Monterey Bay's Local Rides
We live in one of the best riding areas in the country! Coastal road from Half Moon bay down to Big Sur, Mountain roads thrue the Santa Cruz Mnts, Pajaro and other Valleys, and if you like it Hot, Central valley is just a hop away over Pacheco Pass. Are we taking all this for granted? Let's get out and ride! Have you seen the "Crazy Horse Cny Road" exit sign on 101 between Gilroy and Salinas? Ever wondered where it goes? Found any new "Shortcuts" (not necessairelly shorther nor faster) between HW 1 and 101? between 101 and I-5? Doug mentioned he thinks there's a road between 1 and 101 around Sonoma lake, not exactly local but anyone care to check it out? Tell us about the latest road you've found!
(BTW, Crazy Horse rd goes to Old Stage road, now where does that go to... using a map is cheating!) |
The Coast / HW 1 What more can we say!
For any visitor to our area, whether you go north from Santa Cruz or South from Monterey or do it all the way, this is a must!
Locally in Santa Cruz, start at Natural Bridges along West Cliff drive, and work your way down to Watsonville's Sunset Beach state park along the coast most of the way.
In Monterey, along the coast again, south thrue Pacific Grove, 17 mile drive and into Carmel.
Riding down to Big Sur?, Past Big Sur just before Julia, go up Nacimiento-Fergusson road for an incredible bird's eye view of the coast. The road switchbacks in and out of the forest to a narrow pull out where you can admire the view, just don't get too close to the edge with your bike... The road then goes inland in the mountain then down thrue Fort Hunter Liggett and to 101 via G14, long ride to go back this way, I prefer going back the same way I came on HW1. Free campgrounds (National Forest) on top just before Fort Hunter L.
North of Santa Cruz, speed limit is 65 but suddently drops to 55 when you cross county line. San Mateo county sheriff often hides a few miles north past Pigeon Point Lighthouse, just far enough that you've forgotten the 55 limit and picked up speed again back to 65. |
HW 25 Holister to the end of 25 at hw198 Nice ride thrue the Hills and valleys. Bring a lunch and have a picnic at east side of Pinacle NM (bring your NPS Golden Eagle pass). Last chance for gas if you haven't filled up in Holister is in Tres Pinos a few miles south. Gas is cheaper there but is no name brand.
When you reach 198, go right (west) to return by 101. If you enjoy the ambiance of very small towns stop at the General store in San Lucas for a soda.
Or, if you have more time on your hands, turn left (east) on 198 to Coalinga for a nice ride thrue the mountains and Priest Valley and on to I-5 to return north and back west by 152 (Pacheco pass). If you have even more time, take Pinoche pass from I-5. Small twisty road back to Paicines on hw25 just south of Tres Pinos.
Varience: On hw25, 35 miles south of Tres Pinos, take Coalinga Rd thrue mountains, valleys, and meadows. Very narrow road, no middle line, sharp curves, steep climbs for the first half of the 50 mile streach. Some loose gravel in rock slide areas, a few small roadkills, 3 flooded areas 1 inch deep (mid April) but very well worth it if you're a nature lovers! Things to see: Somekind of large prey bird with a red head and wingspan of 3-4 feet (can anybody identify?) which dived at me within just a few feet from my head, Great variety of birds, some I've never seen before, close up view of a cow (unfenced pastures!). Camping ground at Los Gatos Creek Fresno County Park (Didn't realize Fresno county extended this far west). The road is called Los Gatos on the other side and ends in a maze of straight roads thrue oil fields. Went around in cirlces (Sqares actually) for a while to find my way to Coalinga which I could see from a distance but couldn't figure out how to get there. |
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