REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Anyone in Palo Alto ride around the area after work?

1252 Views 20 Replies 9 Participants Last post by massiveattack, Jul 30, 2004

massiveattack

Discussion Starter · Jul 27, 2004 (Edited)

I work on Pagemill on the HP campus. I've been hitting the Astradero Trails everyday... I'm thinking about trying something new... possibly Fremont Older or up more Pagemill and Skyline, Russian Ridge? Anyone got better recomendations... I'm fairly new to the Palo Alto area (trails to ride)

Astradero kind of spooked me today when I ran into a rattler.

Thanks!

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darth tracer

· #2 · Jul 27, 2004

fremont older is not that fun of a place. it is great for a local quicky but be weary of horses horse poop and radar guns. i would try lexington in los gatos, saratoga gap and long ridge at the top hwy 9, montebello and stevens canyon, they all interconnect, santa theresa at the end of 87, grants ranch on mount hamilton, soquel demonstration forrest in aptos, UCSC at the campus, wilder ranch in santa cruz. all of those places are within about 45 minutes of palo alto depending on traffic. i grew in the bay area and had endless places to ride and loops to do. i hope that helps. if for just the lunch time quicky fremont older is ok afterall thats where i learned to ride 12 yrs ago. for after work the lexington area is fun and their a few fun loops up there. for singletrack hit the saratoga gap area and for not so much fun climbs and fast fireroad descents hit grants. anyway have fun discovering all of those trails.

massiveattack

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 27, 2004

Thanks Darth Racer for the info. 45 minutes is pretty far for me but Lexington sounds interesting. Do you have recomended route and directions?

Thanks Again!

darth tracer

· #4 · Jul 27, 2004

freomont older is about 15-20 min by freeway, that place is tought to get lost at and at lexington i would ride up the jones trail to st joesephs hill and do the loop around the top you can search around and do the couple of little singletracks also stay straight on jones and go over and down to the dam side and go left up the road to overgrown its at the bottom of the u turn on the road about a 1/2 mi up its the next trial head go up that to the 4 way left goes up preist rock to kennedy and right goes back to the road great if moody was still there but none the less a fun fast fireroad dh. also for a great climb go up kennedy road from los gatos and hit the kennedy climb 4 or so mi of fun climbing. then go down preist rock to overgrown and back into los gatos . for really good directions try summit bike shop or crossroads bike shop in downtown los gatos.saratoga gap is fun and only around 30 min away check out a ROMP ride up there to find your way around. ROMP.org i think. any way lots of great riding in your area

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8Trak

· #5 · Jul 27, 2004

I like Fremont Older for an afterwork ride. I'm coming from Sunnyvale and it's close by and easy to get to. It's not challenging from a technical point of view, but there's singletrack and some fireroad loops. I usually spend about an hour there and really try to push the climbs if I'm by myself. For me, just pedalling on dirt beats the gym any day.

MVRIDER

· #6 · Jul 27, 2004

Take 280n. to 84 w./woodside rd. Follow Woodside rd. to Skyline/hwy35 N ( make a right ) go about 3-4 miles to El Corte De Madera osp. aka Skeggs point. Get a map, for such a small park it could be pretty easy to get lost. Lots of fun for all generes of riding.

derek

· #7 · Jul 27, 2004

I work just across the street at the VA, and don't ride at Arastradero often but will go up Alpine road to the parking lot near Windy Hill. Then continue up Alpine road and continuing on the dirt section up to either Page Mill or turning right up to Skyline. There are many open spaces up there that are great for riding. Check the following map:

http://www.openspace.org/maps_trails/maps/map2.pdf

massiveattack

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 27, 2004 (Edited)

Thanks Derek...

I was thinking about trying the Russian Ridge after work. But I think I might try out Windy Hill. So many options....

Anyone work in the area willing to show a new person loops to these trails.

I work just across the street at the VA, and don't ride at Arastradero often but will go up Alpine road to the parking lot near Windy Hill. Then continue up Alpine road and continuing on the dirt section up to either Page Mill or turning right up to Skyline. There are many open spaces up there that are great for riding. Check the following map:

http://www.openspace.org/maps_trails/maps/map2.pdf

Jorgemonkey

· #9 · Jul 27, 2004

I usually start my after work ride from hwy 9 and skyline and take the Saratoga Gap trail, then I connect trails all the way to page mill road and back. I'm actually taking one of my newbie friends out today in monte bello to do some exploring later this afternoon. I try to ride up here 2-3 times a week.

DanT

· #10 · Jul 27, 2004

Other suggestion...

Asides from Skeggs and Saratogo Gap, try Waterdog Lake Park in Belmont. Go north on 280 and exit at Ralston. The entrance of the park is on Carlmont drive. The reviews, and more accurate directions, can be found on this site. It's a fun a fun after work ride - it has some climbing, some technical stuff and a trail with no less than 18 switchbacks. Soquel is great, but probably too far away to be a good after work ride.

derek

· #11 · Jul 27, 2004

Just be aware that many of the preserves are closed to bicycling (Los Trancos being one) and many of the trails in others are also closed to bikes too (Windy Hill is a prime example). Check www.openspace.org for what is open to bikes.

