Hey guys!

Haven't posted in a while since I'm over here in Korea for another 6 months but I was wondering if anyone knows where the very best driving roads are in Arizona or California..preferably southern cali. Im coming home for a month and miss driving so I have to make up for the lost time. I was told up near cottonwood/prescott there is an unofficial "testing" road that is about 30 miles long? Around the Mingus mountains? I have a friend that lived up there and said that quite a few upscale cars with camo etc fly around road 89a up there. I was just curious if anyone knows any better. I would appreciate any input for I need my fix of driving when I get back home. Being thrown around in the back of a Kia taxi at 120kmph isn't fun especially when they all shift into neutral at every stop. (automatics)..

 

The trip from Wickenburg up through Prescott and on to Flagstaff is a quite nice run, and includes Mingus Mountain.

HTH!

C ya,
Dutch

 

In Southern California, Angeles Crest - Highway 2 - from the 210 freeway in La Canada all the way to Wrightwood - 66 miles. Mulholland Highway in the Santa Monica Mountains and all kinds of great roads in that area. In San Diego County Palomar South Grade and East Grade. This is just the tip of the iceberg. PM me when you want to go on a run and I will do a route for you. I am known as "The Roadmaster" in SCMM (Southern California MINI Maniacs).

 

In San Diego County:
The S6/S7 (off the 76) up Palomar Mtn starting in Pauma Valley. Lots of switchbacks with great views of San Diego County. Heads East and comes out on the 76 next to Lake Henshaw. <Looks like I am thinking of the same road CF MINI suggested> There are a lot of ways to go from here. The 79, S1, S2, 78 or the S22. All are pretty fun with some cool stuff to see. Off the S1 are views of the Anza Borrego Desert.

In Riverside County:
74 E out of Hemet to the 243 (goes through Idyllwild) or continue on the 74 and end up in Palm Desert.

In San Bernardino County:
330, 38 or the 18 from Apple Valley to Big Bear.

Should get you started.

 

...

 

+1 on the RT-89A ... I am on the east coast ... we do a fly-n-ride every year to come to this road ... Good stuff ...

 

Old route 66 from Clifton to Alpine, AZ - called the Devil's Backbone or Devil's Highway. Some 400 plus curves in 99 miles - listed as one.of the top motorcycle rides in the US.

 

fixthedoor -
All of the San Diego twisty roads are good because they tend to have less local traffic - bicyclists, sheriffs, etc. than the Santa Monica Mountains - Malibu area does. But 74E out of Hemet is a great one as it climbs up towards the junction to go to Idyllwild. There is a one mile section in there with twisties with two lanes going uphill that are banked just perfectly - one of the best ever!!

 

CF
That piece of the 74 is so much fun with the tight turns and the passing lanes, my wife has a tendency to grip the OS bar a little tighter when we go through there... You're absolutely right about the roads in San Diego. Save for the major holidays when haulers are out in full force heading to the desert. Even then though it's not bad, considering all the passing lanes.

 

Pashnit has a good database of California twisties.

http://www.pashnit.com/motoroads.htm

Most of the detailed pages are a pay site but the name list and the map are free.

 

Hwy-168 from Big Pine to Nevada is THE most fun road.
Patterson Pass road from Tracy to Livermore
Hwy-1 north of San Francisco
Hwy-1 south of San Francisco
Del Puerto Canyon Road/San Antonio Valley Road from Patterson to San Jose
Mines road from Del Puerto Canyon Road to Livermore
Hwy-9 from Saratoga to Hwy-236 to Santa Cruz
Hwy-299 from Arcata to Redding
Hwy-96 from Willow Creek to I-5
New Priest Grade on Hwy-120 on the way to Yosemite.

 

Take the "private road" into the Sonoro desert.
Hang on-no traffic and lots of jumps.
ISAMIN

 

Route 10 from Kingman to Oatman. The section across the mountains is certainly twisty.

Not necessarily twisty. But a nice alternate from SoCal to Vegas that goes through Mohave National Preserve. Very little traffic. Roads are paved but be alert for road damage. No gas service. Cell phone service very spotty. Carry drinking water just in case. Take Kelbaker Rd that runs north from I-40 (Exit 78) through Kelso. Take Kelso-Cima Rd (parallel railroad tracks) to Cima. Take Morning Star Mine Rd north out of Cima to Ivanpah Rd. Take Ivanpah Rd until it connects with Nipton Rd. Take Nipton Rd to I-15. Primm will be just a few miles north.

 

I'm assuming military. Thank you for serving.

 

Inland SoCal. SR3 Out of Hemet. Follow State St. till it becomes Cactus Valley Road. You will see a Golf Course on your right. Make a right on Sage Road. Follow Sage Road to Wilson Valley Road, make the sharp left onto Wilson Valley. Lots of tight twisties, no guardrails, and great views if you have a chance to look. Some are off-camber, and some can be subject to runoff in the rainy season. Did I say no guardrails? You can run off this road if you are not careful. Traffic is usually light, but during the School year, you can get stuck behind a bus. There is your random slow driver, but most have the sense to pull over and let faster traffic through. Not a lot of turnouts, and not a lot of them are "safe", to be honest. A very fun ride most times. And THAT is my daily commute. Hence, the MINI. And the mods. Anybody close wanna make a run? We could continue onto 243 into Idyllwild. 371 has lots of prototype cars doing summer hot weather testing. I have seen masked cars many times. I LOVE how entertaining my commute is!

 

No Mini in the west should be denied a trip up the Pacific coast from California to Washington. A trip on the Ferry to Victoria and a drive around the island!
Twisties, Cliffs, beautiful beaches, Forests to the ocean, Views all the time. Did I mention the twisties? They Rock and show you why you own a MINI!

 

The coast highway is great, until you get tourists ahead of you, that won't move over.
They can be seen driving convertible Mustang or Camaro rentals out of SF.

 

OP asked the question in 2011

I think he's done with the welcome home drives by now!

 

Sorry to have upset you, Captain Obvious!!

 

Yeah, this was not directed to him. It was for anyone reading this refreshed post!