Crossing the California Mountains by Bike San Diego CA to Yuma AZ

There are only a couple of bike routes that can be done from San Diego CA to Yuma AZ and they are really challenging, especially considering the mountain pass. You go from sea level to just over 4000 feet. It’s a wicked ride with lots of hills and heat. There are often strong crosswinds and the bike blasts you with sand. The route is a bit tricky for the first 22 miles, but I suggest you start at the Hotel Del Coronado to help you work your way up. The wind along the Pacific is strong and always blowing.

Now starting from Hotel Del you travel south on Highway 75 about 9 miles and a beautiful drive with the wind at your back. This will be the last beauty for a while, warming up will be nice considering the future ahead. Once you reach Palm Ave. you are ready for your journey east through the lower part of the state. Take Palm Ave to Beyer Blvd North to Orange Avenue East, which becomes Olympic Parkway. Turn left onto Hunter Parkway 1 mile to East Otay Lakes Rd then 7 miles to Hwy 94 which you will have to bear.

Then you’ll take Highway 94 to I-8 for about 50 miles of long, dry, hard driving, and just before you get there, you’ll take the old Highway 80 about 10 more miles, which then connects to I- 8 for a while. about 10 miles over the 4,000 foot pass, that’s quite a climb. It will then get off at Highway 98 and take you to Calexico for about 38 miles, but it’s more downhill and refreshing considering the dusty desert and winds. But now you are in the plains and you can make a good trip through the desert.

After Calexico it goes another easy but pretty boring 20 miles to Evan Hewes Hwy which is like a side road for a while and then it hits 186 Hwy and goes north to Araz Junction and follows Araz Rd to Yuma Crossing State. Park, where you will travel to Yuma, AZ at Business 8 or Fifth Street. You covered 177 miles, not bad for a 12 hour trip, now I suggest you cruise across town to Barnes and Noble as it’s a great pick up point with an air conditioned cafe. In the meantime, I’ll get ready for my second day of traveling to Phoenix on my Ride Across America.