Why Go: This feature-packed ride, which starts and ends downtown, highlights the sheer geographical diversity and scenic beauty that makes NorCal so special. From San Francisco’s touristy waterfront, it crosses the Golden Gate Bridge, heads over the rugged Marin Headlands, hugs the Pacific shoreline through Muir and Stinson Beaches and climbs past redwood forests and flowering manzanitas to 2,574-foot Mt. Tamalpais.
Road Notes: The Headlands will present some challenges, but they’re nothing in comparison to Mt. Tam. It’s a stiff 9-mile, 2,500-foot climb from Bolinas Lagoon to the summit, but the wide-open vistas from Bolinas Ridge are worth it. You’ll want a rugged bike for this one, since we’ve routed you down a dirt-and-crushed-stone railroad grade to Mill Valley. From there, it’s on to Tiburon to catch a ferry back to Fisherman’s Wharf.
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Distance: 60.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 6,272 feet
Starts From: San Francisco, CA