Northern California Loop

This segment is going through a pretty lonesome area with hardly any services. So you better stock up in Laytonville for a day or two.

Branscom Rd from Laytonville to Hwy 1 has a minor climb over the coastal ridge which is followed by a long descend to the Pacific Coast. The general store in Branscomb is your last chance to buy something before Redway.

The climb at Branscomb Rd in the fog

The stretch along the coast is beautiful. There is also a campsite in the Westport-Union State Beach. After a few miles you turn inland and climb a moderate hill. Once you return to the coast, you almost reached the left turn into Usal Rd. Note, that a few hundred meters before the Usal Rd turn off, there's another dirt road turning left which is gated and has no-trespassing signs.

View from Usal Rd

Usal Rd starts off with a steep climb (double digit grade) and this gives you a flavour of what to expect for the remainder of the road. After a little more hard work you will descend to Usal Beach with its campground which is part of Sinkyone Wilderness State Park.

From the beach, you climb up to the costal ridge again. The road is rough and steep. You will feel relieved once you reach the intersection with Briceland Rd. You turn right into paved Briceland Rd which is a downhill / flat stretch all the way into Redway.

The segments climbing adds up to about 6000 feet (2000 m), a third less than Part I, but don't underestimate the steep ramps at Usal Rd.

Services