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.

jobyt

If anyone is doing Marin on the 23rd, please let me know... I need to stop by this forum more (spend all my time in the 996 forum).

sgt1372

I drive Marsh Creek road between Brentwood and Clayton regularly and, if there isn't a slow poke in front of you, it can be a fun road to drive.

However, I would discourage anyone from driving Morgan Territory Road which I've even bailed out on while riding a motorcycle.

Just too narrow and twisty for any 4wheeled vehicle (including my MR2); not enough "road" to really let any sports car get up to speed and a generally poor road surface (at least the last time I drove it which was admittedly a long time ago). It's the road that got washed out a couple of years ago preventing locals from getting to Livermore; just like Hwy 1 just to closed due to mudslides between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay before they built the tunnel.

If you're looking for that kind of drive Mines Road from Livermore to SJ is much better IMO.

wjk_glynn

Thanks. Tweaked the summary in the top post as follows...

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, but he has some caveats
  • sgt1372 also confirms this can be a fun drive
• 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, but he has some caveats
  • However, sgt1372 thinks it's "Just too narrow and twisty for any 4wheeled vehicle"

Karl.

wjk_glynn

RugbyBro just drove Morgan Territory Rd again and agrees with sgt1372 that it's simply too tight and narrow for a spirited drive in a car.

So I've moved it into the following category in the East Bay section.
...

• Roads to perhaps avoid...
  • Morgan Territory Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/2a8zYoiCaCz73yVU8 (~15 miles)
    • Connects to Marsh Creek Rd above, and goes through Morgan Territory Regional Preserve
    • Both RugbyBro and sgt1372 thinks it's simply too tight and narrow

Karl.

Jartin

While this may be too far from the bay area for this thread, I believe it fits best here. I just moved to Yuba County a few months ago and have been scouting good driving roads for the 911 I'm looking to pick up in the next few months.

Pleasant Valley Road and Marysville Road:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/39.2...m1!3e0!5m1!1e1 (~69 miles)

Mooney Flat Road is optional, since it is quite narrow and some of the asphalt quality is poor. Also, a stretch of Pleasant Valley Road has a poor surface north of the South Yuba River State Park.

Overall this is a good way to spend a couple hours since the roads have everything from long straights to hairpin corners.

wjk_glynn

There is a section for points further away from the Bay Area. Have added your recommendation (and another) as follows.


East Bay
...

• Alhambra Valley Rd in Martinez - https://goo.gl/maps/aXRgUorUubde4z5g9 (~9 miles)
  • Recommended by FireM3
  • He notes it can be bumpy and narrow, but he likes it
  • It connects to Bear Creek above

Points further away from the SF Bay Area

• North
  ...
  • Pleasant Valley Rd and Marysville Rd, east of Yuba City - https://goo.gl/maps/EUbtphE8JYBMY8HL7 (~69 miles)
    • Recommended by Jartin
    • West end of this route is ~80 miles north-east of Santa Rosa (as the crow flies)

Thanks.

Karl.

sgt1372

Was just on what's listed as Tesla Road in the East Bay section on 1st page, which I think would be better identified as the Tesla/Corral Hollow Road, the other day.

Haven't been on this road for awhile and was surprised to find that the county had installed "humps" (speed bumps w/flat spots on top) in the roadway for about the 1st 5 miles (east of Greenville Road) in order to slow traffic in this more commercial/residential portion of the road. With the soft suspension on my MB, I could probably take these humps at 55-65 but in my MR2 (which I was driving at the time) I found it best to slow down to around 45 before hitting the hump; the same would probably be the case for my 911 and 335i.

After the last hump, the middle twisty section of the road is not far and it's still as fun as it always was before it transitions into the last section (which is where it apparently is called Corral Hollow) w/a few moderate turns and mod/long straight a-ways leading to Hwy 5, where you can really push your car.

