NorCal Drives - A comprehensive catalog

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Jul 18, 2019 | 08:53 PM

STMPY

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Joined: Apr 2019

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From: San Ramon, CA

NorCal Drives - A comprehensive catalog

Hi,

Found this on Rennlist forum. The most comprehensive drive list in NorCal that I've seen. Maybe one of these days I will find the energy to organize a bay area jag drive! In the meantime, hope to see you all at the Danville Concourse Concours d'Elegance - Danville d'Elegance Foundation

North Bay

From Bolinas to Mt. Tamalpais - https://goo.gl/maps/spfWExeSKqS2 (~10 miles)
- Recommended by david with some qualifying comments...
- In 2015, Motor Trend used a ~4 mile stretch of this road when reviewing a Hellcat vs. ZL1 - https://goo.gl/maps/M1ayEGAmoT22
  - The review can be seen here: YouTube
Lucas Valley Rd. from 101 over to Nicasio Valley Rd. - https://goo.gl/maps/v1zXytn8DUS2 (~10 miles)
- Recommended by david
- He had specific notes and recommendations, so best to read his post for more details
PCA GGR fun run to The Racers Group in May, 2019 - https://goo.gl/maps/qWAkSpSe2wS2 (~67 miles)
- First leg was west along Lucas Valley Rd. to Nicasio Valley Rd., up to Pt. Reyes - Petaluma Rd., west again to Shoreline / Hwy-1, up to the community of Marshall
- Second leg went inland on Marshall-Petaluma Rd. over to Chileno Valley Rd., then up to Tomales Rd., which took us over to Petaluma where The Racers Group is located
- See this post for more details
Roads leading out to Point Reyes Lighthouse in Marin - https://goo.gl/maps/QBwcx4kcnV62
- Two options were recommended by Reborn996:
  - Option #1 - Hwy-1 from Mill Valley, then Sir Francis Drake Blvd. to the lighthouse - https://goo.gl/maps/N4A3pNgiJFQ2 (~44 miles)
  - Option #2 - From the outskirts of Lagunitas, take Sir Francis Drake Blvd. to the lighthouse - https://goo.gl/maps/y1q4VjgB7dr (~29 miles)
- mrjonger notes there's a nice spot for photos at the Cypress Tree Tunnel: https://goo.gl/maps/AY3mjUjsi7B2
  - Though Sensr215 notes the road out to the Cyprus Tree Tunnel is very rough - just a heads up...
From Point Reyes Station out to Limantour Beach - https://goo.gl/maps/YtHLWei8Evn (~9 miles)
- Recommended by TheBruce
From Point Reyes Station to Sea Ranch (via Hwy-1), and then east to Geyserville - https://goo.gl/maps/yJvGwZtwdHR2 (~122 miles!)
- Recommended by david
- mrjonger also recommends the Tomales to Stinson Beach part of this route
- However niacin has noted (and confirmed by mrjonger as of late-September 2018) that the stretch from south of Valley Ford Road and north of Fallon is down to a single lane with a timed stoplight and is slow to get through: https://goo.gl/maps/jgr7iaxbdtH2
Skaggs Springs Rd. (west of Geyserville) - https://goo.gl/maps/eS4rLk9T3ZD2 (~6 miles)
- Recommended by ///M3-=FiN=-, and he includes some video...
Bodega Bay to Goat Rock - https://goo.gl/maps/sChe7GoXkC12 (~10 miles)
- Recommended by geemman
Need for Speed movie sequence from Ukiah to the Point Arena Lighthouse - https://goo.gl/maps/NYT7XCLQGeH2(~48 miles)
- Recommended by phuonger
Suisun Rd. to Napa Valley (from Fairfield/Cordelia):
- Option #1 - https://goo.gl/maps/PTv3fp9ttjQ2 (~13 miles)
- Option #2 - https://goo.gl/maps/uXh56E2jJdH2 (~30 miles)
- Recommended by keytohwy
Lake Berryessa (east of Napa Valley) - https://goo.gl/maps/kHvxLbkEymt (~49 miles)
- Recommended by 1mang
Winters, up around Lake Berryessa to Hwy-29, back down to Angwin - https://goo.gl/maps/AicGhLze7gD2 (~110 miles!)
- Recommended by DesmoSD and david
Calistoga to Clear Lake via Hwy-29 - https://goo.gl/maps/13JRMjQYF5m (~36 miles)
- Recommended by archizzzz
Roads to perhaps avoid...
- Marshall Petaluma Rd between Marshall and Hicks Valley Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/Qrdxkxf8r492 (~11 miles)
  - mrjonger recommends against this route because it's too bumpy
  - I drove parts of it in May, 2019. It's definitely bumpy, but I didn't think it was horrible.
- Fairfax-Bolinas Rd to Fairfax - https://goo.gl/maps/i8Ss9aPmUrD2 (~10 miles)
  - david says the road is in bad shape

