CycleTripPlanner Plan a trip

United States

Cycling in
California.

A new place. Your kind of ride.

Explore California by bike, with 26 trip ideas to help you choose a starting point. Places in this collection include Downieville, Los Angeles, Vancouver. Compare the suggested seasons and riding styles, then follow the planning links to work out your route.

Find my ride ↓Plan your visit

26 editorial ideas · 4 riding styles

Arroyo Seco Bike Path Entrance
Arroyo Seco Bike Path Entrance · Cromagnom / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cropped for display

Get a feel for the place

Your trip starts here.

Add your past rides to your passport ↗
01

Choose your riding

The collection includes E-Bike / Touring, Gravel, Mountain Bike, Road. Use the style buttons below to focus on the riding you enjoy.

02

Find a base

The destination notes suggest Santa Barbara / Monterey, Santa Monica, Carmel. Compare their seasons and terrain below.

03

Build a rideable plan

Use a documented route or a local provider to confirm daily distance, climbing and surface. Match your accommodation and bike choice to the route you select.

Read the destination guide ↗

Make it your trip

When would you go?

Choose a month to filter the ideas.
Numbers show catalogue suggestions, not weather forecasts.

How do you like to ride?

Suggested months come from editorial route notes and vary by route and elevation. Confirm local seasonal access and weather for your exact itinerary. Clear month filter

Somewhere to settle in

Choose a base.

Editorial suggestions to research.
Destination notes dated 9 September 2026.

Monterey

Carmel

Suggested months
Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct
Terrain in the notes
rolling · coast
Explore Monterey notes ↗
Browse more destination notes in United States →

Useful next checks

Research the practical details.

Links retained from the destination catalogue.
Availability last checked 2026-09-10.

Bike hire & service · California Coastcalcoastadventures.com ↗Cycling events · California Coastgranfondoguide.com ↗Watch & explore · California Coastyoutube.com ↗Cycling events · California Coastgranfondoguide.com ↗Cycling events · Downieville Californiaen.wikipedia.org ↗Route research · Los Angeles Hillsen.wikipedia.org ↗Cycling events · Montereyen.wikipedia.org ↗Route research · San Francisco Bayen.wikipedia.org ↗

These links help with research; they are not endorsements or live availability. Confirm prices, access, route conditions and services directly.

Plan beyond the ride

Cafés, restaurants, stays and bike help near California.

280 licensed discovery records are held around Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo. Here are a few nearby examples; verify opening, services and availability directly.

Open the California trip guide ↗
Browse 160 food and drink recordsBrowse 80 staysBrowse 40 bike services

Overture Maps 2026-07-22.0 under CDLA-Permissive 2.0 and per-record source licences. Listings are discovery records, not recommendations or live business information.

Months and surfaces are editorial suggestions; check them locally.Clear filters

24 ideas found

Showing 1–24 · A mix of destinations

Compare 22 cycling bases →

Gravel

BWR California

California, United States

Suggested season
Mar-Nov
Suggested surface
gravel/mixed

Road

California Alpine Epic

California, United States

Suggested season
Year-round
Suggested surface
tarmac

Road

California Classic Loop

California, United States

Suggested season
Year-round
Suggested surface
tarmac

Road

California Col Challenge

California, United States

Suggested season
Year-round
Suggested surface
tarmac

Road

California Countryside Ride

California, United States

Suggested season
Year-round
Suggested surface
tarmac

E-Bike / Touring

California E-Bike / Touring Loop

California, United States

Suggested season
Mar-Nov
Suggested surface
tarmac/path

Road

California Grand Cols Loop

California, United States

Suggested season
Year-round
Suggested surface
tarmac

Gravel

California Gravel Loop

California, United States

Suggested season
Mar-Nov
Suggested surface
gravel/mixed

Road

California High Pass Circuit

California, United States

Suggested season
Year-round
Suggested surface
tarmac

Road

California High Pass Circuit · 2126m

California, United States

Suggested season
Year-round
Suggested surface
tarmac

Mountain Bike

California Mountain Bike Loop

California, United States

Suggested season
Mar-Nov
Suggested surface
singletrack/dirt

Road

California Mountain Circuit

California, United States

Suggested season
Year-round
Suggested surface
tarmac

Road

California Mountain Epic

California, United States

Suggested season
Year-round
Suggested surface
tarmac

Road

California Plateau Route

California, United States

Suggested season
Year-round
Suggested surface
tarmac

Road

California Road Loop

California, United States

Suggested season
Mar-Nov
Suggested surface
tarmac

Road

California Rolling Hills Loop

California, United States

Suggested season
Year-round
Suggested surface
tarmac

Road

California Short Ridge Loop

California, United States

Suggested season
Year-round
Suggested surface
tarmac

Road

California Short Sportive Circuit

California, United States

Suggested season
Year-round
Suggested surface
tarmac

Road

California Sportive Circuit

California, United States

Suggested season
Year-round
Suggested surface
tarmac

Road

California Summit Challenge

California, United States

Suggested season
Year-round
Suggested surface
tarmac

Road

California Valley Circuit

California, United States

Suggested season
Year-round
Suggested surface
tarmac

Road

California Valley Circuit · 755m

California, United States

Suggested season
Year-round
Suggested surface
tarmac

Road

California Wine Route

California, United States

Suggested season
Year-round
Suggested surface
tarmac

Gravel

Grinduro California

California, United States

Suggested season
Mar-Nov
Suggested surface
gravel/mixed

Cycling trip shortlist

Before you decide, check these points against the current source.

Things to check