I usually continue up Corral Hollow thru Tracy and then head back "home" via Tracy Blvd or Byron Road but for some reason, Corral Hollow just east of I-5 was closed and I had to double back to I-5 to take Mt. House to Bryon Road to get back home instead. The closure was probably temporary (most likely due to construction) but, if you are headed that way any time soon and want to drive into Tracy, just be aware that a detour may be required.

wjk_glynn

Thanks, duly noted in the top-post.

Karl.

propchef

Great thread. There are some great drives here.

Just a note of caution if you're headed towards the North Bay/Wine Country during the COVID shutdown. PG&E is taking advantage of lower traffic and has crews out cutting trees away from the lines. Several times I've been caught on one drive! 128 through Knights Valley (near Calistoga), Petrified Forest Rd and Porter Creek Rd., and the Mark West area. Similar work is going on around Lake Sonoma. The work closes one lane and I've waited for 20+ minutes to get through.

BTW, the drive from Lake Sonoma to the coast using Skaggs Springs Road is a blast but a well-known area for "fun runs" so is sometimes under scrutiny.

Geysers Rd is a great hillclimb and you're rewarded with great views of the Alexander Valley from the high point. Be aware this road can be rough, unpaved, or on fire at any given time.

wjk_glynn

As regards adding recommended roads to the top post for those not very familiar with the area (like myself)...

Would be starting in Geyserville, down 128, then right on Petrified Forest Rd, over to Mark West and stop there? Or some variant of that?

Sharing a Google Map link is the best way to describe the route

Does this capture it?

https://goo.gl/maps/TigZHm2J7wR4oZa5A

Is there a specific start/end point you'd recommend?

Thanks.

Karl.

sgt1372

Without taking into consideration road closures and road conditions, I would suggest the following loop from Cloverdale south to Calistoga, west to Jenner via Guerneville, north to Stewarts Point and then back to Cloverdale:

https://goo.gl/maps/xVkjU2WkR9FTCPGH6

It would be an all day drive for me w/a stop to gas up, rest and eat in/near Guerneville. If it is still open (even if just for take out), I'd suggest stopping at the Northwood Golf Course (just west of "downtown" Guerneville) to get food at the restaurant which you can eat outdoors while enjoying views of the golf course.

I am most familiar w/the section between Guerneville and Calistoga in this route, having driven it many times before, mainly from the south to north from SF to Occidental and then Guerneville, east to Calistoga, south thru Napa Valley via Silverado Trail or over Howell Mt Road to Pope Valley and then south back to Hwy via the series of back roads that I believe I've mentioned here before leading to Cordelia.

I've never driven on Skaggs Springs Road between Stewarts Point and Cloverdale but from the look of it it is similar to Comptche Ukiah/Orrs Springs road between Mendocino and Ukiah, that I have driven several times over the years, albeit probably a bit more twisty which may make it a bit less fun, because I find endless turns more tiring than fun.

Please give us a report if you decide to take this route.

wjk_glynn

Added...

North Bay
...

• Lake Sonoma to the coast using Skaggs Springs Rd. - https://goo.gl/maps/TigZHm2J7wR4oZa5A (~35 miles)
  • Recommended by propchef
  • ///M3-=FiN=- also recommended a section of this road (and he included some video) - https://goo.gl/maps/eS4rLk9T3ZD2 (~6 miles)
• Loop from Cloverdale to Calistoga, west to Jenner via Guerneville, north to Stewarts Point, and back to Cloverdale - https://goo.gl/maps/X8QvAfXWgJyi9sUp8 (~148 miles)
  • Recommended by sgt1372

Karl.

ducktails

100% guilty of skim reading this thread, and not seeing multiple other references to it - but I'll add to the others recommending that Marshall-Petaluma Rd. is one of those roads honestly better taken in a Macan or a Safari build - if you take it in a low/stiff e.g. GT car, you're gonna have a bad time. On a side note, I just realized the first post in this thread is kept current with all the routes AND the warnings derp. Great resource on the whole.

wjk_glynn

Thanks Duck.

Have added the feedback to the top post.

Karl.