Los Angeles County, CA · Posted by @ridge_alex
The Crest. 66 miles of switchbacks above LA on the cleanest pavement in Southern California. Best driven early — before 8am the road is yours, after 9 the cyclists and the bikes show up in numbers. The stretch from Newcombs Ranch to Vincent Gap is the headline: long sight-lines, repeating sweepers, and an elevation profile that climbs from 4,500 to 7,300 ft. Watch for sand washouts past Newcombs on the second hairpin — Caltrans clears them but they come back after every storm. Finish in Wrightwood for pancakes at Grizzly Café before the run back.
Pull-out on the right with railing — clean shot down the canyon.
CHP runs radar near the Mt Wilson turnoff most weekends.
Pancake stop. Bikers + drivers crowd it on Sundays. Coffee is solid.
Sand wash through the inside line after rain — wide entry only.
The whole basin at sunrise. Coffee + bench + a fence to lean on.
Turn-around lunch spot — pancakes, BLT, fueled up for the run back.
9 community logs
Ranked by frequency driven and photos contributed — never by speed.
One of the best drives in California, full stop. The middle section through Newcombs to Vincent Gap is unreal — clean pavement and big sightlines all the way. The M3 felt at home on every camber.
Wins on consistency. The road is honest, the cambers don’t lie, and the surface is the cleanest you’ll find within 60 miles of LA. Go before 8 or skip it Sunday.
Long but never boring. Stop for coffee at Newcombs — the locals know which corners are sketchy after rain.
Came up here in the S15 after a fresh coat of rain. Grip was surprisingly good. The viewpoint stop is unreal.
Light gravel near the upper switchbacks past Newcombs. Take the inside lines easy until Caltrans sweeps it.
Sam Whitford · May 24
Construction at the visitor center pull-off — expect a 5-10 min delay weekday mornings.
Jess Tanaka · May 21
