So I posted about this twisty before but never got the chance to take it until just before work today. Its a little over an hour and a half starting from the Golden Gate Bridge until you get back to Highway 101.

Great road, no posted speed limit (defaults to 55 but you'll never be able to get much over 40). First 5 miles are kind of rough, 1 really narrow lane (one lane for both directions so be careful), hairpin and 1st gear turns every 1/4 to half a mile or so. Once you get up to West Ridgecrest Rd. the road becomes a wider moderately well maintained two lane road with lots of good turns, many of them will work out your 1st and 2nd gear. This goes on for about 7-8 miles crossing through lots of scenic forest and crossing over a narrow bridge at Alpine Lake (great place to take pictures). Once you're past the lake its all down hill until you get to the essential end of the road at the Meadow Club where the speed limit brings you back down to 25.

Great stretch of road, I recommend it for anyone with a little extra time on their hands. I recommend starting at Highway 1 and going eastbound rather than the other direction (starting at Sir Francis Drake and going Westbound). Be mindful of the turnoff for the road, its easily missed and unmarked other than a sign indicating an upcoming intersection. I'll bring my camera next time I go and take some pictures!

Route
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...4,0.32135&z=12

First Five Miles
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...,0.040169&z=15

One of many hairpin turns
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...,0.010042&z=17

Alpine Lake. Mind you, zooming in on this part of the map will show you the part of the route you will be following if you are traveling too fast.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...,0.040169&z=15

 

I used to take that road when I had my Ninja 600 many years ago, must agree, awesome road. I haven't taken the 951 yet. Thanks for posting.

 

Here's a video someone took on the road, its of a bunch of Mini's hitting the road but its still a good video (a little slow though, of course i wouldn't go much faster).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtumJfgU7zk

Btw, to anyone who wants to take this route, don't confuse it for the Mount Tamalpais Road (Panoramic Highway, etc.)!

 

Nice video. Looks like a great road for an NA, Mini, or Miata. From my experience any 951 with early spooling characteristics would be at a disadvantage. It appears to be perfect for a car that loves 1st and 2nd gear though. Marin Co. has some great roads, bumpy but so scenic...it's nice to hear the SC on that Cooper S. Is it just me or do many 951 owners gravitate to faster roads where higher speeds can be carried into a turn? Skaggs Springs, Wentworth Springs, Mormon Emigrant Trail, and my favorite, a fast climb up Monitor Pass from 4800' to 8800' with sweepers to die for. Thanks for posting, I'll have to give it try when I visit a friend in Marin Woods next month.

 

Best to take advantage of what you have. On a Turbo you want to take advantage of the extra speed you can't get in an n/a so naturally roads with long straightaways and long sweeping turns are a must. With an n/a your gearing and hp won't get you much on anything speedy unless its downhill but a nice narrow winding twisty is perfect. Of course if you own an S2 or 968..

and then of course its a matter of personal preference as to which is more fun, and we can go into do you think high speed runs are more fun just because you have a Turbo, or did you buy a Turbo just because you like high speed runs. Or if you are me, do you not have the extra money for a Turbo..

Too much philosophy talk, too little driving..

Anyway, be careful on the one lane portion of this road, its pretty rough.

 

jesus that looks fun.

looks like a perfectly good way to make your 5 mile commute 30 miles long.

 

Scheduled to work at 2:30, got home from lunch at 1:00, looked up the map, planned out the route, left the house at 1:10. Got out of San Francisco at 1:25. Hit the route along the way, got to work at 2:40, would have gotten there earlier if it wasn't for the traffic on 101. Owning a 944.. Priceless

On a lighter note, when I showed a map of the route to my friend at work, she took one look at it and said, "what IS that??" Not that she didn't know it was a road, she just couldn't believe how windy it is.

 

I used to take most of that route from the San Francisco Marina district, where I lived, driving my '77 280Z early almost every Saturday morning between 8am and 9am when I first moved to California from New York and really discovered driving on those roads in Marin and Mill Valley and the twisty roads down to the ocean to Muir Beach. I even met Bob Weir driving his silver 2002, for me, the thrill of a lifetime for a Deadhead carguy. That was back in the day - 1979.

 

I think I just might have to check that area out pretty soon.

 

I've taken that road twice recently... once in the 968, once in the mini cooper.


Oddly it made me car sick in the mini cooper... sitting a bit higher will do that to you.

 

hhmmmm..............perhaps a run through that area needs to be organized.

 

tomales bay oysters...

 

chris, are you suggesting a picnic?