Bike rides in the Bay Area

by piero scaruffi

(Subtitled "A Helmet is not a Replacement for a Brain")

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East

  1. Mt Diablo/ south. The most challenging. Can be done from the south or from the north. From the south: take the El Cerro (Danville) exit off 680, drive east as El Cerro Blvd turns into Blackhawk Rd, park at the junction with Creekledge
  2. Mt Diablo/ north. From the north: take the Ygnacio Valley Blvd exit off 680 (one exit north of 24), turn right (passing in front of the BART station) and go east on Ygnacio Valley Blvd for a few kms (do NOT turn into Walnut Blvd); past the Muir Medical Center and past San Carlos Dr, turn right into Walnut Avenue, drive all the way to the end of it and turn right into Oak Grove Rd and immediately left into North Gate Rd. You can park about 200 meters before the ranger station on either side of the road.
  3. Fremont Loop. Take the 84 exit off 880, and follow signs for 84 east to Niles Canyon Rd. Bike Niles Canyon to Foothill Rd in Sunol, which bends north. This will go parallel to 680 for a while (if you go under 680, you made a mistake) until you almost hit 580. Turn left on Dublin Canyon just before the 580 freeway overpass. Turn left into Palo Verde and then left again into Palomares, which will take you back to Niles Canyon. Rolling hills, about 50 kms. (Note that Niles Canyon Rd has a lot of traffic and the bike line is an abstraction).
  4. Redwood/Chabot loop in San Leandro. Take the Golf Links/ 98th Ave exit off 580 and go east on Golf Links. Park in San Leandro on Golf Links & Dorisa Ave, at the beginning of the Knowland Park
    Ride east on Golf Links, which turns into Skyline Blvd and heads north, turn right into Pinehurst, which turns south and continue south for about 24 kms (it becomes Redwood Rd), turn right into Seven Hills Rd, turn right into Lake Chabot Rd, turn right into McArthur, turn right into 98th and right again into Golf Links.
  5. San Leandro to Berkeley. From the south: take 580 north, then the hwy 13 north and the Carson/Redwood Rd exit off highway 13 and drive east on Redwood Rd. From the north: take 580 south, exit at 35th Ave and go east until it turns into Redwood Rd. Either way, turn left into Sereno Cir and park.
    Ride east on Redwood Rd that cuts through the park. Turn left (north) into Pinehurst Rd, which ascends steeply. When you get to the top, it's 15 kms. Turn right into Skyline which eventually changes name to Grizzly Peak Blvd. Continue north on Grizzly Peak Blvd and turn right into South Park Dr. Turn right into Wildcat Canyon, which goes north and then bends east. Turn right and go south on Camino Pablo. Turn right and go west on El Toyonal/ Loma Dr/ El Toyonal/ Vista del Orinda/ Las Pietra / Lomas Contadas (careful you don't miss a turn, and it's very steep). Turn left on Grizzly Peak Blvd which changes name to Skyline Blvd and takes you back to the starting point. 65 kms total.
  6. Three Bears (70 kms). Start from Park Hills Rd & Wildcat Canyon. Go down. Turn left onto San Pablo Dam, right into Castro Ranch Rd, right into Alhambra Valley Rd, right on Bear Creek Rd. Turn left and go south on Camino Pablo (which is the continuation of San Pablo Dam). Turn right and go west on El Toyonal/ Loma Dr/ El Toyonal/ Vista del Orinda/ Las Pietra / Lomas Contadas (careful you don't miss a turn, and it's very steep). Turn left on Grizzly Peak Blvd, right into Golf Course Rd to Park Hills Rd to Wildcat Canyon.
  7. Shorter Bears (30 kms). Start at Wildcat Canyon & San Pablo Dam & Bear Creed Rd in Orinda. Go north on San Pablo Dam for 9 kms, turn right onto Castro Ranch for 4kms, turn right into Alhambra Valley for 4 kms, turn right into Bear Creek Rd for the rest of the loop.
  8. Moraga loop (100 kms). Park @ Miramonte High School (from Hwy 24E, exit Orinda/Moraga, R on Moraga, R on Ivy about 8 kms down).
    Right on Moraga Way. Right on Canyon Rd. Right on Pinehurst Rd. Right on Skyline Blvd. Right on Grizzly Peak Blvd. Right on Wildcat Canyon. Left on San Pablo Dam Rd. Right on Castro Ranch Rd. Left on Alhambra Valley Rd (becomes San Pablo Ave). Right on San Pablo Ave. Left on Parker (becomes San Pablo Ave). Right @ fwy entrance in Crockett (San Pablo becomes Pomona, then Carquinez. Scenic Dr). Right on McEwan Rd (tough climb!). Left on Franklin Canyon Rd. Right on Alhambra Rd. Right on Alhambra Valley Rd. Left on Bear Creek Rd. Left on Camino Pablo/San Pablo Dam Rd. Bear right where Camino Pablo joins Moraga Way. Right on Ivy back to Miramonte HS.

