Wednesday, April 1, 2015
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This ride goes through the beautiful Vaca Valley out to the nut and fruit orchards along Putah Creek for a lunch stop in Winters. The return includes a scenic run through the flats around the orchards and agricultural fields to the rolling English Hills for a climb up east Cantelow Rd.
Begin this ride on Rivera Rd outside of Pena Adobe Park in Vacaville.
Cross over I-80 on Cherry Glen Rd to Pleasants Valley Rd.
Pleasants Valley Rd is a gorgeous stretch of flat road that begins along Vaca Valley through the rich farmlands and orchards with fantastic views of the Vaca Mountains.
The rolling climbs take you through the valley with horse and cattle ranches, farms and nurseries.
Pleasants Valley continues north through large ranch homes, orchards and bee hives towards Cantelow Rd.
The gentle rolling terrain for the next 4.5 miles takes you through some horse ranches with paddocks to the pastoral lands with grazing cattle.
Check out the fields of lupines!
The road roughly follows Pleasants Creek through the open valley with several creek crossing through the orchards and green grasslands.
Head NE on Putah Creek Rd with views of the blue waters at Lake Solano and Putah Creek.
The flat terrain rolls through the vast fruit and nut orchards around east Yolo County.
Cross the Winters RR Bridge onto Main St for the lunch stop at Steady Eddy’s or Rotary Park.
Reverse your way on Main St and take the Winters Bridge back out to Putah Creek Rd.
Meander around the beautiful flat lands through the orchards and ranch houses along Boyce to Wolfskill and Halley.
Sweeney Rd and N Meridian Rd takes you out through the rich expansive agricultural and pastoral lands around east Yolo County.
Head west on Allendale Rd for 2.8 flat miles through the open fields and farmlands around Allendale.
The rolling terrain on Timm Rd, Peaceful Glen and English Hills Rd leads you south around the English Hills residential ranching communities to Cantelow Rd.
The ascent up the east side of Cantelow Rd is 3.5 miles with a series of rolling climbs. The first gentle half mile takes you under a canopy of trees out to the Catholic Retreat Ranch.
The road continues for the next mile along the back of the ridge to beautiful white estate ranch house.
Cantelow continues to climb up to the next ranching area followed by a short descent.
The 0.4 mile leading up to the right hairpin turn from the ranch house is steep with gradient ranges of 9-13%! It gradually levels out as you make the short bit up to the summit.
Stop for a minute to enjoy the fabulous valley and mountain views!
The descent on the west side of Cantelow to Pleasants Valley Rd is steep and twisty with a few blind curves.
Head south on Pleasants Valley Rd for the next 6.5 miles; the rolling terrain leads back through Vaca Valley to Cherry Glen Rd.
Cross I-80 back to Rivera Rd.
This is a fabulous scenic ride through the valley flat lands along the lower foothills of Vaca Mountains, Blue Ridge and English Hills. You’ll enjoy the run through the orchards and the beautiful quiet climb up Cantelow!
Garmin Stats
43.66 Miles with 1486′ of elevation gain
Max elevation: 821′
Max grade: 11%
Terrain: Flat-rolling with one low hill climb
Weather: Sunshine and blue skies. Temps ranged from the high 50’s to the low 70’s with brisk NW winds.
View the interactive RGPS route map & profile
Follow this route for today’s ride:
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