wjk_glynn

Hi folks,

Following is a compilation of driving roads for an early Sunday morning blast (and a few to possibly avoid) in the SF Bay Area. Recommendations are from either:
.

1. My personal experience
2. Or from various members on either Rennlist, E9x M3 Post, F8x M3/M4 Post or 1addicts

To enjoy many of these roads, you often need to be out there at the crack-of-dawn so as to find them mostly empty. If you leave it to later in the day, you'll frequently be inundated with cyclists/traffic/etc. That's just a fact of life when living in the SF Bay Area...

As regards my personal preferences, I'm partial to roads with:
.

• Minimal residential (don't want to attract attention)
• Reasonably good road surface (most of our cars, and certainly mine, don't have long suspension travel)
• High work rate (i.e. plenty of corners-per-mile to keep you busy)
• Decent sightlines (not overly tight or too many blind corners, has space for oncoming traffic)
• You can make and enjoy a decent pace without going crazy/dangerous/go-to-jail fast...

They're grouped by region as follows:
.

• North Bay - Marin, Sonoma, Napa and Solano Counties
• East Bay - Contra Costa and Alameda Counties
• South Bay - Santa Clara County
• Santa Cruz Mountains & County - Technically not the Bay Area, but close enough...
• Peninsula - San Mateo and San Francisco Counties
• Points further away - Beyond the SF Bay Area (North, Sierra Nevada Mountains, East and South)

If you've any recommendations of your own that should be added to this list, please post in this thread with sufficient detail so that people know the exact route (e.g. providing a Google Maps link works great).

