By Talya Adams

A few weeks ago, I took a very rewarding ride up to Malibu. I’m sure I’ve gushed about Malibu in the past, but every year I discover a new beach, or a new state park to explore, and I feel compelled to share my findings. My ride out to Leo Carrillo Beach lived up to my expectations.

I didn’t hit the road as early as I normally do because the friend I rode out with doesn’t like mornings. Instead, we compromised for a 10am departure time from mid-city Los Angeles. We took the US 101N, then exited at Kanan Rd, stopped at a gas station on the corner for some snacks and a sandwich, then jumped onto Mulholland Hwy. The road we decided on from there was Encinal Canyon Road because I hadn’t ridden on it yet. This road led us all the way down to the Pacific Coast Highway.

Encinal Canyon Road offered great mountains views, a fun tunnel, a few twisty turns, and a decent view of the Pacific Ocean. The only downer about this road is that it’s a bit cluttered after 10:30am, and there are a lot of wannabe NASCAR drivers up there as well. You have to really watch your back, and these so-called stock BMW, Mustang, and Corvette drivers will take you out to prove to themselves how awesome they are, so be aware.

The best part of this ride was by far the destination. Leo Carrillo beach is gorgeous, secluded, and refreshing. Parking was a piece of cake. There were plenty of spots available along the side of the PCH, but after I walked onto the park grounds I discovered a free parking lot inside. If you get there early enough you can have your pick of parking spots. Across the street from the beach is the actual Leo Carrillo State Park, which also has its own parking available. There are a few hikes in this park, and I’ll have to go back to explore more.

As always, there were many bikers on the PCH, and it’s always a good time to meet new people. My buddy invited a few other riders to meet up with us during the day, and we ended up riding back into the city on the PCH. All in all, it was good ride. I’d give it a solid 7/10.

Stay safe in these streets!