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Sierra Sidewinder 2025 heads to Walker in mid-August

santacruzrider

santacruzrider

Member
Member
After last year’s fantastic foray to Feather River at the northern end of Sierra, COG’s Sierra Sidewinder ride is headed back south to the highest passes and some of the twistiest roads the mountain range has to offer.
We’ve booked out the rider-favorite Andruss Motel in Walker for the weekend, so we’ll be riding laps through the passes from the eastern side and back (which everyone can appreciate because the sun is at your back in both directions). Of course this also means we’ll be hitting up another favorite stop — Mountain View Barbeque in Walker.
Dates for the ride are Friday-Sunday, Aug. 15-17. Andruss Motel is holding all there rooms for our group on Friday and Saturday night. Don’t wait too long to book as in past years our group has taken all the rooms and we even some spill over to the motel across the street (also nice, but less COG exclusive). Andruss Motel is giving us a discounted cash rate of $120 a night for any room. They have a mix of ones with one bed, two beds, etc.., all the same price for us. Book your room by calling them direct at 530-495-2216 and tell them you’re with COG motorcycle group.
We’re still looking at ride options, but you can expect this year’s Sierra Sidewinder will have us riding 89 over Monitor Pass, Hwy 4 over Ebbetts Pass, 108 over Sonora Pass, and probably a few optional side trips around the June Lake Loop or down the gravel road to Bodie Ghost Town for the really adventurous.
For riders coming up from SoCal and wanting to get a head start on Friday’s ride, some of us will be staying Thursday night, Aug. 14 at Fairfield Inn & Suites in Kingsburg on Hwy 99 south of Fresno. Make your own reservation direct or online. No COG arrangement on this one but room are in the $120-$130 range and it puts us in striking distance of Corsaro’s Family Pizza for dinner, Kady’s Kitchen for breakfast (for those that aren’t satisfied with a free hotel breakfast), and an early start into Yosemite and a trans-Sierra ride over Tioga Pass.
More details to come, but you can register now on the Event page.IMG_7459.jpegIMG_7429.jpegIMG_0034.jpeg
 
dgold said:
Please note I will be bringing another rider Marty Nagel, he loved the ride previously and wants to come( even though he is in an Italian bike). I was unable to to add him to my registration.
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Bring him — we could stand a little moto-diversity on this ride. So far I seem to recall a ton of Kawasakis (no surprise), a fair number of Yamaha, a couple Hondas, couple Triumphs and BMWs, I remember at least one Italian bike — maybe that was Marty two years ago? Oddly I don’t recall us having any Suzuki or American bikes, but maybe I was paying more attention to curves and less to logos.
 
More details for those planning to attend this ride.
MOTELS:
Event Headquarters are at the Andruss Motel in Walker, Calif. — on the east side of the Sierra. The motel is holding all rooms for COG for the nights of Aug. 15 (Friday) and Aug. 16 (Saturday). They are giving us a nightly rate of $120 if paid in cash. There are a variety of different size room and all are the same cost (if paid in cash). Call them directly to book and tell them your are with COG — 530-495-2216

Pre-event West Sierra NIght: Any riders coming up from LA area or Central Coast may also want to join us for a Thursday-night stop in Kingsburg, Calif. (obviously this is open to ANYONE). Feel free to book online for Thursday, Aug. 14 at Fairfield Inn & Suites in Kingsburg. This is on Hwy 99 just south of Fresno and will give us a great start on Friday’s ride. No motel arrangements made by COG, but I’m seeing nightly rates of $110 plus tax.

FRIDAY RIDE OPTION:
Friday’s ride from Kingsburg: We will be KSU at 8:30 a.m. (fed and fueled) from Kady’s Kitchen at 1701 Simpson St. in Kingsburg (restaurant opens at 5:30 a.m., so plenty of time to eat). From here, we are discussing the OPTION of riding north to transit Yosemite National Park via Hwy 120 through Tioga Pass. There is currently a reservation system with reservations REQUIRED to pass through Yosemite. As of July 1 — this is an UPDATE — we are debating the wisdom of the Tioga route and may instead bypass that and take 108 and Sonora Pass. Any riders who already bought a Yosemite transit pass that doesn’t get used can see me for their $2 back.

Either way, those who choose to can join us for Friday lunch on the east side of the Sierra (location to be announced by mid-July). And of course we will be having dinner in Walker.
 