East Bay

Mines Rd. to Lick Observatory (from Livermore) - https://goo.gl/maps/C1jbWjsEi1n (~43 miles)
- Many people rave about this road
- Recommended by keytohwy and ltcjmramos
- Also refer to the Mt Hamilton Road to Lick Observatory in the South Bay section below...
Mines Rd, then Del Puerto Canyon Rd out to I-5 - https://goo.gl/maps/BKVVNxYPvAS2 (~52 miles)
- Recommended by 1mang and CheetoNYC
Skyline Blvd (Oakland), from Golf Links Rd to Redwood Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/7PitaMKwXRnaL5vA6 (~5 miles)
- Recommended by Two718s noting "it's a fun, albeit short, run, from Golf Links Road to Redwood Road. Maybe 3.5 miles but lots of smooth curves and great views. The only issue are the many driveways leading to the road. But early on a weekend morning, or mid-day on a weekday, it's usually deserted."
Redwood Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/F8sEXuf7bYs (~11 miles)
- Recommended by derbo
- Two718s notes "A word of caution, even at oh-dark-thirty on weekends it is absolutely jammed with bicycles."
Pinehurst Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/Qb16dsU6KWs (~7 miles)
- Recommended by derbo
- Two718s notes it "...is very narrow, rough in spots and the curves are so tight that it's usually hard to go more than 30 mph at best."
Calaveras Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/VFv7CafxD1p (~16 miles)
- Recommended by derbo, with additional comments here
Palomares Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/oLnnD4MwbHS2 (~10 miles)
- Recommended by iturbo_bmw
The Bear Creek / San Pablo Dam loop near Berkeley / Orinda - https://goo.gl/maps/dNfc7GhHS8A2 (~19 miles)
- Recommended by wyatth
Altamont Pass Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/u8oVjC7oeYk (~8 miles)
- Recommended by ylk1
Patterson Pass Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/6si4Hpijfov (~9 miles)
- Recommended by ylk1
Tesla Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/wfuJeXuA7d22 (~16 miles)
- Recommended by ylk1

South Bay / Santa Clara County

Mt Hamilton Rd to Lick Observatory (starting at Clayton Rd.) - https://goo.gl/maps/5SZtntEdyYy (~16 miles)
- Great hill climb up to the telescopes at Lick Observatory, and has even been referenced in professional articles:
  - Henry Catchpole at EVO Magazine drove this road (and spoke highly of it) when he reviewed the Mustang GT350 (issue #221)
  - Total911 listed in their Great Road series - https://www.total911.com/route-130-california-usa/
- Others think the back-side out to Mines Rd and Del Puerto Canyon Rd is even better
  - See East Bay section above...
Metcalf Rd. / San Felipe Rd. to Silvercreek - https://goo.gl/maps/yY8MZwY74sR2 (~9 miles)
- Initially it's tight and bumpy as you climb up to the Motorcycle County Park
- But it opens up once you get past that park, especially when you reach San Felipe Rd.
- The only downside is that it's relatively short
- There's a 2-mile detour down where San Felipe Rd. branches to Las Animas Rd., and then down to the old Pratt & Whitney (United Technologies) rocket-motor test site. That short detour dead-ends at: https://goo.gl/maps/jCA1oMcj8jK2
Drive around Almaden Quicksilver County Park - https://goo.gl/maps/mGvFPLT7g7H2 (~13 miles)
- The north-west section of Hicks Rd. down to the junction at Almaden Quicksilver County Park & Mt. Umunhum Rd is more bumpy that I like, but the road surface improves as you go down around and back up around to New Almaden
- Recommended by loliea
Almaden Rd. / Alamitos Rd. / Hicks Rd. / Mt. Umunhum Rd. up to Mt. Umunhum - https://goo.gl/maps/zmhgLrDQ8gq(~11 miles)
- Recommended by CheetoNYC
Various roads leading to/from Uvas Reservoir - https://goo.gl/maps/DKapg9P7a4w (~67 miles)
- Recommended by 1mang
Bailey / McKean / Uvas / Watsonville Rd. to Hwy-152 - https://goo.gl/maps/EfJSBsi9ksL2 (~17 miles)
- Starts near the IBM Research Lab in Almaden, and continues down to the Hecker Pass Hwy (152)
- Road surface is more bumpy than expected (though not terrible), and the work rate (i.e. number of corners) is low
- Upside is that once you get down to Hwy-152, you're near the start of the quite excellent Hecker Pass in Santa Cruz County
- So it's a decent, but not great back road...
Roads to perhaps avoid...
- Sierra Rd. to Old Calaveras Rd. - https://goo.gl/maps/4yyMpgfxKWs (~12 miles)
  - Crazy tight (some parts single lane) and quite bumpy in places
  - Can't recommend this...

