SF Bay Area - Best driving roads for a Sunday morning blast?

[kshaikh]

Originally Posted by derbo

Calaveras Rd is amazing but it is a 2-way traffic road that has a section with no yellow lines to divide the lanes. It's pretty packed with cyclists on weekends and it has its share of blind corners.

A VERY old video of my turbo civic on this road at night.

excuse the potato quality.

This road looks like trouble!

[derbo]

Originally Posted by kshaikh

This road looks like trouble!

Yes indeed! It's a bit dangerous to drive even remote fast in the daytime due to blind corners and cyclists and oncoming traffic. At night past 12am would be nice but animals are a factor as well.

[wjk_glynn]

Thanks derbo.

I’ll update the top post this weekend...

[wjk_glynn]

Added the following to the top post...

East Bay

• Calaveras Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/FoigDtGTUaT2 (road closed at the time of writing, can't generate a proper Google Maps URL)
  • Recommended by derbo, with additional comments here
• 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

Santa Cruz Mountains & County

• 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

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
  • Piercy to Rockport (north of Fort Bragg) - https://goo.gl/maps/zwkrWDTMk1P2 (~29 miles)
    • Recommended by ylk1
  • Longvale to Dos Rios - https://goo.gl/maps/XJY5FK5xSNL2 (~16 miles)
    • Recommended by ylk1
• East
  • Parts of the CA-49 Golden Chain Highway
    • Coulterville to Bagby - https://goo.gl/maps/oQUSDvrhMXr (~10 miles)
      • Recommended by ylk1
    • Downieville to Sattley - https://goo.gl/maps/GZSxTA7HVjE2 (~31 miles)
      • Recommended by ylk1
  • CA-89 in the Eastern Sierra - https://goo.gl/maps/LsmpDkpF6av (~17 miles)
    • Recommended by ylk1
  • Pine Creek Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/aEAAZR6VzMP2 (~7 miles)
    • Recommended by ylk1, and shown in Motortrend's Ferrari GTC4 Lusso video - YouTube
  • Zurich to Deep Springs on CA-168 - https://goo.gl/maps/fdwieXPsdZM2 (~25 miles)
    • Recommended by ylk1
• South
  • 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"
    • Also featured on Jalopnik's "This Is America’s Greatest Secret Road" - YouTube
  • Horseshoe meadow Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/aXFcwoxMKF32 (~8 miles)
    • Recommended by ylk1, and mentioned in Everyday Driver's midship shootout - YouTube
  • 9 Mile canyon Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/UrecnyPzKNJ2 (~9 miles)
    • Recommended by ylk1

Karl.

[wjk_glynn]

Updated the top post with feedback/editorial from niacin and mrjonger as follows...

North Bay

• 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
• 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
• 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

Karl.

[wjk_glynn]

Added the following to the top post...

Points further away from the SF Bay Area

• South
  • 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

Karl.

[wjk_glynn]

I updated the top post as follows.

#1 - Added Sensr215's note to the following...

North Bay

• 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...

#2 - Added Archimedes recommendation about SR58...

Points further away from the SF Bay Area

• South
  • SR58, from McKittrick to Santa Margarita - https://goo.gl/maps/mgGUZR7VThK2 (~70 miles)
    • Recommended by Archimedes
    • There's even a Wiki page about that road: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cali...State_Route_58

Karl.

[wjk_glynn]

Added...

North Bay

• 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

Karl.

[MMMURS3]

Anyone know any roads near Sacramento, Auburn or up I-50?

[slcook54]

Great list. Subscribed.

[slcook54]

Anything around Walnut Creek, besides the Orinda loop? My Dad just moved out there and would love to have some roads to explore on the weekend.

[wjk_glynn]

Ack, posted the wrong info. Deleting...

[wjk_glynn]

Originally Posted by wjk_glynn

Ack, posted the wrong info. Deleting...

Here’s what I meant to actually post yesterday...

