Idyllwild Ride September 2026
Event Details
A full-day mountain loop to Idyllwild
Saturday, September 5th, we take the long, scenic way up to Idyllwild: Ortega Highway east, down through Anza on CA-371, a stop at the legendary Paradise Valley Cafe, then the climb up CA-243 into the pines for lunch in Idyllwild. We loop back down through Hemet and Lake Mathews. About 188 miles, a proper full day in the saddle.
Know before you go
- Distance: ~188 miles round trip
- Duration: full day, plan on roughly 8 hours with stops
- Fuel: a tank good for ~120 miles between fill-ups is ideal; top off at every gas stop
- Bring: layers, it’s cool up in the pines and warm in the valley, plus water and sunscreen
- Pace: long highway and mountain canyon miles, ride within your limits
Ride Plan
Route on Google Maps.
- 8:00 am Meetup: Starbucks, 30835 Gateway Pl, Mission Viejo, CA (Sendero Marketplace). Fill up on arrival.
- 8:15 am Kick Stands Up (KSU)
- Ride Ortega Hwy (CA-74) east and around Lake Elsinore, then CA-371 through Anza
- Stop at Paradise Valley Cafe, 61721 CA-74, Mountain Center (the 74/371 junction moto stop)
- Up CA-243 to Idyllwild-Pine Cove, gas at the Shell, 26128 CA-243
- Lunch in Idyllwild
- Return via CA-74 to Hemet (gas: Shell, 1704 W Florida Ave), then through Lake Mathews
- Finish at Shell, 13131 Jamboree Rd, Tustin, CA
Back in OC by mid-afternoon; the actual time might vary.
Get ready for the ride
- Proper Riding Jacket
- Proper Riding Pants
- Proper Riding Gloves
- Proper Riding Boots
- Leathers are suggested
Ground Rules
We would like to remind everyone, that each rider SHOULD and MUST ride within their limits. If the group goes at a speed you don’t feel comfortable with, you should not attempt to keep up.
You are encouraged to go at your own pace and the sweeper will be with you always. The group will always stop at important points for everyone to regroup.
Please, don’t ever feel like you are holding the group. We ride to enjoy our motorcycles, among friends, and we want you to be safe.
- Safety meeting mandatory before the ride
- Adhere to indications given during the safety meeting
- No passing on the right side of the road
- Ride your own Ride; don’t push beyond your comfort zone
Disclaimer
By RSVPing to or attending this event, you acknowledge and accept the DROC event disclaimer in full. Participation is voluntary, on an “at-will” basis, and at your own risk. You assume all risks of taking part, and you release WE ARE DROC dba Ducati Riders of Orange County (“DROC”), and its successors and assigns, its officers, organizers, ride leaders, volunteers, members, and the host venue from any claim for injury, death, loss, or damage to you or your property, except for gross negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct, and except for any right that cannot be waived under California law. You are responsible for anyone you bring with you.
A signed DROC waiver is required to ride with us. If you have not signed one, sign the DROC waiver before the meetup. Guests and non-members may be asked to sign an event-specific waiver on site.
You confirm you are licensed, insured, on a street-legal and mechanically sound motorcycle, and fit to ride. This is not a guided or supervised ride: you ride your own ride, at your own pace, within your own limits. The pre-ride safety meeting is mandatory for every rider.
Please have an ‘in case of emergency’ (“ICE”) contact number programmed in your phone (instructions for iPhone and Android) and/or placed on your bike.