W A Barr Rd - South Fork of the Sacramento River
W A Barr Rd - South Fork of the Sacramento River
The climb to Mumbo Summit starts at the corner of W A Barr Rd and Castle Lake Rd, just a few hundred meters after you passed the Lake Siskiyou dam. The first 5 km are rolling hills around the lake. Once you reach the South Fork of the Sacramento River, the road follows its bank and the climb starts. You will cover about 1000 m vertical meters in the following 18 kilometers. The grade is steady and around a comfortable 5.5%.
The road follows the river, all white water, when I was riding up there in May, through Alpine scenery. Whenever your turn around you will see the snow covered peak of Mt Shasta in the distance.
When I was there in early May 2006, I couldn't go all the way. The snow started to cover the road at an elevation of roughly 1750 m.
W A Barr Rd - South Fork of the Sacramento River
W A Barr Rd - South Fork of the Sacramento River
W A Barr Rd - Looking back at Mt Shasta
W A Barr Rd - Snow cover starts
W A Barr Rd - Creek
W A Barr Rd - Creek