Heart-Throbbing Run - Self Drive Tour
8 Days / 7 Nights
Seasons -
Spring, Summer, Fall
Temperature -
40° to 100° F /
4° to 38° C
Reservations must be booked and paid in advance
Day 1 : Reno Arrival
Arrive in Reno and transfer to your hotel. Overnight.
Day 2 : Reno - Mono Lake/Lee Vining
This morning you will pick up your bike and start your heart-throbbing trip through the Sierra Nevada. From Reno you take Hwy 395 up to Hwy 431 – follow Mt Rosa Hwy all the way to Kings Beach – head over to Tahoe City and ride down the western shores of charming Lake Tahoe. Unlike most lakefront roads, Hwy 28 has dangerously high cliffs and will give you a good burst of excitement. Continue on Hwy 89 (an amazingly beautiful road) to Topaz, where you get back on Hwy 395. This will take you all the way to Mono Lake, which offers a placid high-desert vista. You overnight in the picturesque town of Lee Vining (at Mono Lake).
Day 3 : Mono Lake/Lee Vining - Oakhurst
Today you climb the nearly two mile high Tioga Pass, which runs through Yosemite National Park, one of America’s most scenic National Parks. Any viewpoint here is truly spectacular and there are only a few places on earth that can possibly match Yosemite valley. Ansel Adams' photographs do justice to the place, but there is nothing like being there. The tremendous granite monoliths of Half Dome and El Capitan are surrounded by sheer drops with amazing waterfalls and glacier point offers a spectacular view from above. You will probably want to park and walk around Yosemite village (down Hwy 41). Then continue on Hwy 41 all the way to Oakhurst. Overnight.
Day 4 : Oakhurst - Angel's Camp
From Oakhurst you head northwest into Mariposa County on Hwy 49. At Moccasin you make a right turn onto Hwy 120 to go to Groveland, a picturesque restored town with a few saloons – it’s worth stopping here. Go back to Big Oak Flat and continue north on Wards Ferry Road, which will take you to the Sonora Junction, where you head towards the charming town of Angel's Camp…if you are familiar with Mark Twain’s short story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” you might want to visit Angel’s Camp on the third weekend of may – that’s when they hold their annual Frog Jumping Contest…overnight.
Day 5 : Angel's Camp - Placerville
From Angel's Camp you take Hwy 4 to Calaveras Big Tree State Park, where you can see the giant sequoias. On Summit Level Road you head further north to Glencoe - where you might want to take a little detour here to visit the California Caverns at Cave City in Mountain Ranch. Then make your way back to Hwy 49 and continue north via Sutter Creek (you might want to visit Sutter’s Gold mine) to Placerville. Overnight.
Day 6 : Placerville - Downieville
Today you can experience everything great about the Sierra. From Placerville you head north on Hwy 49 – you ride rolling foothills and descend to the historic town of Auburn, one of the earliest sites of the California Gold Rush. Continue to Nevada City and then to Downieville, two historic towns with their Gold Rush-era saloons and hotels. Overnight in Downieville.
Day 7 : Downieville - Reno
Ride on through the green valley of Tahoe National Forest – take Hwy 49 to Sattley. Here you turn right towards Graeagle. At Blairsden you take Hwy 70 east. The land turns into high desert here – ascend and descend Beckwourth Pass, and turn right onto Hwy 395, crossing back into Nevada and returning to Reno. Upon arrival in Reno you return your bike and transfer back to your hotel. Overnight
Day 8 : Reno Departure
Today your exciting trip will end with your departure flight back home.