And for reference, the following was last updated as of: November 25th, 2022


North Bay

• From Bolinas to Mt. Tamalpais via Ridgecrest Blvd. - https://goo.gl/maps/XzjBm61MRwffNDKBA (~10 miles)
  • Recommended by david, with some qualifying comments
  • See also comments from visitador
  • In 2015, Motor Trend used this ~4 mile stretch of Ridgecrest Blvd. when reviewing a Hellcat vs. ZL1 - https://goo.gl/maps/X9JsfALCtx3HLh1N8
    • The review (including video) can be found here: https://www.motortrend.com/news/chev...n-head-2-head/
• From Stinson Beach up to Ridgecrest Blvd. via Panoramic Hwy. - https://goo.gl/maps/aTYt9p8nVT7KgrE57 (~9 miles)
  • Recommended by visitador
  • Though Kbasa notes "Panoramic is patchy and bumpy down near Stinson"
• Lucas Valley Rd. from 101 over to Nicasio Valley Rd. - https://goo.gl/maps/WUjRJSwxDXPABDKH6 (~10 miles)
  • Recommended by david
  • He had specific notes and recommendations, so best to read his post for more details
• To the above (LVR), add the loop of Nicasio Valley Rd / Pt. Reyes Petaluma Rd / Hicks Valley Rd / Willson Hill Rd / Chileno Valley Rd / Tomales Petaluma Rd / Hwy-1 / Sir Francis Drake Blvd... and back to Nicasio Valley Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/j3DFzd8rss1fJ7wVA (~61 miles)
  • Recommended by Kbasa
• PCA GGR fun run to The Racers Group in May, 2019 - https://goo.gl/maps/fZURWfvNCnc22c8P9 (~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/KwVxB44eYmdXKuY79 (~45 miles)
    • Option #2 - From the outskirts of Lagunitas, take Sir Francis Drake Blvd. to the lighthouse - https://goo.gl/maps/iaDthZ2eVhTfTTnF8 (~30 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/qkXA2hghvVaAmTfq7 (~9 miles)
  • Recommended by TheBruce
• From Point Reyes Station to Sea Ranch (via Hwy-1), and then east to Geyserville - https://goo.gl/maps/6WGJjRCkCBqrK4Q7A (~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/yst9XjRdWSVupshYA
• Lake Sonoma to the coast using Skaggs Springs Rd. - https://goo.gl/maps/arJH2a33qDDzs6cp7 (~35 miles)
  • Recommended by propchef
  • ///M3-=FiN=- also recommended a section of this road (and he included some video) - https://goo.gl/maps/GsY6jZm9fsUvErWNA (~6 miles)
• Loop from Cloverdale to Calistoga, west to Jenner via Guerneville, north to Stewarts Point, and back to Cloverdale - https://goo.gl/maps/EWHJN161e13Y34hL7 (~148 miles)
  • The country store in Stewarts Point is a recommended stopping point - https://twofishbaking.com
  • Recommended by sgt1372
• Bodega Bay to Goat Rock - https://goo.gl/maps/U19kkvNZSARh5xbd8 (~10 miles)
  • Recommended by geemman
• Need for Speed movie sequence from Ukiah to the Point Arena Lighthouse - https://goo.gl/maps/jjWHvHfU3pNQ99CE8 (~48 miles)
  • Recommended by phuonger
• From Suisun Valley Rd. up to Napa Valley:
  • keytohwy recommends two options:
    • Option #1 - https://goo.gl/maps/6sdQemHRayS37fZd9 (~13 miles)
    • Option #2 - https://goo.gl/maps/CLLAGqaN9AQmS97d8 (~30 miles)
  • sgt1372 has three recommended variations (with followup comments here):
    • Shorter - https://goo.gl/maps/f4nmUykH1K7mNtM36 (~34 miles) - essentially the same as keytohyw's "Option #2" above
    • Medium - https://goo.gl/maps/n2qzpjVQBSMnWVkU7 (~48 miles)
    • Longer - https://goo.gl/maps/Fi28LWnoVmgkQpuT7 (~74 miles)
• Lake Berryessa (east of Napa Valley) - https://goo.gl/maps/zBiSLPQfmU8FQSBV7 (~49 miles)
  • Recommended by 1mang
• Winters, up around Lake Berryessa to Hwy-29, back down to Angwin - https://goo.gl/maps/5saVreRRTjqUt2sf9 (~125 miles)
  • Recommended by DesmoSD and david
• Calistoga to Clear Lake via Hwy-29 - https://goo.gl/maps/22W4c9QBwttLy3eg9 (~36 miles)
  • Recommended by archizzzz
• Roads to perhaps avoid...
  • Marshall Petaluma Rd between Marshall and Hicks Valley Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/HmCNSGJX8oJZE4yj8 (~11 miles)
    • mrjonger noted "I would avoid Marshall Petaluma Rd between Marshall and Hicks Valley Rd. It's really rough."
    • visitador said it's "...more suited for Cayennes and not for sport cars"
    • ducktails added "...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."
    • I drove parts of it in May 2019:
      • It's definitely bumpy, but I didn't think it was horrific (in a stock 997.2 C2S)
      • But I'd definitely follow the advice of the folks who know it best
  • Fairfax-Bolinas Rd to Fairfax - https://goo.gl/maps/4PvZpkYJXzpm1x4d9 (~10 miles)
    • david says the road is in bad shape