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Just made my reservation for Yosemite just in case the consensus is to putt thru a beautiful pass.
When making the reservation you need to ask for all three time slots, The fee is still only $2.00
Early Morning (Midnight - 7:59 AM)
Morning (8:00 AM - 11:59 AM)
Early Afternoon (12:00 PM - 2:59 PM)
See ya all soon
 
I registered.

There is a 2025 shirt for those interested. Choice of colors and front or back graphic. (order it soon to be sure to get it prior to the Sidewinder)

Sidewinder shirt in store

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Just a heads up, the Andruss is ALMOST full.
Reserve quick.
Commit to a fantastic weekend of riding.
No less than 5 Sierra Passes.
 
I just cancelled, so there's a room available if anyone wants to grab it.

I just got back from California and this is just one too many trips in too short a time. Next year!

Chris
 
dgold said:
Just made my reservation for Yosemite just in case the consensus is to putt thru a beautiful pass.
When making the reservation you need to ask for all three time slots, The fee is still only $2.00
Early Morning (Midnight - 7:59 AM)
Morning (8:00 AM - 11:59 AM)
Early Afternoon (12:00 PM - 2:59 PM)
See ya all soon
Click to expand...
I made my reservation also, and plan to take this pass, which is my favorite.
 
OK - looking something like this (nothing is ever in stone)

You are always free to do whatever you want on any roads you choose. Keep in mind the food choices in Walker itself close pretty early (7pm) so build that into whatever riding you are doing.

Dan's Plan
This is what we intend to do.
2025 SierraSidewinderRideGuide.jpg


Thursday for those coming to Kingsburg
Thursday night dinner possibilities: Corsaros Family Pizza: 4.7 stars, closes at 9 p.m., 1491 Draper St., Kingsburg. Another option is the Roadhouse next door, 4.6 stars, closes at 9 p.m. Just a couple blocks from the hotel
The riders that are there at dinnertime can decide

Friday, for those starting from Kingsburg
3 options - And you pick the one you like
Kick Stands Up at 8:00 AM at Fairfield Inn & Suites in Kingsburg at 216 Ventura Court, Kingsburg CA 93631

1) Yosemite, Over Tioga Pass Hwy 120 (original plan) - you must be through he gate very early in the AM (8:00 KSU is way to late imo) and have all the right reservations and passes as discussed in the posts above. Be prepared for traffic and waits. Once you make it over 120 you can get some chow, tour the east slope and/or head straight to Walker.

2) Fast track to Sonora Pass Hwy 108 and then tour the East Slope down to June Lake / Mammoth Lakes for some chow, tour some Nevada roads before ending in Walker
(something like this to the 108
fun - 3.25 saddle hours - https://maps.app.goo.gl/7nvNAoYzMgFNnPoD7
fast - 2.5 saddle hours - https://maps.app.goo.gl/wiexNt6y3b9mTYX3A
)

3) West Slope Back Curvy Roads, finding lunch in someplace like Mariposa, Coulterville or Groveland, then over Sonora Pass Hwy 108 to Walker. We'll straighten out the route if we start to run out of time. (We will need to pass through Sonora by 3pm to get dinner in Walker)
(something like this to the 108 - 5 saddle hours - https://maps.app.goo.gl/WYJpL4GpBX664KkBA )
This is the one I am taking and anyone can follow along for some curvy less traveled roads and scenery.


Friday for Everybody
Dinner at Walker Burger, walking distance from the Andruss - THEY CLOSE AT 7PM


Saturday
KSU 8 AM - 395 North for Nevada priced gas at Topaz Lake, then 89, breakfast, 88 to the Sierra west side, south on 49, east on Hwy 4, Lunch in Camp Connell, east over Hwy 4, back over 89, Fuel in Topaz Lake, back to Walker
Walk to dinner at Mountain View BBQ - THEY ALSO CLOSE AT 7PM

Sunday
KSU 8 AM - Walker Coffee Co north of Andruss, the down 395 and over Sonora Pass Hwy 108, fuel on west side, south on 49 through the "Little Dragon"
Lunch in Coarsegold at the Wild Fig Kitchen
Disband for all our separate paths
 
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The weather be looking good for the Sierra Sidewinder -- 80 degreesish on the east slope in Walker - cooler at elevations.

Even reasonably cool for Friday riding from just about everywhere (like the group coming from Kingsburg).