North

  1. Mt Tamalpais from the Golden Gate Bridge. Park near the bridge (eg turn right just before the bridge, then left on Lincoln Blvd to the big parking lot for the Battery E Trail). Take the bike trail on the bridge. At the end take the tunnel to go under the bridge and bike down Alexander Avenue. It turns into Bridgeway and it runs along the bay. Eventually it heads north. Just before merging with Highway 1, there is a paved bike trail on your right. Take that one straight to Mill Valley's Miller Avenue. Turn left onto Montford and then right into Molino Ave. Continue on Edgewood Avenue instead of turning right as Molino Ave does. Turn left into Sequoia Valley Rd, turn right into Panoramic Highway. Maps: Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, Biking path, Mill Valley.
  2. Mt Tamalpais. Take 101 north of the Golden Bridge and get off at the hwy 1 exit. Go west under the freeway. Follow signs for hwy 1 and then signs for Mt Tamalpais. Park at the four-way intersection with Muir Woods Rd and Sequoia Valley Rd. Climb up Pacific Highway and bear right to reach the summit. Then ride back down and turn right into West Ridgecrest. Turn right into Bolinas Rd to Fairfax. Turn right into Francis Drake Blvd to Kentfield. TUrn right into College Ave to Larkspur. Go south on Magnolia/Madera Ave to Mill valley, where the road changed name to Camino Alto. (Faifarx to here is about 15 kms). Turn right into Blithedale, go straight to the square, then turn left into Throckmorton and immediately left on Ethel and immediately right on Wildomar. Wildomar crosses Molino and eventually ends on Edgewood Ave. Turn right into Edgewood and then left on Sequoia valley. (Last stretch is about 4 kms). Total is about 60kms but very hilly.
  3. Rodeo Beach. Take 101 over the Golden Gate Bridge and take the first exit. Turn left and go under the freeway and then immediately left again. Park. Ride up the hill to Rodeo Beach, then follow the road to the tunnel. Turn right after the tunnel and continue straight.
  4. Circumnavigation of Mt Tam. Take 101 north of the Golden Bridge and get off at the hwy 1 exit. Go west under the freeway. Follow signs for hwy 1 and then signs for Mt Tamalpais. Park at the four-way intersection with Muir Woods Rd and Sequoia Valley Rd. Start down Sequoia Valley Rd, which will turn into Edgewood, Molino and Montford and take you to the junction of Miller Avenue and Camino Alto in Mill Valley. Go north on Camino Alto which turns into Magnolia avenue through Corte Madera, Larkspur, Kentfield and San Anselmo. You can keep coasting Francis Drake Blvd without entering it if you follow the bike route to the south of the boulevard. This is about 15kms to Fairfax. In Fairfax turn left into Bolinas Rd. This road eventually coasts Alpine Lake. When it heads south, just before the switchback that turns north, you can take a hiking detour to the Cataracts. Then continue following the road that curves many times but generally heads west, and turn left (east) on Ridgecrest Blvd. This is another 15 kms. At the Rock Springs parking lot you can take a detour to the top of Mt Tam. Then continue down Pan Toll Rd and left on the Panoramic Highway back to the Muir Woods - Sequoia Valley junction. From the point you turned left into Ridgecrest to your car is about 22 kms, so the grand total is about 52 kms plus the detour to the top of Mt Tam.