Santa Cruz Mountains & County

Hwy-9 from Saratoga to Boulder Creek (begins as you cross Sanborn Creek) - https://goo.gl/maps/vSH183Lrfxq (~18 miles)
- Beautiful sweeping run down through the Redwoods, doesn't get much better than this
- Matt Farah reviewed an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio as part of his signature 'One Take' series on this road - YouTube
Hwy-236 / Big Basin / Boulder Creek - https://goo.gl/maps/N68nmyEFcnN2 (~17 miles)
- Northern-half runs though Big Basin Redwoods State Park
  - It's very beautiful/scenic
  - And has a great road surface after being recently resurfaced
  - However, that northern-half is very narrow
    - It's effectively single lane on many stretches
    - Thus there's no room for (and you're often blind to) oncoming traffic
    - You need to keep your pace way down for reasons of basic safety
  - But for a slow paced drive, this section is very pretty
- Southern-half below the park opens up and is similar to Hwy-9 (also close by)
  - You can more easily stretch your legs in this section...
- Recommended by SLVRon
Bear Creek Rd. - https://goo.gl/maps/6sGMphDydcS2 (~13 miles)
- From Hwy-17 to Boulder Creek
- Reasonably okay route
- But I find it overly tight and bumpy in places to really enjoy
Empire Grade (Lockheed Martin to/from Santa Cruz) - https://goo.gl/maps/gq3metdHYks (~17 miles)
- Either up to, or down from the Lockheed Martin Space Systems facility to the outskirts of Santa Cruz
- Nice road with good surface conditions
- Reminds me of Skyline Blvd. (Hwy-35)
Bonny Doon Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/uzWYL5o2qBu (~7 miles)
- Recommended by Chris(MA)
Soquel San Jose Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/NAPo78oLx6B2 (~10 miles)
- The road itself is quite nice (good surface, nice flowing corners in good few places)
- Downside is that there's more residential along it than I like
Hecker Pass through Mt. Madonna County Park - https://goo.gl/maps/nmg3VuTR3Vo (~8 miles)
- Short, but a very nice run
Felton Empire Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/fHcAcU1Wo4y (~3 miles)
- Recommended by ylk1
Run up from Hwy-1 to Bonny Doon, over to Felton, up Hwy-9 to Saratoga - https://goo.gl/maps/7RMCUFudtYT2 (~41 miles)
- Recommended by ylk1

Peninsula / San Mateo County

Roads orientated around Alice's Restaurant (well known weekend hangout for bikers across the area):
- Skyline Blvd. (Hwy-35) from Hwy-92 down to Black Rd: https://goo.gl/maps/M6XXQkjDHf12 (~32 miles)
  - You get a nice down from Hwy-92, past Alice's, and down to Black Rd
  - But south of Black Rd, it gets too tight and bumpy for my liking
- Saratoga to Alice's Restaurant (begins as you cross Sanborn Creek) - https://goo.gl/maps/151F12wL1uA2 (~18 miles)
  - Great run up from the South Bay
- Woodside to Alice's Restaurant - https://goo.gl/maps/utQnubCn3NJ2 (~4 miles)
  - From once you get past Woodside, you climb up to Alice's Restaurant
  - That section is great, the only downside is that it's very short
- Alice's Restaurant out to the San Gregorio General Store - https://goo.gl/maps/3VgGrSxpTdF2 (~14 miles)
  - From Alice's, take Hwy-84 out to the coast
  - Stopping off at the San Gregorio General Store
  - Also recommended by V2Rocket
- Pescadero Creek Rd (at the coast) back up to Alice's Restaurant - https://goo.gl/maps/DUcTuAKrZXt (~22 miles)
  - From the coast (Hwy-1), take Pescadero Creek east and rejoin Hwy-84, and then east to Alice's Restaurant
  - Pescadero Creek itself is nice, though there's more residents along it than some of the other routes
  - Could be part of a loop that includes hitting the San Gregorio General Store on Hwy-84 (see above)
  - Recommended by r6elmo
Tunitas Creek Rd. - https://goo.gl/maps/hx2mdUe6DiA2 (~9 miles)
- From Hwy-1 on the coast, back up to Skyline Blvd. (Hwy-35)
- It's very bumpy and tight in some places, suspension needs plenty of travel
- Would be fun in a Rally Car...
Swett Rd / Star Hill Rd to Tunitas Creek - https://goo.gl/maps/axeXoGfqTFL2 (~1 miles)
- Recommended by jnolan
Alpine Rd. (from Page Mill side through to Hwy-84) - https://goo.gl/maps/eCPr4CncWpn (~14 miles)
- Recommended by spxxx
- I found it similar in character to Bear Creek Rd. in Santa Cruz County
Stage Rd / Cloverdale Rd past Butano State Park - https://goo.gl/maps/hhhkczAw8dU2 (~17 miles)
- Recommended by jnolan
Lobitos Creek Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/S75AiszFx2p (~4 miles)
- Recommended by jnolan
From the Dam bisecting Crystal Springs Reservoir down to Saratoga avoiding the highway - https://goo.gl/maps/GXEHddo64522 (~34 miles)
- Cañada Rd / Mountain Home Rd / Portola Rd / Alpine Rd / Arastradero / Page Mill / Arastradero (again) / Purrisima
- And then surface streets to Foothill Expressway, and then down to Saratoga
- Recommended by jnolan
Kings Mountain Rd. - https://goo.gl/maps/FWTjvL1qCDs (~4 miles)
- Recommended by TridenTBoy

