The Los Padres National Forest is about 2 million acres of mountainous and ideal motorcycle terrain along the California central coast (and inland) from Ventura to Monterey.
Sport-touring riders enjoy traversing coastal roads or carving canyons between mountains with elevations up to 8,831 feet (Mt. Pinos). One of the most famous and spectacular coastal rides is along California Highway 1, especially through the Big Sur region.
Several inland roads that are fabulous excursions on their own include routes 150, 33, 166, 154, 41, 46, G16, and Nacimiento Fergusson Road. Additionally, if you are an adventure riding enthusiast, there are endless jeep roads to rip through. And for the real off road enthusiast, some of the best dirt riding in America is here, as well. Click here for more info.
There are lots of camping opportunities throughout the mountains, although the coastal areas tend to fill up very fast (see map link above for National Forest info).
Fine hotels and spas are also available in a number of resort destinations, especially in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Ojai in the south, as well as Carmel and Monterey in the north.
I have ridden all over North America, and this central-coastal California region with mountains, lakes, rivers, canyons, and of course the Pacific Ocean, all in and around Los Padres National Forest, is amongst my favorite riding!