East Bay

• sgt1372 recommends a variety of options heading east out of Antioch...
  • First take Antioch to Isleton, then to the Georgiana Slough Bridge in Walnut Grove - https://goo.gl/maps/xBrYVq69wsVA4aMy8 (~29 miles), with stop-offs at:
    • Mei Was Beer Room in Isleton - https://meiwahbeerroom.com
    • Walnut Grove Iron Works - http://wgironworks.com
  • Then take one of these options...
    1. Turn left and take River Rd., then Freeport Blvd. into Sacramento - https://goo.gl/maps/YosUWDPkvUDvNoAVA (~30 miles), with stop-offs at:
       • Al the Wop's - http://www.locketown.com/als.htm
       • California Automobile Museum - https://www.calautomuseum.org
    2. Or turn right, and head to one of these...
       • Lockeford Meat & Sausage Services in Lockeford - https://goo.gl/maps/bYyfVzb8JdAwrwNY6 (~24 miles)
       • Wines & Roses Hotel in Lodi - https://goo.gl/maps/TBFzAUcMdEfJHmFx7 (~17 miles)
       • Or route back to Antioch via Stockton and Discovery Bay - https://goo.gl/maps/Ki71TTaRACPRkiaFA (~65 miles)
         • With a stop off at Boardwalk Grill - https://www.boardwalkgrill.net
• Niles Canyon Rd between Fremont and Sunol - https://goo.gl/maps/x1QSLQNwcGxeyaSw8 (~7 miles)
  • Recommended by smceo
• Mines Rd. to Lick Observatory (from Livermore) - https://goo.gl/maps/PyyNXmtgzCTQJAKy8 (~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/yui1Jm1ukeZgp9Zp6 (~52 miles)
  • Recommended by 1mang and CheetoNYC
  • However, TrickTizzle drove this road in July 2019 and noted the DPCR leg "is pretty deteriorated 10/15 miles from Mines Rd. Rock slide area with lots of pot holes and buckled pavement. Would not recommend."
• Skyline Blvd (Oakland), from Golf Links Rd to Redwood Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/4qq4kp5ncPqHJznk9 (~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/uuDiEdi1GLgNC7548 (~11 miles)
  • Recommended by derbo
  • Two718s notes "A word of caution, even at oh-dark-thirty on weekends it is absolutely jammed with bicycles."
  • But wail junkie said "...at around 7 AM and saw just one cyclist the whole time, after doing the full length in both directions"
  • YMMV
• Pinehurst Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/QPb4neThq1Ey1VdG9 (~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/V9xVTZFybqEoCVBi8 (~16 miles)
  • Recommended by derbo, with additional comments here
• Palomares Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/SyqDMpsNfcSKwdCP9 (~10 miles)
  • Recommended by iturbo_bmw
• The Bear Creek / San Pablo Dam loop near Berkeley / Orinda - https://goo.gl/maps/E2Adh8y5tGM3UCHw7 (~19 miles)
  • Recommended by wyatth
• Alhambra Valley Rd in Martinez - https://goo.gl/maps/SDaGTh8biwTzcTV99 (~9 miles)
  • Recommended by FireM3
  • He notes it can be bumpy and narrow, but he likes it
  • It connects to Bear Creek above
• 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
• Through Livermore / San Ramon Valley - https://goo.gl/maps/b9Yfjm5gJE3iwxoB8 (~20 miles)
  • Recommended by sgt1372
  • Sometimes the link above doesn't work in Google Apps (through it works in a browser)
  • Here's the same route but with a different link as a fallback - https://goo.gl/maps/dNnThtn4TF8GjNy7A (~20 miles)
• Tesla Rd / Corral Hollow Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/4NE6BeAgXv34AJwC7 (~16 miles)
  • Recommended by ylk1
  • In April 2020, sgt1372 noted that "humps" (speed bumps w/flat spots on top) have been installed east of Greenville Rd, but once past them it's still enjoyable. Just an FYI...
• Marsh Creek Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/LHiQjYng1DccWSTH7 (~15 miles)
  • Located east of Mount Diablo
  • Recommended by RugbyBro with a few caveats
  • sgt1372 also confirms this can be a fun drive
• Roads to perhaps avoid...
  • Morgan Territory Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/2q9WLLtViChuRRAR9 (~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

