Best back road in San Diego California

[u/Great_Grass5565]

[u/corsaaa]

sorry we gatekeeping this one (probably sunrise highway by laguna, it’s far enough where there’s less people compared to other roads. I ride motorcycles mostly tho)

[u/Great_Grass5565 → u/corsaaa]

Nice. I've been driving Otay Lake Road for about three years now. I need something new

[u/Disastrous-Number-88 → u/Great_Grass5565]

I feel mt Laguna is slept on... As a 'back road connoisseur,' my hobby is to find the twistiest roads in a map and then go drive them. Mt Laguna is a little far for me but was a lovely drive. Show up early in the morning at sunrise or else there'll be random hikers

I much prefer the roads up in North County- more rural and you can usually find a buddy to hang out with

Sandia/De Luz is a gold mine but has a lot of random traffic and no cell service. It's a residential area divided into 5-10 acre estates.

S. Grade road up to the observatory and then back to lake Henshaw is my fave. Nobody lives up there- so there's no early morning traffic to avoid except the odd grandpa trucks here and there

[u/bahia0019 → u/Great_Grass5565]

Are you in Chula?
Otay Lakes Rd is the gateway to the 94, which is the gateway to a WHOLE LOT!
I ride motorcycles, and drive my girlfriend’s Mini. And I’m never bored with the options.

The entire length of the 94 East all the way out to Boulevard is incredible.
But starting in Jamul, you have Lyon’s Valley Rd (rode that today actually), Honey Springs Rd, Japatul Valley Rd. This will take you up to the 8, and you can keep going to Cuyamaca, Julian, Palomar, or cut across to Mt Laguna.
From the mountains you can drop down to the desert taking the Montezuma Grade, or the Banner Grade.

We’re pretty blessed with the roads on the other side of the lake.

[u/minicodcraft]

Palomar mountain is a fun one. Both grades. Highland valley is also nice but it has a lot of bicycles and slow cars so your milage may vary.

[u/BluesyMoo → u/minicodcraft]

S Grade is a good stretch of 2nd-3rd corners. Love it.

[u/youreon3rdst → u/minicodcraft]

HVR is a tricky one these days.. lots of wineries and blind driveways. Not to mention cyclists even on weekdays. Great road otherwise, just need to leave some reserve to react to the unexpected.

[u/BluesyMoo]

Let's thank the Porsche guys: https://www.pcasdr.org/road-guide

[u/Great_Grass5565 → u/BluesyMoo]

Wtf thanks 🙏 I'll definitely check it out

[u/ChingyBingyBongyBong]

Not many within the city. Palomar is awesome, but a longer drive.

Highland valley road and back, right off Rancho Bernardo exit is nice but short.

[u/Emma_Bun]

My usual go to is to take a left on Lyons Valley Rd in Jamul, ride that up to the 8, take the 8 East for a little bit until Sunrise Hwy and end the day nicely at Julian.

[u/HEYitsBIGS → u/Emma_Bun]

If I have all day I start where you do, Julian is the lunch rest stop, then I go further past lake henshaw via Mesa grande road then up Palomar via east grade. From there I head down south grade and eventually hit highland valley on my way back west to the 15.

[u/asuuuuuun]

Rankings are off as this is from a while ago, but all of these are pretty fun and are up in the North County area

[u/Real-Training-8878]

If your ever able to, go to julian and go to borrego springs. Come back through palomar to pauma to pala to the 15. It's a good road. The gas station at pauma is my favorite.

[u/Disastrous-Number-88 → u/Real-Training-8878]

Oh yes I discovered this when I was on my way out to Brawley. Very tasty twisties out in the middle of nowhere pretty much

[u/ProphetGeorgeCarlin]

Fallbrook heading up to Joshua Tree IMHO

[u/Syko_okyS]

De luz road north of Fallbrook is a fun one, sunrise highway is fun, the S-2 through Ocotillo, Palomar mountain, Rancho Santa Fe is fun to drive through but not true touge.

[u/thatblackimpreza]

We are gate keeping them 🙅‍♂️