Suggestion for bike riding in Bay area
 

Hello. I'll be in San Francisco area and staying close to Balboa Park station.
One route I am thinking is going east to the Bay side, north and to Golden Gate Bridge. How would be riding north to 580 and crossing to Richmond - and would take BART back to Balboa :)
Other route I am thinking on is to adventure the Hwy 1 - is there any part that bikes are not allowed? Maybe BART To South San Fran, and Hwy 1 from the Sharp Park? Or not worth it? Probably won't go down to Sta Cruz area - too far.
Since I don't know the region, I prefer straight routes so I won't be stopping to check where I am going to...
If you have any great trail/route suggestion to explore, please let me know.

My stomping grounds are a bit farther south, but I do know you can ride across the Golden Gate Bridge, and then there are some nice, if steep, roads in Marin. I think the western side of the City may be more hospitable to bikes than the eastern - Golden Gate Park, the Presidio, etc.

you could go south - but honestly, there is quite a bit of less than spectacular riding before you get the really nice stuff down on the peninsula. unless you’re looking for 80+ mile rides it’s not worth it.

from where you’ll be, I’d strongly recommend going north, by way of great highway and then various routes through the presidio and across the bridge. the shortest loop from balboa park Bart is 35 miles. you could also just get on Bart, off at embarcadero, and take the flat route around the embarcadero, fisherman’s wharf, crissy field, and then up to the bridge.

once you’re across the bridge, there are lots of options, the short but absolutely epic loop of conzelman, field roads, and tunnel road, the relatively flat and slightly longer paradise loop, or up into the hills around Mt tam and Muir Woods for longer rides with 5,000+ climbing by the time you get home. a big loop around the bay is also fun with the Richmond bridge, various bike trails in the east bay, and Bart back.

what’s your desired total ride distance / climb? Happy to share some rwGPS routes.

We do a ferry ride from Richmond to the ferry terminal in SF and back around. Check the times, but it's a lot nicer than BART. if you want to up your miles try the Tiburon/Paradise loop. Have fun.
https://sanfranciscobayferry.com/richmond-ferry-route

Thank you for suggestions!
I am looking for something around 50 miles for the longer rides since don't want to be out too long and as for elevation 2 to 4k feet looks good.
Let me spend some time looking the suggested routes. Thanks much!

1. Diablo - because it is Diablo.
2. You would probably enjoy the Hawk Hill route - especially if you want the iconic Bay Area photos.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...acaa01b33e.jpg


Hawk Hill

Is the trail there paved or packed gravel? Great Hwy looks very safe, but probably no view of ocean.

great highway itself is just a road. because it has no real intersections for a couple miles, it’s a nice flat burst between here and there. it’s closed to vehicles from Friday at noon through Monday AM. one half of it has also been semi permanently closed to vehicles because it gets a lot of sand on it. it’s not scenic like highway one but you can see the ocean, and it’s a nice segment as part of a larger ride. northbound from there, you can either cut into golden gate park on roads closed to cars, and then north into the presidio through regular roads and bike lanes, or just keep going along the coast, past lands ends and eventually into the presidio. personally I do that southbound (I like the short descent) and do the park northbound.

here’s balboa to hawk hill, one way through the park, the other past lands end.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8cde3c68f.jpeg


https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39901479

note that the route onto the bridge depends on the time and day. during commute hours and weekends, bikes use the west side, other times share the east side with pedestrians.

here’s a bigger ride, including a tough (for me) climb up to around 2k and some amazing scenery on ridgecrest.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...33295e506.jpeg

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39901548

there are lots of variations on these, particularly once you’re in marin. if you’re comfortable climbing with cars, a shorter but super scenic route goes up to ridgecrest, then down bo-fax to Stinson beach and then back on highway one. there will be quite a bit of traffic.

… and here’s a SF loop which combines two climbs and some of the flats around the waterfront. can be done either clockwise or counterclockwise, personally I like clockwise but you get a longer uninterrupted stretch on the embarcadero counterclockwise.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...851817163.jpeg

the San Bruno mountain section is not all that exciting, just a gradual climb and a very fast descent. there aren’t too many super amazing ways to get east-west at the southern end of the city.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39901616

Thank you mschwett - Hawk Hill and the loop are in my list.
I looked a pic on internet for the Richmond bridge and if possible will try around there too.

paradise / hawk hill

https://www.strava.com/activities/7331268381

mt tam
https://www.strava.com/activities/6922847835

The fog is pretty dense in the morning, so maybe will try to adventure to the Hawk Hill on Sunday.
I rode to Richmond Bart Station. San Jose Ave, Folsom St to the Bay, around to Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, Corte Madeira, Richmond Bridge and station. Took BART back to Balboa Park. Another ride on around San Fran but lots of time checking where I was going :lol:.
I drove on the Pacific side at evening but was so windy.. I think will try to have a ride there early morning.

Getting in to the "Mark Twain" weather, lol. Guess it will be sticking with us a bit. Enjoy your ride.

Some pics from Balboa Park to Richmond Station

Rincon Park at end of Folsom St.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...48ff618fb0.jpg

From Fort Mason
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7e54f2f9f0.jpg

At Golden Gate Bridge
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0781467f29.jpg

Crossing Golden Gate Bridge
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ccaaf10bcd.jpg

Sausalito
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...19590b1cdf.jpg

Before crossing Richmond San Rafael Bridge
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...72a0aff3ff.jpg

At Richmond Station
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b586e404fe.jpg

Going back home
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8f73605bf0.jpg

Ride to SFO airport and north to downtown

At Bayfront Park
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...966de1b621.jpg

Golden State Warriors arena
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2039da78f4.jpg

San Francisco Giants stadium
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...12e103cfbc.jpg

Last day at Hawk Hill

From Bicentennial Campground area
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...45a4898dde.jpg

From the view point
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d7ac836d86.jpg

nice! sorry the weather didn’t cooperate more, but looks like you hit a lot of good spots.

Yeah, looks like you got the best of SF experience.

Not too many days you get a windless ride over the San Rafael bridge. Guess you got the scenic ride to the Richmond BART.

It was around 10 AM i crossed the bridge, some west wind coming but no gusts. It was foggy so the away view was not great, but got a great time in SF.

If you are in Balboa Park, make sure you check out San Bruno mountain and Radio road. I live in Glen Park, dig through my feed and you will see a lot of the common routes in our hood.

https://ridewithgps.com/users/2407099