South Bay / Santa Clara County

• Mt Hamilton Rd to Lick Observatory (starting at Clayton Rd.) - https://goo.gl/maps/gnLsGVTdeGG7uoXt5 (~16 miles)
  • Great hill climb up to the telescopes at Lick Observatory, and has even been referenced in professional articles/features:
    • EVO Magazine drove this road when reviewing the Mustang (S550) GT350 in the May 2016 issue #221 (front cover) - Henry Catchpole spoke very highly of the road
    • Total911 listed in their Great Road series - https://www.total911.com/route-130-california-usa/
    • When Rory Reid (AutoTrader UK) reviewed a C8 Corvette, the canyon-carving bits seemed to have been shot on this road - YouTube
  • Others think the back-side of Mines Rd. to Lick Observatory (from Livermore) is even better
    • See East Bay section above...
• Metcalf Rd. / San Felipe Rd. to Silvercreek - https://goo.gl/maps/Nu5RE2TXde3yV8da7 (~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/Q3sMSMrKQK1ETyYC6 (~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/fNby6tFfBRSDqKiv6 (~11 miles)
  • Recommended by CheetoNYC
• Various roads leading to/from Uvas Reservoir - https://goo.gl/maps/HbdtXQE2FzhQrUAr7 (~67 miles)
  • Recommended by 1mang
• Bailey / McKean / Uvas / Watsonville Rd. to Hwy-152 - https://goo.gl/maps/PwnPtUsqjrsjevFY9 (~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...
• South on Watsonville Rd. out of Morgan Hill, then east on CA-129 (with Carlton Rd. as a connector between the two) - https://goo.gl/maps/EYNCDXT8aD6S85Kc7 (~28 miles)
  • Recommended by vasmir
• Roads to perhaps avoid...
  • Sierra Rd. to Old Calaveras Rd. - https://goo.gl/maps/nhRQUEPq5kRnE9Gs5 (~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/i3XALdzwZxqLpGHFA (~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/behpi4AQHiciVaC27 (~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/pSkhE5D7srVgbnNu9 (~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/LU8d6io1GMV3oDe2A (~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/eToaYGW8bzyJ9urh6 (~7 miles)
  • Recommended by Chris(MA)
• Soquel San Jose Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/XCdJiPZUFCiTY3CF8 (~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/gKXVi8bQTddyCnQJ6 (~8 miles)
  • Short, but a very nice run
• Felton Empire Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/dVMnSA49DGNK89iKA (~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/1vGwXeuZK34LdJuv8 (~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/5w9KJimmkxEJS6Kt7 (~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/obBkjUjD5nG2WZGy7 (~18 miles)
    • Great run up from the South Bay
  • Woodside to Alice's Restaurant - https://goo.gl/maps/7B2rF9c9LeUahxjPA (~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/oDFRsnrJ7qWFAujm6 (~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/FxChxvpMkoQPytBv6 (~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
  • Loop from Woodside up to Skyline, and back down via Kings Mountain Rd. - https://goo.gl/maps/p45t3zgNLYWVUx6i6 (~16 miles)
    • Recommended by Kelly
• Tunitas Creek Rd. - https://goo.gl/maps/osViHVqWVGH2DEeY7 (~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/xFhEgb4WMfwo4FGv7 (~1 mile)
  • Recommended by jnolan
• Alpine Rd. (from Page Mill side through to Hwy-84) - https://goo.gl/maps/oFcvuFKMWz1LS2GP9 (~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/7G7ixNag7hmed26RA (~17 miles)
  • Recommended by jnolan
• Lobitos Creek Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/nScBv5xfVYMgUHfv8 (~4 miles)
  • Recommended by jnolan
• From the Dam bisecting Crystal Springs Reservoir down to Saratoga avoiding the highway - https://goo.gl/maps/ZGMwnoyBu7y7vy52A (~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/oV6US4CvdkTUEnSw5 (~4 miles)
  • Recommended by TridenTBoy

Points further away from the SF Bay Area

North

• Final race from the 2014 movie Need for Speed - https://goo.gl/maps/JzTydZVsZ7RCRGWa6 (~72 miles)
  • Originally recommended by phuonger
  • ducktails drove it in August 2022, and confirmed it's a good one
• Longvale to Dos Rios - https://goo.gl/maps/L7wEae6PzWVkenCw9 (~16 miles)
  • Recommended by ylk1
  • South end of this route is ~85 miles north of Santa Rosa (as the crow flies)
• Piercy to Rockport (north of Fort Bragg) - https://goo.gl/maps/3MUJSFvCNZkxmUSLA (~29 miles)
  • Recommended by ylk1
  • South end of this route is ~110 miles north of Santa Rosa (as the crow flies)
• CA-36 & CA-3, west of Platina - https://goo.gl/maps/9mRpDrD8CvCL3E4r9 (~52 miles)
  • Recommended by ylk1
  • South end of this route is ~135 miles north of Santa Rosa (as the crow flies)