Not to late join us for the weekend of riding curves.

Concours Owners Group - Sierra Sidewinder [CA]

concours.org concours.org


(and if I don't change anything cause it's great as is, it's still Dan's Plan)
 
Daboo said:
I just cancelled, so there's a room available if anyone wants to grab it.

I just got back from California and this is just one too many trips in too short a time. Next year!

Chris
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I just changed my mind and will be trying to get a room at the Andrus in the morning. If I can get the room, I'm in.

After all, it's only 2000 miles to get there and back home... :rolleyes:

Chris
 
Daboo said:
I just changed my mind and will be trying to get a room at the Andrus in the morning. If I can get the room, I'm in.

After all, it's only 2000 miles to get there and back home... :rolleyes:

Chris
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That's an easy ride for you Chris! Hope you can make it.
 
Is there a place you can do your laundry there?

I don't really want to do the old thing of turning them inside out, and then reversing them to get four days out of one pair of undershorts. :eek:

Chris
 
Daboo said:
Is there a place you can do your laundry there?

I don't really want to do the old thing of turning them inside out, and then reversing them to get four days out of one pair of undershorts. :eek:

Chris
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There’s a stream back behind the motel — might also be a wash tub or fish-cleaning station at the motel back by the picnic tables.
 
Another amazing Sierra Sidewinder is in the books. Dan Breeden always plans an amazing weekend. Uncountable curves mixed in with tasty food and great people is always a success. Thank you to everyone who joined us and was part of the 2025 Sierra sidewinder.

Obligatory photograph of Sonora Pass.
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I tried not to wake everyone this am. I got home about 3, happy to avoid most of the traffic.
Much thanks to Dan, but also Keith and Russ for keeping it all together. Again, a great weekend get-together.
Here's a pic of the best BBQ anywhere west of Texas, and of the east side of Half Dome, something you rarely see.
1755473898087.jpeg1755473948404.jpeg
Thanks to all, Gary
 
Awesome to see some pics and hear that you had a great weekend. Big thanks — as always — to heavy lifter Keith, as well as to our esteemed SW frontman, Russ. This may have been a rare Sierra Sidewinder not having to dodge early season snows or wildfires — or sometimes both.
I’m sad to have missed this one, but am already making plans for what we might do in 2026. The hardest thing about planning this ride has now become the struggle between wanting to try out some new, less explored Sierra routes, and the fact that we’ve kind of dialed in what are likely some of the best roads, restaurants and motels. Good problem to have!
Cheers.
 
GRR125 said:
Much thanks to Dan, but also Keith and Russ for keeping it all together. Again, a great weekend get-together.
Click to expand...
It was a great rally, and worth traveling across 2.5 states to get there. :D Thank you all for putting it together.

I didn't get many pics during the rally. I was spending most of my time trying to make it around the next turn, and then the next one, and the one after that....

But I did get a few pics on the way home. As always for me, the "destination" is the entire trip, not just where you turn around to go home from.
ETcVaQ8.jpeg


q9KgTCM.jpeg


Garmin had me take a route that zig-zagged across a stretch of the landscape. The "corners" or "turns" were actually intersections. Still, it was probably the highlight of the day's ride. Peaceful. No one around...well, not until I decided to take a nature break. Then everyone showed up... :D

O5oBtvd.jpeg


The site of Mt Mazama in the background. There's a great description of what happened. Must've been a fantastic site...if you survived.

Crater Lake.
543nOx5.jpeg



On Monday, Garmin surprised me again. I had told it to route me past Crater Lake and past Government Camp near Mt. Hood. Well, I must've put in two different Government Camp locations because my route had me getting to the motel after 8 pm. I decided to put off that stop and told Garmin to take me to the motel in The Dalles instead. I had it give me two routes...and I took the more twisty route. Again, it turned out to be the highlight of the day.

I left Hwy 97 which was wall to wall traffic and headed out on Ka-Nee-Ta Simnasho Rd. For about an hour, I had a beautiful road all to myself. Once in awhile, I'd have a pickup truck go by in the opposite direction. Twisty. Peaceful. It was a place to recharge the soul.

loWv3Ml.jpeg


This is zoomed in a bit to see where I'd be riding through.

CZMOLk9.jpeg


There were some interesting rock formations as well.

iHxx8vX.jpeg


Chris
 
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