• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
CalBike
  • About Us
  • Get Involved
    • Reform Traffic Policing
    • Sign Our Petition for E-Bike Rebates
    • Volunteer
    • California Dream Ride
    • Join/Renew
  • What We Do
  • Resources
    • Free Quick-Build Bikeway Design Guide
    • COVID-19 & Bicycling
      • COVID-19 Bicycling FAQs
    • Learn to Bike at Any Age
    • Map & Routes
    • Crash Help
    • Register Your Bike
    • California Bicycle Laws
  • Shop
    • Get our beautiful jersey!
    • Pre-order a bicycle-themed license plate
    • Donate
  • Blog
  • Donate
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
  • COVID-19 and Bicycling
  • Fact Sheets and FAQs
  • Our Video Channel
  • 2021 Legislative Watch
  • Blog
The Latest
great bike rides bicycle tourism

Great Bike Rides in the Sierras

November 30, 2020/in The Latest /by Dave Snyder

If you’re experiencing cabin fever right now, you’re not alone. While travel options are restricted by the pandemic, there’s one way to get away, experience California, and stay COVID-safe: bicycle tourism. California’s Central Valley and Sierras have great bike rides that will give you a welcome break from daily life. Visit bikevalleytosierra.com for more on CalBike’s project to connect you with great bicycle tourism opportunities.

We will periodically repost information from our bicycle tourism website. Below are suggestions for great bike rides in and around Valley Springs, in the Sierras.

Ride, Explore, and Dine in Valley Springs

Great Bike Rides to Support Arts Education 

Each spring Valley Springs holds an arts education fundraiser for Calaveras County K-12 public schools. See https://www.rideandwalk4art.com/ The three route options are available on this website, 25, 45, and 75. The routes start at Hogan Dam and wind around the Tri-Dam Lakes.

Hogan Dam Cameron Trail, New Hogan Lake

A multi-use trail starts at a small parking area north of the park headquarters. From there it travels above the water on crushed gravel and a number of interconnecting sections of road. The wide trail provides easy access to the Wrinkle Cove area, Fiddleneck area, Acorn Campground, and Oak Knoll Campground, and eventually ends at the Coyote Point Trail just north of Coyote Point. There’s intermittent to no shade so hike or bike either in the early mornings. Acorn Campground to Observation Point is a must family ride. No traffic road. Rides 4, 8, 10, miles.

Wrinkle Cove to Lime Creek, Valley Springs

Five miles out and back to practice road bike riding skills. The road is mostly flat with several short rolling hills. Light traffic, watch for deer during fall and summer. Parking at Wrinkle Cove

Sheldon Road, West of Valley Springs

My favorite ten-mile flat road and with expansive views of Sierras. My wife and I used this road to practice and prepare for bike tours in Europe and Asia. Parking is along fence lines just off Highway 26. Turn around at Escalon Belotta Road

Berkesey Lane, Rancho Calaveras

Absolutely the best two-mile road to learn how to ride a bike. This is my go-to bike road to teach grandchildren to ride a bike. Parking at either end of the road.

Gwin Mine Road, Paloma

A three-mile downhill ride to Middle Bar Road and a hilly bike ride back. This is a good ride for e-bikes.

South Hogan Road, Hogan Dam Reservoir

Below the Hogan Dam and across Calaveras River is a six-mile out and back rolling quiet rural road. The hill climbs out are challenging but, the ride back is much easier. There is very little traffic and beautiful views of Sierras.

Salt Springs and Hunt Road, Milton

The Salt Spring loop is as well known as any bike ride in the foothills partly or maybe mostly due to its use for the Copperopolis Road Race in the early spring. It’s a lovely ride with varied terrain, great scenery, and very little traffic, but the pavement is very rough. If you can set yourself up with 28C (1 1/8″) or wider tires, you’ll be fine. With 23C road tires, you may feel a bit beat up afterward.

Parking after Salt Springs Reservoir, along the road.

Tags: bicycle tourism, featured
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/redwood_rider_climate_ride.jpg 426 640 Dave Snyder https://www.calbike.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/calbike-logo.png Dave Snyder2020-11-30 16:45:572020-11-30 16:45:57Great Bike Rides in the Sierras

Latest News

  • Central Valley Passage mapThe Central Valley Passage: CalBike’s Visionary Long-Distance Bike RouteJanuary 14, 2021 - 3:14 pm
  • federal support for bikingWhat to Expect from Federal Support for Biking in 2021January 13, 2021 - 4:33 pm
  • Cal the Cat in a maskCalBike’s Best and Worst of 2020December 28, 2020 - 11:37 am

BLACK LIVES MATTER

California will never have the equitable, prosperous and inclusive communities that CalBike advocates for until we address and redress anti-Black violence. We want to actively contribute to ending systemic racism, especially in transportation policy, and most especially in bicycling advocacy. We promise to listen and learn how we can best do this work. To our community members who experience the violence of racism on a daily basis: we see you, we hear you, and we stand with you.

Join the movement for better biking in California

Be the first to hear about the latest news and actions you can take to help create bike-friendly communities.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

DONATE

JOIN/RENEW

CONTACT US

ABOUT US

  • About Us
  • Financials & Governance
  • Staff
  • Board of Directors
  • Local Partners
  • State and National Allies
  • Careers
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us

WHAT WE DO

  • Current Projects and Campaigns
  • Past Campaigns and Projects
  • California Bicycle Summit
  • Sign-On Letters

RESOURCES

  • COVID-19 and Bicycling
  • Fact Sheets and FAQs
  • Our Video Channel
  • 2021 Legislative Watch
  • Blog

EVENTS

  • California Dream Ride
  • 2021 Agenda Kickoff
CalBike Logo

California Bicycle Coalition | 1017 L Street, #288, Sacramento, CA 95814 | 916-778-0746

Made by Zac Maybury

California Bicycle Coalition
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
Urban Transportation Research Reveals Alarming Trend in US Bike Traffic Fat... traffic safety What Can California Learn about Traffic Safety from Europe?
Scroll to top