Ride Bike! Mount Hamilton

Topographic map of routes

Stanley Boulevard is a wide, straight road with a broad shoulder as well as a bicycle side path. I take the road; as with most side paths, the intersections are terrible, though there aren't too many. We usually get a tailwind in this direction, so it's good big ring territory; it's laser-straight for over 5km, with no traffic lights until we get into Livermore. It has a very slight uphill grade. for most of its length.

It's easiest to stay on Stanley until it hits Livermore Avenue, then turn right. Livermore is a fairly busy street through what passes for downtown Livermore; after about 3km it leaves town, bears to the left and becomes Tesla Road. After that, take the first right on Mines Road.

From here on out, we're really in the boonies. There are a couple of farms on the first part of Mines Road, and there's a moderate amount of traffic on weekends, most of it going to Del Valle Regional Park. After 5km, the road turns to the left (going straight takes us to Del Valle), the traffic disappears and we head out onto one of the most remote roads in the Bay Area (rivalled only by Morgan Territory Road). The rugged terrain and undisturbed chaparral evoke images of spaghetti Westerns--you half-expect to see a young Clint Eastwood mounted on a nearby hillock with a rifle across his arm.

Mines is not only remote, it's long. There are mile markers painted on the road to remind us just how far we are from any kind of civilization-- they count up to the Santa Clara county line (20 miles) and down from there to the top of Mount Hamilton (26 miles). In between, there is virtually nothing except for the Junction Cafe, at the intersection where Mines Road meets Highway 130 headed into the central valley towards Yosemite. The road trends upwards for what seems like forever; there's a fairly steep climb that takes us up 300 meters, then the road starts stepping upwards, with climbs punctuated by flat sections through meadows. The terrain is unlike any other road around here.

The gradual climb takes us to 500 meters altitude at the Santa Clara county line, 35 km from the beginning of the road. The climb gets a little more serious at that point, bringing us to about 800 meters before a small descent, a moderate climb, and then a long (5km) descent to the Junction Cafe. After the first peak, we encounter the first of the cattle guards which are to be our companions all the way to San Jose. They're a little disconcerting; make sure to hit them straight-on and with a reasonable amount of speed.

We'll stop at the Junction Cafe; we'll need water if nothing else. It's quite a place, a cafe with a library, post office, bar and convenience store, all in one room. They don't give out ice for free, but you can buy a bag, which might be worth it if it's hot out there (as it often is). The Junction is really a dive, but a welcome one.

Bear right at the junction. The road, if possible, gets even more desolate past the junction; we're unlikely to see anything other than other cyclists or motorcycles doing the same ride we're doing. The character of the road changes some; the road is straighter and flatter for almost 10km, then there are two noticably long, fairly steep climbs over ridges, with descents on the other side. At the top of the second ridge; we get our first view of something near the peak of Mount Hamilton itself; while Hamilton is the tallest peak in the Bay Area, it's in the middle of a range of peaks which hide it from ground observation from most angles.

The road crosses Isabel Creek, which marks the beginning of the real climb. The climbing we've done so far keeps this climb from being as dramatic or as long as the climb up Diablo, but it's still over 600 meters altitude delta, and steeper than the Diablo climb. Here's where you find out if you've bitten off more than you can chew, although if it turns out you have, there's not much to do other than keep pushing up the hill. Ain't no taxi gonna come by out here.

Eventually we'll reach the Lick Observatory complex at the peak (Mile 0, painted on the road). There's water and vending machines in the public buildings, and some touristy things to do if there's time.

The descent on Mount Hamilton Road is fairly gentle and twisty; they had to cut the road with grades below 7% so horses could pull up the huge 36-inch telescope lenses they installed here back in 1888. (Lenses, not mirrors, back then--the largest telescope up here now is a 120-inch mirror, and it's still used for serious science.) Unfortunately, the descent is interrupted twice by noticable climbs; they wouldn't be bad at the beginning of a ride, but they're quite annoying when you're supposed to be descending from a 1300-meter peak.

Mount Hamilton Road eventually ends at Alum Rock Avenue. Turn left on Alum Rock; after about 2km, it bears to the right and then hits White Road.

For advanced route

Calaveras is a nice road that parallels the Calaveras Reservoir for much of its length. There's a fairly steep climb out of San Jose, then a gradual, rolling descent into Sunol, where it ends at Highway 84. Turn left on Highway 84, and then right into downtown Sunol (assuming we want to stop at this point). There are a couple of general stores in Sunol, and a biker bar. Exit back out onto Highway 84. Highway 84 cuts through Niles Canyon, which is really picturesque, but it has a lot of high-speed traffic and not a lot of shoulder, so I usually don't enjoy the ride much. It descends gradually all the way into Fremont. As you start to hit civilization, turn left on Mission Boulevard. Take Mission 1km to Walnut Avenue and turn right. After about 1km, Fremont BART will be on your right. Total riding is about 175 kilometers.