Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick answer: To start riding in San Diego, get your California M1 motorcycle license (the CHP’s CMSP training course is required under 21 and smart at any age), wear a DOT-compliant helmet, insure your bike, and build your skills on easier roads before taking on curvy mountain routes like Palomar.
San Diego’s mild weather, coastline and backcountry make it a great place to learn to ride. Start with the basics below, then work up to five classic local rides. Each one has a note on what to expect as a newer rider.
Palomar is a classic Southern California ride through the Cleveland National Forest. From Highway 76, South Grade Road (S6) climbs to the summit and ends at the gates of Palomar Observatory; East Grade Road (S7) offers another way up or down, so you can ride it as a loop. S6 is a mountain road with many curves, and the observatory warns about fog and fallen rocks, especially during and after rain. Winter storms can bring snow and ice, when the CHP generally requires tire chains.
Beginner note: There are no gas stations on Palomar Mountain, so fill up before you climb. If you want to visit the observatory, its visitor lot locks at 3:00 p.m. standard time (3:30 p.m. daylight time).
The Sunrise Highway runs north from I-8 near Pine Valley, through the Laguna Mountains and the small community of Mount Laguna, to Highway 79; Julian is a few miles farther north. Along the way you get big views east over the Anza-Borrego Desert and west across the Cleveland National Forest. Mount Laguna has the Laguna Mountain Lodge & Store and a Forest Service visitor center with limited Friday-through-Sunday hours. Check hours before you count on the store for food or water.
Beginner note: If you park at a developed site in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area, you’ll need an Adventure Pass ($5 a day or $30 a year) or an America the Beautiful pass. Driving through or making a quick photo stop doesn’t require one. Finish in Julian, the old mining town known for its apple pie.
For San Diego’s classic coast ride, take Historic Highway 101 (signed as Coast Highway, Camino del Mar or Carlsbad Boulevard depending on the town), which links beach towns from La Jolla north through Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas and Carlsbad to Oceanside. (Despite the common nickname, State Route 1, the actual Pacific Coast Highway, doesn’t run through San Diego County; it starts in Dana Point in Orange County.)
Beginner note: Expect slow speeds, traffic lights, beach traffic and lots of pedestrians and cyclists, which makes this a good ride for practicing smooth stops and starts.
Highway 94 becomes two-lane Campo Road east of Rancho San Diego and heads into the backcountry through Jamul, Dulzura, Potrero and Campo before reaching I-8. It mixes rolling hills, long straights and curvy sections.
Beginner note: Caltrans planned culvert and pavement work on the eastern end of 94, between the Campo area and I-8, for about April 2026 to June 2027, so watch for work zones and check Caltrans QuickMap before you go. Start with a full tank.
From Julian, head east and drop into Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California’s largest state park, then loop through Borrego Springs and back. Wildflowers usually start blooming in force in late February or early March, depending on rain. Stop in Borrego Springs for a meal and the giant metal sculptures scattered around the valley, which stand on private land and are free to visit.
Beginner note: This is a cool-season ride. Summer temperatures can reach 125°F, and cell coverage is spotty or nonexistent, so carry plenty of water. The park’s dirt roads are open only to street-legal vehicles, and the park says most call for all-wheel or four-wheel drive, so stay on pavement until you have off-road skills.
San Diego is a forgiving place to learn: get licensed, gear up, start with easy roads, and work toward the mountain and desert classics as your skills grow. Ride within your limits, fuel up before the backcountry, and enjoy the view.
Still earning every one.