Sierra Nevada Mountains (and foothills)

• 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/uLSy87xZ11h4t5g77 (~282 miles)
  • Road & Track drove this road for their 2020 Performance Car of the Year, and spoke highly of the Hwy-70 section: https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-car...r-of-the-year/
• Pleasant Valley Rd and Marysville Rd, east of Yuba City - https://goo.gl/maps/mpVToB4cSTgCK9jM7 (~69 miles)
  • Recommended by Jartin
• Various parts of the CA-49 Golden Chain Highway
  • Sierraville to Nevada City - https://goo.gl/maps/1aQTYgJLo9xJJ8sD8 (~77 miles)
    • Recommended by Sprintrider
  • Coulterville to Bagby - https://goo.gl/maps/cJCD5aZn8TNsmxP78 (~10 miles)
    • Recommended by ylk1
  • Downieville to Sattley - https://goo.gl/maps/Uq2GUDiUHyP6sqRt6 (~31 miles)
    • Recommended by ylk1
• Sonora Pass (Hwy-108), from Hwy-395 to Sonora - https://goo.gl/maps/C2h3M1T6acBHBecJ6 (~81 miles)
  • Recommended by Sprintrider
• CA-89, including Monitor Pass - https://goo.gl/maps/Aa2CXF57uGPiH3ER6 (~29 miles)
  • Recommended by ylk1 and Sprintrider
• Pine Creek Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/XFEWs3ZSaWeH278G7 (~7 miles)
  • Recommended by ylk1, and used to be shown in Motor Trend's Ferrari GTC4 Lusso video (YouTube), but MT has since made that video 'private'
• Through Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park https://goo.gl/maps/4YwEn6BDL4S2XdWXA (~79 miles)
  • Kanawyers to Big Stump Entrance via Hwy-180, then down to Citro via Hwy-245
  • Originally recommended by 1mang

East

• Diablo Grande Pkwy back out to I-5 - https://goo.gl/maps/8ScEooftghPnnznF8 (~7 miles)
  • Recommended by iphilips
  • West side of this route is ~36 miles east of San Jose (as the crow flies)
• Zurich to Deep Springs on CA-168 - https://goo.gl/maps/xvFSfdPT4cZg5S7f6 (~25 miles)
  • Recommended by ylk1
  • West side of this route is ~200 miles 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/9RZw71vkEvhT9NR96 (~87 miles)
  • 1mang recommends Hollister to Coalinga (via Hwy-25 & Hwy-198) - https://goo.gl/maps/7Sv3qiMdogPbCxEF9 (~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/bQTFsLN1C5LuHAJu8 (~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/dNheUqKWSm8ccLBP9 (~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/giJBF9H2YNGsNg4A8 (~46 miles)
  • Recommended by ylk1, noting that it's "Probably the single best road in California"
  • Also featured on Jalopnik's "This Is Americaís Greatest Secret Road" - YouTube
  • Ojai is ~25 miles east of Santa Barbara (as the crow flies)
• Horseshoe meadow Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/4Y6yXAj59BZhP59d7 (~8 miles)
  • Recommended by ylk1
  • Can be seen at the ~9 minute mark in Everyday Driver's midship shootout video - YouTube
  • This route is ~165 miles north of Los Angeles (as the crow flies)
• 9 Mile canyon Rd - https://goo.gl/maps/8GQRNw26vzRjvoqKA (~9 miles)
  • Recommended by ylk1
  • This route is ~120 miles north of Los Angeles (as the crow flies)
• SR58 from McKittrick to Santa Margarita - https://goo.gl/maps/q7wHgBmBHieQE4LN9 (~70 miles)
  • Recommended by Archimedes
  • Road & Track drove this road when reviewing a Maserati MC20: https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...many-meanings/
  • This route ends about 5 miles north east of San Luis Obispo
• Hwy-39 from Azusa to the San Gabriel Canyon Road Lookout - https://goo.gl/maps/Hp9HFMG9tLPwuX1e9 (~23 miles)
  • Car and Driver drove this road when reviewing a GT4 RS: https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...y-the-numbers/
  • Azusa is on the northern edge of the LA Metropolitan area

Karl.


