Cycling Mulholland Highway from The Rock Store.
Ride 2.6 miles gaining 892’ at 6.6% average grade.
The climb begins at the famous Southern California motorcycle stop, Rock Store (see history and photos, below).
PJAMM Adventure App.
As of December 2020 Mulholland Highway from Seminole Drive to Lower Brewster Road (our entire route) is closed due to the Woolsey Fire of November 2018. The LA County Road Closures website advises that the date this section of roadway will be opened is “TBD.”
The Snake - Mulholland Highway.
One of the reasons the Rock Store is so popular is that the purported greatest motorcycling curve on a roadway in California, and perhaps the US, is just up Mulholland Highway. At precisely the 2.2 mile mark from the start of our climb (and thus 2.2 miles from The Rock Store) is the most coveted hairpin in CA/USA. There is even a pullout named “The Snake Carspot” just above the turn where fans and onlookers viewed the motorcyclists tearing through the turn (note: the road was closed November 2018 due to fire and was still closed as of December 2020). Check Roadway Status. Here’s a fun video regarding Rock Store and The Snake.
Photo: Bay Area Riders Forum
This sign was burned in the Woolsey Fire 11-8-18.
Before this stretch of road was closed November 8, 2018, this was a treacherous route for cyclists (like The Tail of the Dragon) due to hundreds of motorcycles racing along the serpentine roadway between the Rock Store and The Snake Carspot. However, it is now one of the most fun climbs in the Santa Monica Mountains and certainly one of the best descents for a cyclist.
This area was ravaged by the Woolsey fire which began November 8, 2018.
The Woolsey fire burned 88% of the National Park Service acres in the area
(21,000 NPS acres; 97,000 acres in all).
Finish at Upper Brewster Mountainway on the left.
Lisa Irizarry on The Snake.
ROCK STORE
“Ed and Vern (Veronica) Savko moved to Southern California from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania after WWII. They stumbled across this building, made entirely out of volcanic rock, which had been a stagecoach stop in the 1910’s. They purchased this “Rock Store” in 1961 and created a small town grocery store out of it. . . . As more and more people began frequenting this pit stop it became a landmark institution for the avid motorcyclist community. Ed and Vern have built a reputation for the Rock Store as one of the top tourist destinations, and a hang out for the “who’s who” of the motorcycling world. The Rock Store is the most famous motorcycle stop in Southern California, if not the world, and has been featured in many commercials, films, music videos, television productions and magazine photos.
Among the attractions are the rustic settings, celebrity sightings, hundreds of bikes to look at and the food and drinks. The Rock Store is most popular for their hefty breakfasts, BBQ tri-tip sandwiches, teriyaki chicken sandwiches, homemade chili and more and don’t forget those ice cold beverages.
On any given weekend you can stop by and chat with the celebrities who frequent the Rock Store. There is always interest in Jay Leno and “what is he going to ride up on today?” Jay enjoys bringing up any one of his latest toys so that everyone can see it. You can usually find him in the parking lot talking among the people. He’ll be the first one to show you under the hood of his new truck, or help someone with repairs on their bike. Arnold Schwarzenegger often pops his head in for a quick bite before spinning off into the canyons. Matt LeBlanc, Tommy Lee, Harrison Ford and others can be spotted hanging out on the patio with friends. You really never know who you are going to see walk through the front door.
Stop by and chat with Rich and Vern over breakfast in our rustic restaurant or a BBQ lunch and beer on our patio. They truly have created the most biker friendly place in the universe.” Read More from Rock Store About Page.
That’s a wrap!!