Peninsula

  1. Page Mill Rd loop. Take the Page Mill Rd exit off 280. Park. Ride west to the skyline (14 kms steep uphill), then turn right on 35/skyline, then turn right into Old La Honda or into 84, then turn right into Alameda/ Foothill Expressway, then turn right into Page Mill Rd.
  2. Page Mill Rd to Pescadero. Take the Page Mill Rd exit off 280. Park. Ride west to the skyline (14 kms steep uphill, then continue straight downhill (11 kms). Turn left at the fork to Pescadero (18kms to Pescadero). Turn right/north on Stage Rd and follow Stage Rd to 84 (10 kms). Turn right into 84 east. Turn right (after 20 kms) into Old La Honda. Go through 35 (2kms) and down Old LaHonda (5kms). Turn right into Portola Rd, left on Alpine and right into Arastradero Rd (8 kms). Total: 43 kms to Pescadero and 45 kms back, i.e. 88 kms.
  3. Kings Mountain Rd. Take the Woodside Rd exit off 280 and go west to Canada Rd. Park. Ride up Woodside Rd for about 2 kms, turn right into Kings Mountain Rd, ride up to the skyline (35), turn right into 35, turn right into 92, turn right into Canada Rd.
  4. Half Moon Bay/Tunitas Creek. Take the 84 exit off 280, drive west to Canada Rd, park. Bike up Canada Rd, turn left on 92, turn left on hwy 1, turn left on Tunitas Rd which turns into Kings Canyon and returns to 84.
  5. Woodside Rd/Tunitas Creek. Take the 84 exit off 280, drive west to Robert's Market, park. Bike west on Woodside Rd (84) to the Skyline (hwy 35), continue straight down towards the ocean, turn right into Stage Rd just before you hit the ocean, a little later turn right into hwy 1, a little later turn right into Tunitas Rd (long and steep uphill), which turns into Kings Canyon (steep downhill) and returns to 84 (60 kms total).
  6. Pacifica/Half Moon Bay. Take the 92 exit off 280, go west, park at the junction with Skyline Blvd. Bike north on Skyline Blvd to the Crystal Springs paved trail. Continue north at the end of the trail and take the freeway for just one exit. Take the new trail on the left and continue north along the paved trail that ends on 35. Continue north on 35 to Sharp Ave. Turn left on Sharp. Turn left on hwy 1, turn left on 92.
  7. Half Moon Bay/Lobitos. Take the 84 exit off 280, drive west to Robert's Market, park. Take Canada Rd north to 92, then up 92 west to the top and continue down 92 to Half Moon Bay. Turn south on Hwy 1, then turn left on Higgins/Purissima, then south on Lobitos Creek, then west on Tunitas Creek, down King's Mountain back to Robert's.
  8. Alpine Rd. Take the Woodside Rd exit off 280 and go west to Canada Rd. Park. Ride up Woodside Rd to the skyline (35) and continue downhill till Sky Honda. Turns left towards Pescadero. At the next fork bear left and continue uphill. The road will eventually return to the skyline.
  9. Pescadero. Take the Woodside Rd exit off 280 and go west to Canada Rd. Park. Ride up Woodside Rd to the skyline (35) and continue downhill till Sky Honda. Turns left towards Pescadero. Turn right towards Pescadero. In Pescadero turn right into Stage Rd and then right on 84. (Woodside-Pescadero= 45 kms; Pescadero-San Gregorio = 12 kms; San Gregorio-Woodside=41 kms; Total= 98 kms)
  10. Portola Valley. Take the Sand Hill Rd exit off 280 and go west to Portola. Park. Continue riding Portola Rd. Turn left on Alpine, left on Golden Oak, right again on Alpine, left on Los Trancos, left on Ramona, left on Vista Verde, right on Spanish Trail, left on Joaquin Rd, right on Alpine Rd, left on Willowbrook, which takes you back to Portola Rd.
  11. Woodside to Crystal Springs. Start from Canada Rd and Hwy 84. Bike north on Canada Rd past Hwy 92. Turn right into Crystal Springs Rd. Option 1: Turn right into Polhemus that turns into Ralston; after passing over Hwy 92, turn right into Hallmark Dr. Option 2: Further down on Crystal Springs, turn right into Alameda de las Pulgas; after passing over Hwy 92, right into Ralston; turn left into Hallmark Dr. Hallmark Dr is closed to cars but not to bicycles. Eventually it starts climbing and becomes Crestview Rd that, after a steep descent, dead ends on Edgewood Rd. Turn left into Edgewood and then right into Cordilleras and immediately left onto Lakeview. Follow the main road that turns counterclockwise while it climbs steeply. Keep following the road that will eventually hit Jefferson St. At this five-way intersection go straight into Jefferson St and then right into Emerald Hill Rd. This dead ends on Farm Hill Blvd. Turn right to the top. At the top of Farm Hill Blvd (after Eden Bower Ln) turn right into Canada College. Turn left at the first stop sign and right at the next one. At the bottom of the hill, turn left into Canada Rd to return to Woodside.

