Saturday, October 31, 2015

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This out & back ride climbs up to the top of Mt Tam via the beautiful redwood forests along Panoramic Hwy to Pan Toll Rd. Continue on E Ridgecrest Blvd and take in the glorious mountain views-they’re absolutely spectacular!

Begin at Hauke Park parking lot on Hamilton Dr.

Take the Multi-use path off Hamilton Dr through Hauke Park and cross Pickleweed Inlet onto Sycamore Ave.

Cross Camino Alto and turn left on Park Ave to Miller Ave; the road heads north through Mill Valley to the Depot Plaza and Throckmorton Ave.

The turn on Cascade Dr takes you through the redwoods around Old Mill Park to Marion Dr. Marion Dr winds up along the canyon through a beautiful residential neighborhood with homes nestled in the woods; it climbs up to Edgewood Ave with gradient ranges of 6-9%.

Edgewood Ave continues to climb up through the neighborhoods with an average grade of 5.5%.

Head south on Sequoia Valley Rd to Panoramic Hwy at Four Corners; the climb is 0.6 mile with an average grade of 6.3%.

The top of Sequoia Valley Rd opens up to magnificent views of south Marin!

The next 4+ miles on Panoramic Hwy goes along the ridge as you weave your way through the residential neighborhoods. There is a short section of steep climbing with grades of 9-11% before you reach Mountain Home Inn.

Panoramic Hwy continues winding along the ridge before gently dropping down into the redwoods around Mt Tam State Park. The road continues to twist and turn as it gently climbs underneath the canopy of pines and redwoods to Pan Toll Rd.

The climbing continues on Pan Toll Rd for the next 1.4 miles with an average grade of 5.5% up to the Rock Springs parking lot.

Take the time to enjoy the grand views along the way!

E Ridgecrest leads you up to the summit of Mt Tamalpais; it’s a steady 1.4 mile climb up to the highest point with an average grade of 6.7% and a short steep section with grades of 12-15%. On the climb up, there are several vista points-pull over and enjoy the dramatic views of SF, Marin and beyond!

From the high point, the road continues with a few short climbs and a couple of descents. The hiker/bike path on Old Railroad Grade Trail at the bottom of the descent will lead up to the summit. There are a few picnic tables and a bench at the Verna Dunshee picnic area.

Enjoy the magnificent views!

Descend Mt Tam East Peak from the upper parking lot onto Ridgecrest Blvd; it regains 250+ feet on the climb back up to the West Peak summit with gradient ranges of 6-10%.

The sweeping descent from the West Peak drops down to the Rock Springs parking area. Turn left and descend Pan Toll Rd to Panoramic Hwy.

Retrace route back through the residential neighborhoods on Marion and Cascade Dr to Miller Ave for the return to Hauke Park.

This out & back route is all about the climb up to Mount Tamalpais. It cuts out the busy stretch through the city streets from Fairfax to Mill Valley. You’ll absolutely enjoy the ascent through the beautiful redwoods along Panoramic Hwy and the gorgeous vistas on Pan Toll Rd to to the summit of Mt Tam on E Ridgecrest Blvd! The ride is short and sweet with plenty of elevation gain and scenic views-you won’t be disappointed!

Garmin Stats:
27.2 Miles with 3215′ of elevation gain
Max elevation: 2399′
Max grade: 15%
Terrain: Extremely hilly

Weather: Sunny and warm with clear blue skies. Temps ranged from the high 50’s to the low 80’s with NW winds.

View the interactive RGPS route map & profile

Follow this route for today’s ride: