Golden West — 16-Day Self-Guided Motorcycle Tour
Ride a 2,587-mile loop from Los Angeles through California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. Across 12 riding days, two exploration days, and 15 nights, the route combines Southern California mountain roads, Joshua Tree, historic Route 66, the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Las Vegas, Death Valley, Mammoth Lakes, Yosemite, San Francisco, Big Sur, and the Pacific Coast Highway.
Leave Los Angeles for Palm Springs through Lake Elsinore, San Bernardino National Forest, and the slopes of San Jacinto Mountain. Continue through Joshua Tree, Twenty-Nine Palms, Amboy, and Route 66 to Laughlin. The next stage follows the Mother Road through Oatman, Kingman, and Seligman before reaching the Grand Canyon.
Ride from the canyon into Navajo country and Monument Valley, then continue through Mexican Hat, Valley of the Gods, Lake Powell country, Capitol Reef, the Devil’s Backbone, and Escalante before arriving at Bryce Canyon. Visit Zion on the way to Las Vegas, where a full rest day separates the desert-and-canyon half of the loop from the California mountain-and-coast section.
From Las Vegas, cross Death Valley and climb into the Sierra Nevada at Mammoth Lakes. Ride Tioga Pass into Yosemite, then continue through Gold Rush towns and across the Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco. After a full city day, follow Highway 1 to Monterey and through Big Sur, San Simeon, Cambria, Morro Bay, and Pismo Beach before returning to Los Angeles through Santa Barbara and Malibu.
Daily stages range from 118 to 340 miles. The booklet lists temperatures from approximately 60–120°F, requiring preparation for extreme desert heat as well as cold high-elevation conditions. Carry water, fuel before remote sections, download offline maps, confirm Tioga Pass and Highway 1 status, and book national-park lodging early.
The two non-riding days are positioned in Las Vegas and San Francisco, giving riders time to recover after the Southwest crossing and before the final coastal run. The first half emphasizes deserts, Route 66, Navajo country, and Utah’s canyon landscapes; the second half climbs from below sea level to the Sierra, crosses Yosemite, and finishes beside the Pacific. Few routes offer such a large change in climate and scenery without changing motorcycles or ending in a different city.
This Experience is presented as a self-guided tour, allowing riders to set their own pace. Booking includes a detailed tour booklet with the full itinerary, routes, mileage, dining and lodging suggestions, rider tips, and Google Maps navigation links.
16 Days · 2,587 Miles · Route 66 · Grand Canyon · Monument Valley · Zion · Yosemite · Big Sur · Self-Guided
