Northern California Loop

The first part of the Northern California Loop is clearly dominated by the crossing of the Coastal Mountain Range at Mendocino Pass. The Mendocino Pass is at an elevation of of 5420 ft (1652 m), but before you get there, you climb much higher, to an elevation of about 6000 feet (2000 m) As you start at about 300 feet (100 m) in Willows, this a lot of climbing right out off the gates. Although the road up and down the pass is officially labeled State Hwy 162, it's a dirt road for about 35 miles (56 km). The grade of Eastern approach is 4,8% average and most of it is on a paved road.

As you come from Willows, the road is signed as Alder Sprins Rd / Hwy 162. After a few miles through the hills, you will find a sign stating Hwy 162 ends here, but the road continues with a wide left turn as FH 7. The maps (DeLorme, Google) are somewhat confusing, but on the ground, the situation is clear.

From Mendocino Pass you descend into Round Valley where the town of Covelo offers a numbers of services. From Covelo to Laytonville it's all paved, but there are two more climbs to come. First you have to master 750 feet (250 m) to get out of Round Valley and another 2200 feet (750 m) at 7% from the valley of Dos Rios over to Laytonville.

Once you reached Laytonville you climbed about 10 000 feet (3300 m).

Ready to call it a day and spend the night in a Laytonville motel? Or do you still have the legs and the mood for a Pacific sunset? Camping at Westport-Union State Beach or, with some more climbing, Usal Beach will be your options for the night.

Looking down at the first section of the climb	which continues up, up and up.
View across the valley, Sierra Nevada peaks in the background	The pavement ends and the snow starts (February 2008)
Descending into Laytonville on the Laytonville Dos Rios Rd	Laytonville - Intersection with Hwy 101, route continues straight ahead, general store at the intersection Laytonville - fine dining at Broomer's, hundred feet North on Hwy 101

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