I'd be happy to show you the trails, although I rarely drive up to Russian Ridge due to the amount of time it takes to get there. The climb up dirt alpine is fairly long but gradual and provides an excellent descent at the end.

fatnbald1

· #12 · Jul 28, 2004

I also live in Palo Alto and have been to Water Dog a few times. I like it because it's so close, but last time I was there, I was kind of frustrated at the condition of parts of the trails! I would still recommend it...there's quite a variety there considering the location. I haven't been to Arastradero yet, so that will be next. I went to Monte Bello a while ago and really enjoyed that....may be too far for after work though (in my opinion!)

oldskoolboarder

· #13 · Jul 28, 2004

Rattler at Arastradero? Yikes, luckily didn't see one last week.

Montebello is pretty decent, if you're looking for local trails. I, too, am looking for more options w/ in riding distance from my house. I use a CX, so it's a doable 7 miles from Menlo Park to Arastradero for some offroad miles.

I'm building up my legs so I can ride Page Mill to the Montebello trailhead...

massiveattack

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jul 28, 2004

I tried driving up Pagemill yesterday and realized that this route was pretty long. A lot longer than I expected to drive to get to preserve. Anyhow, I turned around and figured that there would be better route up and ended up again at Astrodero, which I am getting really tired of.

Anyone know of another route up from Pagemill or is this the best route? I was going to try Sandhill instead tomorrow.

Also is it wise to ride up there alone for your first time? Just curious - lately I have been running into alll sorts of Animals and such.

Thanks in Advance.

oldskoolboarder

· #15 · Jul 28, 2004

massiveattack said:
I tried driving up Pagemill yesterday and realized that this route was pretty long. A lot longer than I expected to drive to get to preserve. Anyhow, I turned around and figured that there would be better route up and ended up again at Astrodero, which I am getting really tired of.

Anyone know of another route up from Pagemill or is this the best route? I was going to try Sandhill instead tomorrow.

Also is it wise to ride up there alone for your first time? Just curious - lately I have been running into alll sorts of Animals and such.

Thanks in Advance.

hmm, i'm sure there is another entrance to the preserve but not sure from where. Don't think it'll be from Sand Hill though. Alpine Road may be closer.

Yeah, Page Mill is a long drive up.

I ride a lot solo, though mostly on weekends, so it's not usually empty. Just start carrying some pepper spray and keep an eye out.

Fremont older is still an option. I like that as an after work ride, since it's close to my office in Sunnyvale. Yeah, there's some horse crap, but definitely a much more interesting ride than Arastradero.

derek

· #16 · Jul 28, 2004

IMO the best way is up Alpine Road. Just keep riding up Alpine Road, past the Portola Valley turn off. Eventually it will turn to dirt and go all the way up to Page Mill (just a bit up from Monte Bello). You can hook into Coal Creek, Russian Ridge, or Montebello easily).

I'm happy to show you guys. Drop me an e-mail through my profile, or I may try to go up again tomorrow evening but that'd be a quick ride. Friday night I could go on a longer ride starting from the Page Mill/Foothill intersection.

-Derek

oldskoolboarder

· #17 · Jul 28, 2004

derek said:
IMO the best way is up Alpine Road. Just keep riding up Alpine Road, past the Portola Valley turn off. Eventually it will turn to dirt and go all the way up to Page Mill (just a bit up from Monte Bello). You can hook into Coal Creek, Russian Ridge, or Montebello easily).

I'm happy to show you guys. Drop me an e-mail through my profile, or I may try to go up again tomorrow evening but that'd be a quick ride. Friday night I could go on a longer ride starting from the Page Mill/Foothill intersection.

-Derek

Thanks for the offer. Already got 2 "hallpasses" from the wife this week for vball and roller hockey. Don't think I can get another one to ride...

However, if I read your link correctly, I can just take Alpine till it ends and go into Coal Creek. That would work for me, since I start my rides in Menlo Park at the end of Willow Road.

Found this. Looks like it could even go to Page Mill for a wicked downhill. Though I'd be nervous about riding it w/ my CX knobbies.

http://www.openspace.org/preserves/coal_creek/coal_creek_map.pdf

Is the Coal Creek area more of a fire road or is it narrow? CX is new to me, I've used it at Arastradero and Fremont Older. Still getting used to the different geometry from my MTB, so steeps can be a little tricky right now. But it is getting easier...

derek

· #18 · Jul 28, 2004

Yeah you've pretty much got the description right. Alpine Road doesn't really end though, just turns to dirt at the gate and except for a couple hard yard re-route due to a landslide is a fire road. I don't know about your CX skills, but those trails should be fine on a CX bike. I've ridden comparable trails on my road bike with slicks before. Have fun exploring.

massiveattack

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jul 29, 2004 (Edited)

Derek-

That would be awesome if you could take the people on a tour of the area, who never been there.

Let me know if you're free tomorrow, I'll bring the bike into work. Usually I'm out by 4.

Anyone else in for a ride afterwork?

btw// tried sending a pm/email... doesnt work through your profile.

derek

· #20 · Jul 29, 2004

Sorry about the pm/e-mail. I think I fixed it. Are you thinking of today or Friday? I can go tomorrow, but didn't bring my bike in today and have too much stuff to do anyways. Maybe tomorrow evening.

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