 continues west through town, it joins with State Route 33. For a much longer ride, follow SR-33 north into Los Padres National Forest to enjoy one of the best motorcycling roads in Southern California.
This ride stays on SR-150, turning west on Baldwin Road, crossing the Ventura River, winding around the mountainous northern side of Lake Casitas, and working its way through the coastal mountains, passing through avocado farms and over Casitas Pass. After crossing into Santa Barabara County, a right turn on SR-192 follows a curving path between farms, nurseries, and ranches.
Veering right to stay on SR-192, after a few dips and curves there’s a sign for Toro Canyon Park, a great place to stretch your legs and use the public restroom. SR-192 becomes a leafy-green artery through Montecito, where the richest of the rich Santa Barbarans live. A right on Hot Springs Road and a left on East Mountain Drive puts you on a twisting foothill road that winds in and out of numerous canyons and past mansions hidden behind walls and gates.
A right on El Cielito Road and another on Gibraltar Road begins a steep, curvaceous climb into the mountains of Los Padres National Forest. Eventually you top out on East Camino Cielo (“Sky Road” in Spanish), which follows the ridgeline for 11 miles to the junction with State Route 154 at San Marcos Pass. This is a slow-going scenic road that crests at 4,000 feet above sea level, with the mountains falling away steeply to the Santa Ynez Valley to the north and the Santa Barbara coast to the south.
See all of Rider‘s California tour stories here.
Turn right on SR-154 and enjoy smooth, gracefully curving pavement on the descent into Santa Ynez Valley. After crossing the Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge, turn right on Paradise Road and then right again on Stagecoach Road to Cold Spring Tavern, a former stagecoach stop that is now a restaurant and bar with excellent food.
Returning to East Camino Cielo, enjoy a few tight curves through the trees in the opposite direction before turning right on Painted Cave Road. This narrow, rough road has some tight, 1st-gear switchbacks, so proceed with care. After two hairpins under a dark canopy of trees, stop at the Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park. Peek through the protective bars to see multicolored cave paintings created by the area’s original inhabitants.
The road descends steeply with more sharp hairpins. Cross SR-154 and continue descending on San Marcos Road with yet more hairpins. Turn left on Cathedral Oaks Road (SR-192) and follow it through the foothills and canyons of Santa Barbara back to Montecito, then hop on U.S. Route 101 and follow it along the coast back to Ventura. Exit at Seacliff and follow State Route 1 for a slower, more relaxed cruise with plenty of places to stop to watch surfers or walk along the beach.
See all of Rider‘s touring stories here.
Ventura to Santa Barbara, California Motorcycle Ride Resources
Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park
I have several bikes, each serves a different purpose. One is a ’19 Spyder RT Ltd. I took it out yesterday for a 144-mile loop and it was effortless. Good for you grabbing a nice RT and doing that run. The other bikes of mine may be swapped out but I’ll always have a Spyder.
I was blessed to live in both SB where I went to High School, and purchased my first tire shop. And Ventura where I purchased the second tire store. During my years in SoCal I also lived in Carpinteria, and Monticeto. I rode every road in between. I miss it very much! I only get to ride about 5 months of the year now. However, Cold Springs Tavern will always be my favorite church away from church! Thanks for bringing back great memories!
Pastor Warren
I lived in Ventura County pretty much my whole life. Did this ride with friends several times. I live in Oklahoma now and it was nice to revisit an iconic ride that is a must if you live in the area. There are many cool places to visit up and down the coast in that area. If you go to Ojai, make sure you visit the Deer Lodge.