The Mountains of Sonoma County

Total Miles: 52

Total Elevation Gain: 4500

Steepness: 18% over 1 mile on Myer's Grade. 12%? over 1/2 mile on Hauser Bridge Road. Lesser grades elsewhere.

Traffic Volume/Road Conditions: Moderate to heavy traffic on Highways 116 and 1. Low traffic elsewhere. Shoulders vary from non-existent to good on Highways 116 and 1. Few shoulders elsewhere. Road surfaces good except for the final descent of King's Ridge Road and Cazadero Highway, which have some sections of poor pavement. Road surface of Cazadero Highway is good, but Austin Creek Road has some poor pavement.

Start/End Point: Duncan Mills, located on Highway 116 in Sonoma County.

                                                             TOTAL      NEXT

                                                             MILES      TURN

R            Highway 116                                       0.0       3.9

R            Highway 1                                         3.9       6.4

FOOD AVAILABLE IN JENNER (ABOUT 2 MILES DOWN HIGHWAY 1)

R            Myer's Grade (becomes Fort Ross Road)            10.3       5.5

R            Seaview Road                                     15.8       7.3

WATER AVAILABLE AT FORT ROSS SCHOOL (AT MILE 19.3)

Continue     Hauser Bridge Road (WARNING: First 1/2           23.1       3.8

Straight     mile after the bridge is a very steep

             climb - grade lessens after)

R            King's Ridge Road - becomes Cazadero             26.9      16.7

             Highway

FOOD AVAILABLE IN CAZADERO (ABOUT MILE 41)

L            Onto bridge                                      43.6       0.0

S            Austin Creek Road                                43.6       7.2

R            Highway 116                                      50.8       1.0

R            Into Duncan Mills                                51.8

               FINISHED!

Comments: King's Ridge Road was the highlight of an article in Bicycle Guide a few years back about the magic of California cycling. The road swoops up and down the ridgeline with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and few signs of any inhabitants. Keep your eyes peeled on the descent into Cazadero and you may see remnants of messages painted on the pavement urging on the 7-Eleven team left from when the Coors Classic came through years ago. The steep climbs on Myer's Grade and Hauser Bridge Road will be well rewarded. Use caution on the big descent on King's Ridge Road due the poor pavement and a couple of sharp hairpin turns.

Please excuse the guesstimates for maximum grades for this ride, I haven't been able to find detailed topographic information for these roads.

Special thanks to Chuck Burns for this loop and all the great (but usually tough) rides he's lead.

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