59 miles, 7,500 vertical
Map: Click here
Challenging
One of my favorite loops lately has been a loop to Big Basin and back starting at Lexington Reservoir, just west of Los Gatos. It's a challenging ride that begins immediately with a climb up to Summit Road.
A 3/4-mile stretch of Mt. Charlie (what a great name for a road, eh?) is the last steep pitch up to Summit Road, a beautiful stretch of road that follows a ridge north, through Christmas tree farms, some short, steep sections, and then a gradual climb up to Castle Peak at 3,000 feet, one of the highest points in the area.
Then the descent starts with a 500 foot drop down to Highway 9 where you turn left and head down several miles to Big Basin. This is a wonderful little climb up through majestic redwoods, past China Peak road (tough climb!) and down into the park. Here you can take advantage of the restrooms and fill your water bottles before a gradual climb up out of the park, then another fun descent down into Boulder Creek.
A left turn onto Highway 9, then a quick right onto Bear Creek Road. A few miles of small rollers takes you to a consistent and moderately difficult climb back up to Summit Road where you can turn right and retrace your route (as is shown in the map) or you can just take Bear Creek Road back down the east side, back to Lexington Reservoir.
Do this ride early on a weekend morning and you will barely see a car, except for the climb up Bear Creek, where caution is advised, as local residents can take the turns pretty fast.
