#1

Parks Creek Summit
(Mt Shasta area)

Weed is a good start for this loop:

- Take Edgewood Rd to Old Hwy 99,
- Turn into Stewart Spring Rd climb to Parks Creek Summit,
- Continue the road over the summit to Hwy 3,
- Turn right on Hwy 3 and climb over the ridge,
- Take Gazelle Callahan Rd to Old Hwy 99 at Gazelle and
- Ride the final few kilometers back to Weed

The ride over Parks Creek Summit passes through Alpine scenery with awesome views on Mt Shasta, the Eddys and the Trinity Alps. On the way back, Gazalle Callahan Rd takes you through a more pastoral landscape.

#2

Mattole Rd
(North Coast)

Start in Ferndale or at Mattole Rd / Avenue of the Giants

- Take Mattole Rd up to Panther's Gap,
- Pass through Honeydew and Petrolia (General Store)
- Ride along the beach and climb up the wall,
- Continue through Capetown and climb yet another hill,
- Descent into Ferndale to finish, or
- Continue to Rio Dell, Scotia and Hwy 101 to the Avenue of the Giants

This trip gets you through coastal rain forest at the Avenue of the Giants and Humboldt State Park and along a beautiful beach.

#3

Mt Lassen Loop

Start in Chester, the earlier the better to avoid traffic on Hwy 36:

- Take Hwy 36 North to Morgan Summit,
- Turn into Hwy 89 which passes through the Lassen Volcanic National Park,
- Turn into Hwy 44,
- Consider Old Station for lunch,
- Continue on Hwy 44 and Mooney Rd,
- Which leads you back to Hwy 36 at Westwood, and
- Finish the loop on Hwy 36 back to Chester.

The highlight of this trip is the ride through Lassen Volcanic National Park with snow covered mountains, hot springs, and lakes. The big plains and meadows you pass through on Hwy 44 also have a specific charme.

#4

Marin Headlands
via Golden Gate Bridge

Start anywhere in San Francisco:

- Get to the Presidio, e.g. via the Embarcadero,
- Climb up to the Golden gate Bridge and ride across,
- Turn into Conzelman Rd and start climbing immediately right to the top,
- Enjoy the view before you descent (very steep),
- Ride along the lagoon and the beach, pass the gate and climb another short but steep hill - there is a nice view over the Pacific from the old bunker on top of the hill,
- Finally get back up halfway to Conzelman Rd and back down to the Golden Gate bridge.

It's a tourist trip with crossing the Golden Gate Bridge twice. From Conzelman Rd you have views over the Bay, San Francisco and the Pacific. Later you pass by the beach and get closer looks at the ocean.

#5

Blue Lakes
(Central Sierra Nevada)

Blue Lakes Rd and Hwy 88 (East of Carson Pass)

- Take Blue Lake Rd all the way to the end,
- Enjoy the view of the lake and
- Turn around.

Blue Lake Rd passes through Alpine scenery, interesting rock formations, meadows and little ponds by the road side.

#6

Peninsula Bay to Breakers

The tour starts at Palo Alto, West of Hwy 280 at Arastadero / Pagemill or at the Alpine Inn on Arastadero / Alpine:

- take Portola Valley Rd to Old La Honda Rd,
- Climb up to Skyline and continue on Old La Honda on the other side descending to La Honda,
- Continue La Honda almost all the way to Hwy 1,
- Turn left into Stage Rd at the San Gregorio General Store,
- Climb the two hills of Stage Rd and descent into Pescadero,
- Turn left into Pescadero Rd and climb up Haskin's Hill,
- Turn right into Alpine Rd and climb back to Skyline
- Continue on the other side of Skyline where is road becomes Pagemill Rd which leads you back to Arastadero Rd

You find almost everything of the California landscape on this ride: Coastal Redwood, California Oaks, open spaces, views on the Pacific and over Silicon Valley.

#7

Kaiser Pass
(Southern Sierra Nevada)

Start at Shaver Lake and Big Creek Rd (by the Marina)

- Take Big Creek Rd down to Big Creek,
- Climb up steep Huntington Lake Rd and circle around the lake,
- Turn left into Kaiser Pass Rd, climb to the pass and descent and continue the down on the other side to Florence Lake, or to Mono Hot Springs and the Vermilion Valley Reservoir,
- Turn around and return to Shaver Lake.

The climb up to Huntington Lake is a really good workout, and once you get to the top you have great views over Lake Huntington. The climb up to Kaiser Pass and the descent on the other side lead you through awesome Alpine scenery.

#8

Mt Hamilton Loop
with Sierra Rd kicker

This a good trip in combination with BART, start at Pleasanton/Dublin and finish in Castro Valley (or Fremont if you get weak legs)

- Take Stanley Blvd to Livermore and turn into South Livermore Rd which becoms Tesla,
- Turn into Mines Rd and climb up to Junction Cafe,
- Continue through San Antonio Valley and climb the backside of Mt Hamilton
- Descent into San Jose and take Toyon Ave and Piedmont Rd to Sierra Rd which is always fun with 10%+ average grade
- Continue on Calaveras Rd in to Sunol
- Take Niles Canyon Rd to Palomares Rd which takes you to Castro Valley.

Mines Rd and San Antonio Valley also make me wonder how you can find such backcountry scenery so close to the Bay area. The view from Mt Hamilton is awesome and the observatory worth a visit. Finally, Sierra Rd gives you a really good workout towards the end of the trip.

#9

Virginia Lakes
(Eastern Sierra Nevada)

Start at Hwy 395 and Virgina Lake Rd at the ridge with separates Mono Lake from Bridgeport

- Take Virginia Lakes Rd to the very end at Little Virginia Lake
- Have breakfast or lunch at the cafe by the lake, and
- return the same way.

This is a short ride high up (3000m) into the Sierra. The lakes and the surronding mountains are awesome. You return the same road but you will have a completely different perspective: on the bald mountains and Lake Mono towards the East.

#10

Hwy 4 - Markleeville to Bear Valley and back
(Central Sierra Nevada)

Start in Markleeville

- Take Hwy 89 / 4 South,
- Stay on Hwy 4 while 89 turn East to Monitor Pass,
- Climb up to Ebbetts Pass,
- Continue on Hwy 4 and descent into Hermit Valley,
- Climb up the 24% to Pacific Grade Summit
- Roll down into Bear Valley have lunch and
- Return the same way with a whole new set of views back to Markleeville

The ride passes through Alpine scenery with awesome views on the surronding Sierra peaks, valleys and creeks.