PCH to Laguna Beach

Expect traffic lights through Corona del Mar and again in Laguna Beach. Between them, the stretch past Crystal Cove State Park has longer gaps between signals, where you can settle into a steady pace.

From Corona del Mar, ride about 8 miles south on Pacific Coast Highway past Newport Coast and along Crystal Cove State Park, whose 3.25 miles of coastline sit between the highway and the ocean. The road rolls with short climbs before dropping into Laguna Beach. Many riders turn around in Laguna, or combine the coast with the climb up Newport Coast Drive for a loop back toward Irvine.

It's the signature Orange County coastal ride: ocean on one side, hills on the other, and a steady stream of cyclists most mornings. The Crystal Cove stretch has longer gaps between lights than the towns on either end, so you can hold a rhythm there, and the rollers keep it interesting.

PCH carries heavy, fast traffic, and the shoulder is rideable but narrow in places, so ride single file, hold a straight line, and watch for cars turning into beach lots and driveways. Traffic through Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach is the busiest part; early mornings are the calmest. Downtown Laguna has parked cars and pedestrians, so ride defensively there.