PS: Other sites with similar information/recommendations...
.

• SFbaytripper
• UnitOneStudios
• Mayank's Favorites
• Pashnit
  • Recommended by Archimedes
• Road Adventures
  • Recommended by 1mang
• Roadtripper - Roads & Rides
  • Referenced by iphilips
• Bay Area Group Drives on Facebook
  • See leov's post: https://rennlist.com/forums/west-us-...l#post18394523

SLVRon

Hey Karl,


The road that comprises the majority of my daily commute is at the top of the list. Given that I've driven it daily for most of the last ten years (with some time on Bear Creek - which I normally use for runs to SJC), I'll add some further comments -


* Avoid on the weekend unless you are happy to get out there at first light
* Watch for a few random off camber turns near the peak on the Santa Cruz side
* Deer are always a possibility, so as my old IAM handbook says, being able to stop in the distance you can see clear is always prudent
* I've seen one car on it's roof to date...
* While we all want to enjoy the road, be nice to those who are perhaps new to it and are more comfortable a few mph below the speed limit

GoPro video I shot a couple of years ago on Hwy 9 -


Hope to see you out there some time.


Ron.

FLT951

Inasmuch as there are no longer any paved roads in California I recommend you drive today to a morning start in Nevada, Oregon or Mexico where there are paved roads.

SLVRon

The entire length of Hwy236 (arguably even better than Hwy9) was resurfaced last year, and survived the storms imtact. But let's keep that our secret😉

vg247

Karl, thanks for starting this great thread. Appreciate you and everyone sharing..

wjk_glynn

You lucky dog!

Ahh, must give it another shot.

NP. Do you have any particular favorites?


Thanks.

Karl.

vg247

NP. Do you have any particular favorites?


Thanks.

Karl.[/QUOTE]

Karl,

I've only done the Metcalf to Silvercreek and Alice's routes. Will have to try the two top of the list drives.

I'm based out of Santa Clara, and again this is most appreciated, especially your criterias are perfectly in line with mine for a drive.

Cheers and many thanks.

V2Rocket

CA-84 out to the coast.

wjk_glynn

Yup, here's what I think is the best leg of that run:

• Alice's Restaurant to San Gregorio General Store - https://goo.gl/maps/3VgGrSxpTdF2

Karl.

mchu168

I'm heading out there to go camping with my family at Memorial Park today.

Unfortunately my 911 is on order, so we're driving the SUV instead. Not quite the same driving experience I suspect!

wjk_glynn

Hi Ron,

Drove it this morning:

• Hwy-236 / Big Basin / Boulder Creek - https://goo.gl/maps/N68nmyEFcnN2

I added it to the list up above with some notes...

Karl.

r6elmo

I live in campbell - mine more for a good cruise riding or driving is 17 to santa cruz, 1 up to 84E La Honda or Pescadaro (depends on mood) then going east to alices. Then depending on time mood, 84E to 280 to get home or 35S to 9E to get home.

Takes 1.5-2hours depending on how much you stop.

The drive up california 1 from santa cruz are the most beautiful drives where you just wanna go slow.

wjk_glynn

I don't think I've even been on Pescadaro, must give it a shot this weekend.

Similar to 84E ?

Karl.

SLVRon

Karl - let's get a drive scheduled in the mountains some upcoming weekend. Perhaps after the guys at the alignment shop get done with their diagnosis of mine next week...

wjk_glynn

Hi Ron,

Excellent idea. Maybe anchor it with a visit to Canepa Museum, down your neck of the woods...

http://canepa.com/canepa-difference/canepa-museum/

Karl.