South

  1. Sierra Road to Open Space. Start from the intersection of Sierra Rd and Piedmont Rd in San Jose. Sierra Rd is one of the steepest roads in the Bay Area. It summits at the Open Space Preserve. Then the road changes name and continues mostly downhill. One can take a detour to the Calaveras Reservoir or just continue downhill Calaveras Road to Piedmont Rd. Turn left onto Piedmont Rd and after a few stop signs and traffic lights you'll get back to Sierra Rd.
  2. Mt Hamilton from San Jose. Take the Alum Rock exit off 680, drive east until you see the sign to turn right to Mt Hamilton (begininng of Mt Hamilton Rd). Park and ride up Mt Hamilton Rd, which is highway 190. It's about 32kms to the top (one way). This is actually three hills, one after the other, so there are two downhill sections. The first hill is probably the steepest, but you will feel that the last one is steeper because you will be tired. It can be beastly hot in the summer.
  3. Mt Hamilton from Quimby Road, San Jose. This is a shorter but steeper way to the same route. Take the Capitol Expressway exit off 680 and go east (which is really south) on Capitol Ave. In about 4kms turn left onto Quimby Rd. Park on Quimby Road just past Murillo Ave. The ride up Quimby Rd will take you to the junction with highway 190 just past the first hill, but the ride up Quimby is way steeper than the first hill on highway 190.
  4. Mt Hamilton from Livermore. Start from the junction at Del Valle Park. Bike south on Mines Rd for 38 kms to Del Puerto Rd. Go straight for another 20 kms. It then starts going up very steeply for 9kms. Total: 67 kms one way.
  5. Mt Hamilton from Pleasanton. From Pleasanton follow directions to DelValle Park. You can park here and start a very long bike ride, or drive further up as much as you like. This is much steeper than the San Jose direction.
  6. Sierra Rd. Take the Capitol Rd exit off 680 and then head east/south on Capitol Rd. Turn left into Sierra Rd. Or take the Berryessa exit and go east to Capitol Ave, turn left into Capital Ave and then right into Sierra Rd. This is one of the steepest roads in the Bay Area, starting with an almost 15% grade. The road continues after the viewpoint and eventually begins to descend on the other side. Take the only major left turn (Felter Rd) and you'll return to San Jose via Calaveras Rd through Ed Levin park. Turn left at the traffic light of Piedmont Rd to reach where you started from.
  7. Cupertino-Saratoga loop. Take the Foothill Expressway exit off 280, go south, park. Bike south along the reservoir, turn right into Stevens Canyon Rd, turn left on Redwood Gulch Rd, turn left on hwy 9, turn left into Pierce Rd, turn left into Mt Eden Rd and you are back to the reservoir. Very steep hills but very short overall. A longer loop is go to up all the way hwy 9 to the skyline.
  8. Bohlmann & Orbit. Start in Saratoga at the intersection of Bohlmann & Sixth. Go up Bohlmann, turn left on Orbit, which then joins Bohlmann again to a dead end. A dirt road leads down to Montevina Rd, which dead ends on highway 17.
  9. Hicks Rd/ Almaden. Take the Camden Avenue offramp off hwy 85 and go south for 5kms. Turn right on Hicks Rd. Park and ride to the top. This is one of the steepest ascents around here. At the top, turn right into Tumunhum Rd, which is a very steep ascent almost to the top of Mt Tumunhum. The paved road actually goes all the way to the top (and then down towards the Lexington reservoir), but unfortunately it is a private road and a big sign "no trespassing" discourages further exploration. Bike back down to the intersection and turn right into what is now Almaden Rd, which takes you to Almaden Expressway. Turn left on Camden to get back to the starting point. 34 kms total.

