PLEASE NOTE: THE COURSE WILL NOT BE MARKED. We trust that as a seasoned endurance rider, ready and willing to ride double centuries, that you’re proficient at reading a route sheet and/or you’ve invested in a GPS based cycling computer into which you can upload the route.
Routing and Navigation:
Planet Ultra route sheets include lots of information to help riders navigate the course. For example, we tell you if a turn is at a stop sign (SS), traffic light (TL) or T-intersection (T-int).
Due to both permitting restrictions and traffic safety, we will no longer mark double century routes. Many of the towns/cities/counties specifically forbid it. More importantly, this route is super urban with a lot of traffic and rarely a safe location to pull over and put down arrows. This is the type of route where a GPS with turn-by-turn capabilities will come in handy; and we strongly advise that you use one. Your entry fee includes access to RideWithGPS downloads for your Garmin (or other GPS devise) or your smart phone.
Please understand and take responsibility for navigation.
Route Sheets and GPS Files: Route sheets are available in excel format to registered riders if requested via email no later than 2 days before the event.
You may also download a map and GPS file from RideWithGPS.com. Please note that advance route sheets and gps files are provided as a courtesy and you use them at your own risk. Planet Ultra does not guarantee accuracy. Please further note the following very important caveats:
- The ROUTE SHEET is gospel. Whenever the route sheet and the GPS unit disagree, the route sheet is correct.
- A GPS can (and will) route a rider over a cliff. There’s really no substitute for the human brain, so please use yours.
- Never depend solely on a GPS. Bring your route sheet, and know how to follow it.
- GPS batteries on many “bicycle” GPS units may not last for a century. Make sure you’ve arranged for additional power.
- Click here for links to both “highland” and “lowland” double century maps including elevation profiles and GPS downloads.
Route Description:
Caveat: This is a very urban route with lots of traffic lights, stop signs and sometimes heavy vehicle traffic. The locals love it — but if you’re from out of town and are expecting quiet roads and lots of amazing scenery, you might be disappointed. Just being honest.
The Camino route is shaped like a dog bone, with loops on each end of an out-and-back course. Beginning in Lake Forest, you’ll head to the coast via the rolling hills of Irvine and Turtle Rock and get your first view of the Pacific Ocean as you blast down Newport Coast and hang a left on PCH. After riding through a bit of Newport Beach and Laguna Beach on PCH, you’ll hang a left and head back inland, meandering up Laguna Canyon Road. Hang a right on El Toro, and make your way through Aliso Viejo and Laguna Niguel, then blast down Crown Valley to the Coast and Dana Point. From Dana Point you’ll be on the coast through San Clemente, and along the bike path through San Onofre, all the way to Oceanside. From there, you’ll head inland, heading towards Bonsall and lunch at the All Seasons Campground. The climbing starts again after lunch, with a beautiful loop out towards Fallbrook. You’ll wind up back in Bonsall, and repeat the course back to the coast, and north through Dana Point again. The final leg is has the lion’s share of the climbing, up from San Clemente to Antonio Parkway, through Trabuco Canyon, across Santiago Canyon and then a fun downhill finish on Jamboree to Portola then a bump of climbing to the finish line.
Please note: This is a particularly urban route- but in the best and safest parts of Orange and San Diego Counties. Because it’s urban, it’s impossible to provide checkpoint locations evenly spaced at perfect distances. That said, there are countless mini-marts and gas stations along the course where you may get water and snacks, if necessary. If you’re running low, and find yourself a good distance from the next checkpoint, please stop at one of the many conveniences along the route and refuel/re-hydrate. Highland Route: 193 miles with about 11,570′ climbing. Lowland Route: 194 miles with about 8,670′ climbing. (Riders on either route who opt to go through Pendleton will climb a bit more, and end up with an additional 3.4 miles).
CAMINO REAL DOUBLE CENTURY