NOTE: You must preregister to join this ride. This is a mixed terrain ride.
Distance: about 25 miles
Pace: B (moderate, occasional stops)
Terrain: 3 (moderate hills with some challenges
Elevation gain: about 1,000 feet
Meet at 9:45 AM for a 10 AM departure at the west parking lot of the Pescadero Middle/High School.
For map, cue sheet, and GPS track:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46859737
Old Haul Road is a well-known lumber road near Loma Mar that runs through the Pescadero Creek Park and Portola Redwoods State Park and on to Big Basin State Park. This packed dirt road is great for “gravel” beginners being gently graded (since it was originally a railroad track for hauling lumber) and a true road (just no asphalt). The eastern section of the road is actually in use today for limited lumbering of redwoods but we’re not allowed to enter there. Old Haul Road has been closed since 2021 when the CZU Lightning Complex fire burned a huge section of the San Mateo mountains including Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Extensive damage led to a long closure as the damaged or destroyed trees were removed. But it reopened last November and now we can enjoy it again!
We’ll start at Pescadero Middle/High School and take Pescadero Road up to Loma Mar before cutting onto Wurr Road and then Old Haul. We’ll take it all the way to Portola Park and then go in for a snack break near the Visitors Center. Then we’ll return the way we came with a lunch stop at Loma Mar Store before returning to the start.
The route is half-asphalt, half-dirt road so a mountain bike, gravel bike, or a road bike with 28mm tires or wider are fine.
Bring a snack and water. Rain cancels.
Check the weather forecast beforehand and dress accordingly.
Note: no cell signal for much of this route.
For information about Loma Mar Store:
https://www.lomamarstore.com/