Ride Bike!: Metric Century on Morgan Territory Road

Topographic map with elevation profile

We turn right on Marsh Creek Rd. Marsh Creek is a nice road with not much traffic. It's gradually uphill, with a couple of steep sections. There isn't much shade, and it can be hot, so we'll try to keep the pace low, and everyone should remember to drink lots of water. After about 8 km of climb, there's a nice 2 km descent to Morgan Territory Rd.. Morgan Territory Rd. splits off to the right and continues downhill for a while; be ready to turn off so you don't have to lose your momentum.

Morgan Territory Rd. is one of my favorite rides, and is one of the most isolated roads in the Bay Area. In 2005 it's even more isolated than usual, as part of the road has been washed out so it is closed to cars on the north side. It climbs up the back side of Mount Diablo, then descends into the Livermore Valley. The first 6 km is mostly flat with a gradual uphill trend. After that, it becomes a one-lane road with practically no traffic, and it starts climbing more in earnest. The one-lane section is wooded and should be cooler; it parallels a creek bed which is flush with water in the spring, and mostly dry through the summer and fall. The peak is about 9 km from where the road becomes one lane. The average grade is a little over 5%; it comes at you in waves, so there are a few sections which are pretty steep. The total climbing on Morgan Territory is about 400 meters; from the beginning of the ride, gross altitude gain is about 700 meters. The peak is at about 630 meters; for comparison, Grizzly Peak is 530 meters. The road rides harder than that, though; the heat and the waves of ever-steeper grades can really sap your energy if you push too hard. Pace yourself!

At the peak there's a regional park which has water available; we'll take a break here.

After the peak, the road gets wider but remains one lane. The descent is steeper than the climb, and it's twisty and can be a little harrowing, since you have to watch your speed and be prepared to deal with a car coming the other way. But if it's clear sailing it's a blast. The road descends for about 8 km, and then ends at Manning Rd. Turn right on Manning. At this point we're through with significant climbs until the final one on Palomares Rd.

Manning Rd. is a pleasant, rolling road through the East Bay meadows. We take it for about 5km to where it ends at Carneal Rd., then turn left. Carneal Rd. is a fun but short road which we take for 1 km to Collier Canyon Rd., then turn right. Collier Canyon Rd. is another pleasant, rolling road which ends at Highland Rd. after 2 km. Highland is much the same, and gradually rolls downwards towards where it ends at Camino Tassajara, 3 km later.

Turn left on Camino Tassajara. Tassajara rolls downwards towards Livermore and Pleasanton; it has more traffic than the roads we've been riding on, but it's not too bad. It sort of becomes Santa Rita Rd. around where we cross 580, return to civilization, and hit bail out route #1 (below) after about 10km (64km from the beginning of the ride).

Turn right on Owens Drive right after the freeway. Owens is a wide road with little traffic on weekends. It's often headwindy along the freeway. Take it about 1km to the BART station (where you can bail out if necessary), then turn left on Willow Road. Willow is a wide, straight, deserted road through office parks. Take it about 3km to West Las Positas Boulevard; turn right.

West Las Positas is a busier, mostly commercial road. Take it under the freeway and up a short, steepish hill to where it ends at Foothill Boulevard; turn left on Foothill. Foothill was a really pretty road before they started building ugly-ass million-dollar houses all along it. It's still pretty good, with nice views of the hills, gently rolling terrain, and moderate traffic. Take it about 5km to Castlewood Drive (at the golf course)--turn left on Castlewood, and right on the Pleasanton-Sunol Road. Pleasanton-Sunol has a different feel than the roads we've been riding; it's mostly flat and parallels the train tracks into Sunol (~6km), where it hits Highway 84.

Highway 84 is not too fun; it's busy and sometimes too narrow. Keep in single file. It's slightly downhill for about 8km, where we hit Palomares Rd. and bail out route #2 (below). Turn right on Palomares. Palomares is a very nice wooded, rugged road with little traffic. It climbs, with some steep sections, for about 7 km, then peaks at about 400 meters and then has a fun descent for about 11 km into Castro Valley. There are a couple of wineries along the way. Keep bearing to the left as we near the bottom; Palomares becomes Palo Verde and then E. Castro Valley Blvd.

Continue on Castro Valley Blvd. until it hits Redwood Road. Turn left on Redwood Road. The Castro Valley BART station will be on your right after about 1km. Total riding is about 104 kilometers. Congratulations!

Bail Out Route #1 (total riding ~70km)