Bike to Sleeping Indian
Difficulty: Advanced
Distance: 34 miles
Ride Type: Paved
Topography: Rolling / Steep Sustained Climbing
Start Location: Oceanside Pier
Route Description
The Bike to Sleeping Indian route is fun and fast-pace terrain for the advanced rider who is looking for an endurance challenge. Along this route, riders will see the diverse, natural landscapes of Southern California that feature rolling hills, agriculture and farm land.
The route mirrors the starting leg for the international cycling event Race Across America (RAAM) in which the participants ride over 3,000 miles from Oceanside, CA to Annapolis, MD.
Fun Fact: Live Oak trees canopy the road as you ride along the Olive Hill Road decent to Highway 76.
The difficulty level is ranked at advanced due to the rolling hills and steep, sustained climbing that is included along this route.
Step-by-Step Bike Route Directions
- From Oceanside Pier, go north on N. Pacific
- Turn right on Surfrider
- Turn left on Cleveland
- Turn left on Neptune to find start of San Luis Rey River Trail
- Continue on bike path until you reach College Blvd
- Exit bike path by riding under the College Blvd bridge and traveling up and over the bridge to turn right onto Vandegrift
- Turn right on North River Road*
- Turn left on Sleeping Indian Road and continue until you reach the unincorporated town of Fallbrook
- Sleeping Indian Road tees into Burma Road
- Continue right onto Burma Road to Olive Hill Road
- Turn right on Olive Hill and continue to right on Hwy 76.
- Stay on Hwy 76 to right on N. Santa Fe Drive to catch the beginning of the San Luis Rey Bike Path.
- Continue on the bike path back to Oceanside
*Please note that the bike lane ends along North River Road and becomes a shared lane with motorized traffic.
Interest Points Along the Route
Oceanside Pier and Plaza
The Oceanside Pier and Plaza is the hub of activity for visitors and locals alike. Fisherman, surfers and tourists gather here to walk the pier, play in the surf and relax in the sand to watch a sunset. The Plaza provides a variety of beach amenities that include everything from bike rentals, surf lessons and food vendors.
Mission San Luis Rey
Built in 1798, Mission San Luis Rey is the largest of the 21 California Missions and is known as the “King of Missions.” Visitors to the Mission can take a free self-guided tour or visit the Mission Museum for a nominal fee.
Fun Fact: Walt Disney used a replica of Mission San Luis Rey in the 1957 television series “Zorro.”
Morro Hills / Sleeping Indian
The agricultural neighborhoods of East Oceanside, including Morrow Hills, are filled with a variety of farm lands, orchards and nurseries. The rolling hills of this natural natural landscape make for beautiful scenery as you ride. If you would like to stop and take in the views while enjoying a glass of wine, stop by Oceanside’s local gem Beach House Winery.