Santa Cruz

  1. Big Basin. Take the Foothill Expressway exit off 280, go south, park. Bike south along the reservoir, turn right into Stevens Canyon Rd, turn left on Redwood Gulch Rd, turn left on hwy 9. Continue straight on hwy 9 to the park.
  2. Empire Grade. Take hwy 1 into downtown Santa Cruz and continue on Mission Rd. Turn right into Bay and park at the junction with Hill. Ride up Hill and then Empire Grade. The road will eventually dead end at the Lockheed plant. Returning down on Empire Grade, turn right on Sunny Doon Rd to the coast, left on hwy 1.
  3. Doon, Empire and Alba Grade. Drive to Santa Cruz. Park near UC Santa Cruz (see above). Bike north on Hwy 1 for about 15 kms, bike up Boony Doon to Pine Flat Grade to Empire Grade (24kms), down Jamison grade and 236 to Boulder Creek (16kms), up Alba Rd (7kms), down Empire Grade (20 kms) to UC Santa Cruz.
  4. Alba Rd. Park in Boulder Creek. Ride 9 south (5 kms), turn left on Alba Rd to Empire Grade (6kms), continue on Empire Grade to Jamison (12kms), turn right into Jamison to 236 (5 kms), turn left into 236 to China Grade (3kms), China Grade to 236 (5 kms), with a possible detour to the dead end of China Grade and back to 236 (4kms each way), go east on 236 to hwy 9 (6kms), turn right into 9 to Boulder Creek (13kms). Total: 55kms (+10kms if you do China Grade to the dead end and back). The hills are very steep. (Route map).
  5. Boulder Creek loop. Take the Bear Creek Rd exit off 17 and drive 6kms west to the intersection with Summit Rd. Park and ride down Bear Rd to Boulder Creek (16 kms), then ride down highway 9 to Bon Lomond and turn left on Glen, then left again on Quail Hollow, then left again on East Zayante Rd. This eventually climbs very steeply towards the starting point. The total distance is 43 kms.

Sacramento

  1. Mini-tour of Gold Country. Start: E.Natoma Rd & Folsom Dam Rd (Folsom lake)
    From starting point on Green Valley Rd to Salmon Falls Rd: 8kms
    From Salmon Falls Rd to Lotus Rd: 15kms
    From beginning of Lotus Rd to Coloma: 13kms
    From Coloma to Pilot Hill (Salmon Falls Rd): 11kms
    Stop at Marshall Gold Discovery Park
    From Pilot Hill to Auburn: 16kms
    From Auburn to Granite Bay: 21kms
    From Granite Bay (Folsom lake) to starting point: 11kms
    Grand total: 95 kms

    Epic riders can do an extra 5kms somewhere to make it a 100k.
    Wimps can take the Salmon Falls Rd shortcut that saves 16kms.

I never wear a helmet. Nothing against YOU wearing it, i personally just never tried it and no intention of trying it. I grew up on the Alps where people didn't use helmets. What is it for?

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