Bay Area Bike Rides
The Bay Area is a perfect place for cycling. We have rideable weather all year, a vast array of terrain and scenery, and great cycling roads all over the place. We also have a transit system that allows bikes; the combination of BART and bike can get you to all of the best places to ride, car-free.
These routes are designed for riders of different backgrounds, ranging from serious racing cyclists to people doing fun rides for the first time in their adult lives. Each of the rides listed here starts and ends at a BART station, focused on Oakland, Berkeley, and San Francisco, with rides going through the East Bay, Marin County, and the Peninsula. Most have options for beginning, intermediate, and advanced cyclists, and the routes start off together, so everyone can peel off for their own ride. Do them in the order presented here as a training ride series, or just pick the ones that look fun.
The 2023 storms seriously damaged many of the roads featured here, including Redwood and Wildcat Canyon. Bikes can usually get through the road closure on Wildcat Canyon, but if a repair crew is active, check with them before going through. Redwood is closed by multiple fences; the alternative is to take the Brandon Trail which ends at the golf course (doable on a road bike if you like that kind of thing.)
See the Alameda County Public Works Agency web site for updates on most of the East Bay roads.
Rides
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Happy Valley
A relatively short ride featuring the Papa Bear climb and the long Pumphouse Hill descent.
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Moraga, Canyon, and Pinehurst Road
The ride through the town of Canyon on Pinehurst is one of the signature East Bay bike rides. The climb to Skyline is a challenge.
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Bear Creek Road (The Three Bears)
The Three Bears are the three climbs on Bear Creek Road, one of the most popular routes in the area for serious cyclists.
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The Tiburon Loop
One of the most popular loops in the Bay Area, this route adds a couple of fun options in the Marin Headlands.
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Mount Tamalpais
Beautiful riding through Marin County and San Francisco, and a dramatic climb with views of the Bay and the Pacific.
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The Cheese Factory Century
A nice tour of east and central Marin, with a picnic option at the Marin French Cheese Company.
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The Berkeley Hills Death Ride
This homage to masochism heads up and down 5 of the steepest streets in the Berkeley Hills (steepest grade, over 25%).
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Tunitas Creek Road
One of the best cycling roads anywhere, a climb through the redwoods with no traffic. Highway 1 is also fun for very different reasons.
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The East Bay Dead End Tour
A tour of six different dead end roads in the East Bay; unusual riding with very little traffic.
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Mount Hamilton
No easy option on this one; only advanced or masochistic. Spectacular and challenging riding on desolated roads.
If you have a paid membership for the RideWithGPS app, you can use these routes for turn-by-turn directions, or, download the .TCX or .FIT files and import those into your favorite nav tool.