Earlier today I finally got to drive some of the Marin roads recommended in this thread as part of a PCA GGR fun run to The Racers Group.

https://goo.gl/maps/qWAkSpSe2wS2 (~67-miles)

Starting at a Safeway in San Rafael, the first leg took us 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. Nice roads, good surfaces, and lots of scenery. Because we left at 9:30 am we did encounter typical traffic, and there's not an insignificant amount of residential in parts along the way. But I'd imagine a crack-of-dawn run would be great.

The second leg took us inland on Marshall-Petaluma Rd. over to Chileno Valley Rd., then up to Tomales Rd. Here the road surfaces were quite a bit rougher, but not horrible. The upside was far less traffic, so the cars could be given free rein.

Tomales Rd. took us over to Petaluma where The Racers Group is located. There we met Kevin Buckler, got a shop tour & tech talk, had lunch, did a little wine tasting - a very nice way to spend a Saturday.

Karl.

[wjk_glynn]

Added...

East Bay

• 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."

[wjk_glynn]

Added...

Points further away from the SF Bay Area

• East
  • 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)

Karl.

[TrickTizzle]

RE: Mines Rd, then Del Puerto Canyon Rd out to I-5 - https://goo.gl/maps/BKVVNxYPvAS2 (~52 miles)

Avoid Del Puerto Canyon Rd - Went there yesterday and the road is pretty deteriorated 10/15 miles from Mines Rd. Rock slide area with lots of pot holes and buckled pavement. Would not recommend.

[wjk_glynn]

Originally Posted by TrickTizzle

Avoid Del Puerto Canyon Rd - Went there yesterday and the road is pretty deteriorated 10/15 miles from Mines Rd. Rock slide area with lots of pot holes and buckled pavement. Would not recommend.

Added your note to the top post.

Also added...

North Bay

• From Stinson Beach up to Ridgecrest Blvd. via Panoramic Hwy. - https://goo.gl/maps/aTYt9p8nVT7KgrE57 (~9 miles)
  • Recommended by visitador
• From Suisun Valley Rd. up and into Napa Valley:
  • sgt1372 has three recommended variations (with followup comments here):
    • Shorter - https://goo.gl/maps/V8GY9hvsKUuYYMXH6 (~34 miles)
    • Medium - https://goo.gl/maps/tpok7fNyF1Je1ArRA (~48 miles)
    • Longer - https://goo.gl/maps/F5JLmKtwmP99NuwK6 (~74 miles)

Karl.

[wjk_glynn]

EDIT: jsullivan worked out the more accurate route in this post. Have updated the Google Maps link accordingly...

Points further away from the SF Bay Area

• North
  • Head east from Willows, and then take Hwy-70 up and over to Bucks Lake, back up and over to La Porte, and then up Hwy-49 to Truckee and Donner Pass - https://goo.gl/maps/G7eNGPfgiaS7mPB49 (~328 miles)
    • Road & Track drove this road in the following article, and spoke highly of the Hwy-70 section:
      • 2020 Performance Car of the Year: https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-car...r-of-the-year/
    • West end of this route is ~80 miles north of Santa Rosa (as the crow flies)

Karl.

[akkando]

Are you guys running radar detector or is it useless because it's all laser out there anyway?

[wjk_glynn]

Updated/corrected the Google Maps link for the Road & Track route above.

Karl.

[wjk_glynn]

Added...

Peninsula / San Mateo County

• Roads orientated around Alice's Restaurant (well known weekend hangout for bikers across the area):
  • Loop from Woodside up to Skyline, and back down via Kings Mountain Rd. - https://goo.gl/maps/W1c8QnnneW5qRTT78 (~16 miles)
    • Recommended by Kelly

Karl.

[wjk_glynn]

Added the following to the top-post...

East Bay

• Marsh Creek Rd (east of Mount Diablo) - https://goo.gl/maps/kQAHsHz7uGDcSnHj8 (~15 miles)
  • Connects to Morgan Territory Rd (see following)
  • See RugbyBro's recommendation for some caveats
• Morgan Territory Rd (through Morgan Territory Regional Preserve) - https://goo.gl/maps/2a8zYoiCaCz73yVU8 (~15 miles)
  • Connects to Marsh Creek Rd above
  • See RugbyBro's recommendation for some caveats

Karl.