Marin County Beyond Mount Tam

MARIN COUNTY BEYOND MOUNT TAM

Total Miles: 43

Total Elevation Gain: 1500

Steepness: 6% over 1.5 miles on Marshall-Petaluma Road and over 1.2 miles on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Lesser grades elsewhere.

Traffic Volume/Road Conditions: Moderate to heavy traffic on Highway 1. Low to moderate traffic elsewhere. Shoulders vary from non-existent to good on Highway 1 and Pt. Reyes-Petaluma Road. Good shoulders on Nicasio Valley Road .Few shoulders elsewhere. Road surfaces good.

Start/End Point: Nicasio. From Highway 101, take Lucas Valley Road west. turn right on Nicasio Valley Road and continue 1/2 mile into the village.

(Notice: the left after the Cheese Factory is actually HYDE VALLEY ROAD....not Wilson Hill Road. Don't end up in Petaluma on your quest for Wilson Hill Road! Once you get to Marshall-Petaluma Road, Wilson Hill Road intersects from the right.)

                                                             TOTAL      NEXT

                                                             MILES      TURN

R (North)    Nicasio Valley Road                               0.0       3.3

R            Pt. Reyes-Petaluma Road                           3.3       4.0

             FOOD AVAILABLE AT THE CHEESE FACTORY

             (ABOUT MILE 7.0)

L            Wilson Hill Road                                  7.3       2.8

L            Marshall-Petaluma Road                           10.1      10.7

L            Highway 1                                        20.8      11.8

             FOOD AVAILABLE IN PT REYES STATION (MILE

             30) AND OLEMA (MILE 32)

L            Sir Francis Drake Blvd                           32.6       2.0

L            Platform Bridge Road                             34.6       2.3

S            Pt. Reyes-Petaluma Road                          36.9       3.2

R            Nicasio Valley Road                              40.1       3.3

L            Into Nicasio Village - FINISHED!                 43.4

Comments: Ten miles from the upscale towns of Marin, the undeveloped coastal areas offer good riding. Traffic can be bothersome on Highway 1, particularly on weekends, so use caution and common sense. The little traveled Marshall-Petaluma Road is the highlight of this loop with its rolling approach to the main climb and the fast descent to the coast. Be ready for the intersection with Highway 1, which can surprise the unaware.

Many options are possible to expand or shorten this loop. One possibility is to continue on Sir Francis Drake Blvd to the intersection with Nicasio Valley Road and to follow this back to the start. This option will add nine miles and 400 feet of climbing.

Alternatively, begin riding at the Park and Ride at the Lucas Valley Road exit off Highway 101. Follow Lucas Valley Road to and from Nicasio. This option will add 23 miles and 1000 feet of climbing.

Map and resources for Marin County.

Tri Home.

Top of the Page | The Swim | The Bike | The Run | Triathlons