I'm wanting to see the Redwoods and possibly Yosemite before I leave the west coast and was planning on going from March 5th to the 9th. I'll be leaving from Tacoma and was wondering if anybody had any routes down or places to go see that they would recommend? I've been ****ing around with it on mapquest but it's only so good.

 

Tough call, you'd think 101 through Oregon would be good but it would be a slow go (too many tourists). I'd love to make the same ride some day.

 

For a ride in March, I'd recomend 101 south to where the PCH (1) cuts off, take 1 to San Francisco, then check the weather in Yosemite. Sometimes you get great riding weather there in March, but in can snow, hail, rain or all three then too.

If you take 120 to Yosemite, stop in the Iron Door Saloon in Groveland. Great place for a beer or a meal.

 

Thanks guys.

 

If Glacier Point is open in Yosemite don't miss it. It's one of the highlights of the place. But snow closes the road through winter so you might be too early. If you're going east from there you need to check road conditions as the passes get closed with snow and sometimes don't open till late spring or summer.

 

Sounds good. I might just end up going down the 101 to Crescent City and then checking the woods out and then head back up.

 

I don't think Yosemite is open yet in April, if you go down the coast just south of Eureka Ca there is a road (hwy 36) that takes you to Red Bluff, it is an awesome twisty road and beautiful. Any of the roads in the Sierras can be tricky that time of year, I lived in Reno for 35 years and have seen it snow on the 4th of July.

 

Santajim is right. Highway 36 is a great road as is highway 96 along the Klamath River from the interstate all the way to Eureka. Watch for snow that time of year.
The 36 has a nice surprise before you get into Redbluff.

 

Hopefully you hit some nice weather going down 101, it is spectacular! the Redwood giants are incredible and if thats all you get to see, its well worth the ride!

 

We are having a mild winter so far and California is really dry. You are likely to get into Yosemite Valley but I doubt that Tioga Pass will be open even in this dry year. You will have back track west out of the valley. For fun, go up 49 through the gold country and cross the Sierras on either US50 (to So. Lake Tahoe) or up to I80 to Reno. 50 will give you a better ride but I80 will be faster.

US101 through the redwoods is the only rational route, but it should be fine. Use highway 20 at Ukiah/Clear Lake to cut over to the Central Valley to get to I5 unless you want to go into the Bay Area. When you get to Merced, go east to Yosemite.