Points further away from the SF Bay Area

North
- CA-36 & CA-3, west of Platina - https://goo.gl/maps/sQ1jGtbEFEG2 (~52 miles)
  - Recommended by ylk1
  - South end of this route is ~135 miles north of Santa Rosa (as the crow flies)
- Piercy to Rockport (north of Fort Bragg) - https://goo.gl/maps/zwkrWDTMk1P2 (~29 miles)
  - Recommended by ylk1
  - South end of this route is ~110 miles north of Santa Rosa (as the crow flies)
- Longvale to Dos Rios - https://goo.gl/maps/XJY5FK5xSNL2 (~16 miles)
  - Recommended by ylk1
  - South end of this route is ~85 miles north of Santa Rosa (as the crow flies)
East
- Diablo Grande Pkwy back out to I-5 - https://goo.gl/maps/5vLJSed6rc32 (~7 miles)
  - Recommended by iphilips
  - West side of this route is ~36 miles east of San Jose (as the crow flies)
- Parts of the CA-49 Golden Chain Highway
  - Coulterville to Bagby - https://goo.gl/maps/oQUSDvrhMXr (~10 miles)
    - Recommended by ylk1
    - This section is ~100 miles east of San Jose (as the crow flies)
  - Downieville to Sattley - https://goo.gl/maps/GZSxTA7HVjE2 (~31 miles)
    - Recommended by ylk1
    - This section is ~75 miles north-east of Sacramento (as the crow flies)
- CA-89 in the Eastern Sierra - https://goo.gl/maps/LsmpDkpF6av (~17 miles)
  - Recommended by ylk1
  - West side of this route is ~95 miles east of Sacramento (as the crow flies)
- Pine Creek Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/aEAAZR6VzMP2 (~7 miles)
  - Recommended by ylk1, and shown in Motortrend's Ferrari GTC4 Lusso video - YouTube
  - West side of this route is ~175 miles east of San Jose (as the crow flies)
- Zurich to Deep Springs on CA-168 - https://goo.gl/maps/fdwieXPsdZM2 (~25 miles)
  - Recommended by ylk1
  - West side of this route is ~200 miles east of San Jose (as the crow flies)
- Through Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park - https://goo.gl/maps/WEYFSHVGnuuLVdLt8 (~174 miles)
  - Recommended by 1mang
  - West side of this route is ~165 miles east-south-east of San Jose (as the crow flies)
South
- Airline Highway (CA25) out of Hollister
  - iphilips recommends Hollister to San Lucas, with a diversion into Pinnacles National Park - https://goo.gl/maps/DGnW7Qc39Jm (~86 miles)
  - 1mang recommends Hollister to Coalinga (via Hwy-25 & Hwy-198) - https://goo.gl/maps/XtkjW93fJ2H2 (~91 miles)
  - Hollister is ~40 miles south of San Jose (as the crow flies)
- Motor Trend's test route for their annual Best Driver's Car competition - https://goo.gl/maps/wWNWqRG5j672 (~4.2 miles)
  - Motor Trend runs an annual Best Driver's Car competition: https://www.motortrend.com/awards/best-drivers-car/
  - Since 2015, the test includes running the cars on a closed portion of Hwy-198 with the help of the CHP
  - This test route is part of 1mang's recommendation of Hollister to Coalinga (see above)
  - Here's where they stage the cars for the uphill run: Street View
  - This route is ~100 miles south-east of San Jose (as the crow flies)
- Naciemiento-Fergusson Rd. - https://goo.gl/maps/X9LUPQJVcDx (~24 miles)
  - Recommended by snub-nose 28, calling it the "...the 275 GTB four-cam long-nose 'barn find' among rare Engineered-Just-for-The-Drive ribbons..."
  - This route is ~45 miles south of Monterey (as the crow flies)
- Ventucopa to Ojai on CA-33 - https://goo.gl/maps/aAJisLRkW1K2 (~46 miles)
  - Recommended by ylk1, noting that it's "Probably the single best road in California"