CAMINO REAL DOUBLE CENTURYOutdoor recreation, for the purpose of facilitating physical and mental health through physically distanced outdoor exercise.
The best of Orange County and surrounding areas! Kick off the new year!!
About 11,600′ of Climbing!
17 hour time limit
Click here for the Route Sheet (from 2022)
Click here for 2022 results.
Click here for results from prior years.
2023 Entry Fees:
Until January 21: $145.
Late entry- January 22-February 4: $150
Very late entry- February 5-16th at noon: Make an online reservation and bring $180 cash only to the door.
Please read our registration and cancellation policies.
Entry includes fully stocked aid stations along the route; roving SAG support where possible; California Triple Crown credit for official finishers who complete the route in the time limit. We’re unable to provide a post-ride meal at this hotel venue; but there are lots of places nearby!
* If you’re able to recruit an event volunteer, please email us before signing up and we’ll give you a coupon code to use during registration for an instant 30% off.
Please READ THE RULES and the cancellation policy before signing up!
Use the SignUp bottom to register online and pay by credit card (which includes a small service fee).
Until January 22nd you may click here for instructions to pay by Venmo or Zelle; or use a volunteer credit.
We highly recommend purchasing the event cancellation insurance.
Start/Finish Location: Staybridge Suites, 2 Orchard Rd, Lake Forest, CA 92630.
Please, please, please, make your reservation in our group block and not via online booking app. It’s important to build a relationship with our host hotels. When they know you’re there because of the event, we’re welcome back the next year.
Call (949) 462-9500 and ask for Planet Ultra group rate as follows:
$129 for standard studio suite with queen bed and sofa sleeper
$149 for one bedroom with king bed and sofa sleeper
$169 for one bedroom with two queens and sofa sleeper
$249 for two bedroom, two bath suite with three queen beds and sofa sleeper (sleeps 8)
Special rate expires February 3rd. Rooms include fully equipped kitchen to either prepare meals or bring in take out from the many local restaurants. Rate includes full hot breakfast on Sunday (you’re starting before breakfast on Saturday), dinner on Thursday if you arrive a day early, free high-speed internet, outdoor heated pool and spa, BBQ grill and sport court.
Parking:
If you’re not staying at the Staybridge, please be mindful of parking. Closer in time to the event we’ll provide specific information in this regard. Please make an effort to carpool.
Check-In:
Friday 7:30-9pm, and Saturday 4:45am-6:15am. If you’re planning to start at 5:30am, please check in Friday night. We’ll be at the early start about 15 minutes early for roll call and to give pre-ride announcements; but there won’t be a lot of time to check riders in.
Start Times:
5:30am: All riders needing 14-17 hours to complete the route.
6:30am: Riders expecting to finish in 14 hours or less.
NO EARLIER STARTS. If you’re not at roll call for one of these designated times, you’ll be listed as DNF.
We’ve updated our policy regarding “Tourist” riders. Please read the information and email us if you have questions.
Time Limits:
The course has rolling closures from aid station to aid station.
Aid station closing times are listed on the route sheet. Once an aid station closes, so does support end along the course prior to that aid station. There is no support behind the mileage of a closed aid station. If you’re behind schedule and you need to SAG to the finish, you must find your own way back. Please keep track of where you are on course so this doesn’t happen.
Total time allowed to complete the course with an official time: 17 hours based on the 5:30am start.
Course and finish line closes at 10:30pm.
Twilight, Sunrise, and Sunset:
Twilight begins at 6:09am; Twilight ends at 18:03. Sunrise is 6:34; Sunset is 17:38.
Lights and Gear Drop:
If you leave your lights at the start, your bag will be waiting for you at San Onofre. If there’s any chance that you’ll be out past sunset, you MUST have both a headlight and a taillight attached to your bicycle, and you MUST wear a reflective ankle band on both legs. If you start in the dark, plan on carrying your lights all day. We do encourage you to carry your lights yourself. That way if you need them, you’re guaranteed to have them. Rest assured that it is a MYTH that an extra pound on your bike will slow you down in any significant way for this type of riding.
Lunch Bag Drop:
Because we know some folks have special dietary needs (or are very particular about what they want), you may bring two lunch-sized brown paper bag (like the ones you took to school in 2nd grade; and absolutely no larger) filled with your special foods. Drop the bag off at the start, and we will deliver one to the San Onofre stop (which you visit two times) and one to the lunch stop. These bags will be discarded when the aid stations close. So please make sure you pick up your bag, or don’t care that you won’t get it back.
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:
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 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).
Personal SAG Vehicles:
Not allowed!!! If you bring one, you’ll be disqualified from the event without a warning. The definition of a personal SAG is any vehicle (motor or otherwise), anywhere on the route, operated by someone other than Planet Ultra staff, that is providing any type of aid, assistance, or motivation, or taking photographs, or simply out cheering. Please understand that our permits simply don’t allow dozens of extra vehicles on the roads or at the checkpoint locations. Imagine the traffic from all those cars! If you’re bringing someone with you who wants to be out on the course, please have them contact us and join our volunteer staff.
Volunteers: We always need volunteers! Click here for info about available positions.