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San Francisco, CA: Highway 1 to Half Moon Bay
Escaping San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway, this 60 miler cruises by ocean bluffs to a lung-testing climb up Tunitas Creek Road (and a Caltrain return-trip).
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| Author: | Bicycling Magazine |
| Activity: | Bicycling |
| State: | California (CA) |
| Distance: | 59.44 mi |
| Difficulty: | 7 / 10 |
| Rating: |
 1 rating(s)
|
Dripping in sensory appeal, this Highway 1 classic departs from the Sports Basement parking lot and tackles a quick climb up the Presidio to reveal a postcard-worthy glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge and an inspiring Pacific Ocean vista (that repeats itself around almost every bend on this route).
The sounds, smells, and sights of the Pacific are near-constant on this ride. After briefly veering off the coast along Highway 35, the route crosses into Daly, where hang gliders roam the skies (they’re the only ones getting a better view than the cyclists). Rolling through Devil’s Slide, you’ll be treated to ocean-misted bluffs and ideal rainbow conditions, but be wary of the descent on this narrow, shoulder-less stretch of road.
Continue to Montara State Beach, soaking in the lush greens of hillside grasses and the deep ocean blues just off your right shoulder. With its abundance of galleries and cafés, Half Moon Bay makes for an ideal mid-ride pit stop. The mellow pace and terrain of this route come to an end at Lobitos Creek Road, the base of the Tunitas Creek Climb. After a stiff, .5-mile stretch at 9%, the grade settles down to a lung-testing 5.6% average up to the top. Climbing under the cover of tall, dark redwoods, the road is often shrouded in fog. Descend down Kings Mountain Road, and catch the Caltrain from the Redwood City station. You’ve earned the ride home.
-Mapped by Pete Ferguson
TO TRAILHEAD: Begins Sports Basement in the Marina Green-San Francisco
| Position Format: | Datum: |
Tracks
| Distance: 59.44 mi | Points: 1108 |
| # | Distance | Instruction | Distance to next |
| 1 | 0.00 mi | Start - Head north | Then go 0.06 mi |
| 2 | 0.06 mi | Turn Left - Old Mason St. | Then go 0.49 mi |
| 3 | 0.55 mi | Bear Left - Crissy Field Ave. | Then go 0.18 mi |
| 4 | 0.73 mi | Straight - Continue on Lincoln Blvd. | Then go 0.22 mi |
| 5 | 0.95 mi | Bear Left - Continue on Lincoln Blvd. | Then go 1.48 mi |
| 6 | 2.44 mi | Continue on El Camino del Mar | Then go 0.17 mi |
| 7 | 2.60 mi | Turn Left - 25th Ave. | Then go 0.65 mi |
| 8 | 3.26 mi | Turn Right - Anza St | Then go 0.06 mi |
| 9 | 3.32 mi | Turn Left - 26th Ave. | Then go 0.26 mi |
| 10 | 3.58 mi | Turn Right - Cabrillo St. | Then go 1.34 mi |
| 11 | 4.92 mi | Turn Left - La Playa St. | Then go 0.13 mi |
| 12 | 5.05 mi | Turn Right - Fulton St. | Then go 0.07 mi |
| 13 | 5.12 mi | Turn Left - Upper Great Hwy | Then go 2.71 mi |
| 14 | 7.83 mi | Straight - Continue on Upper Great Hwy | Then go 0.58 mi |
| 15 | 8.41 mi | Bear Right - Skyline Blvd. | Then go 2.25 mi |
| 16 | 10.66 mi | Continue on CA-35 | Then go 4.38 mi |
| 17 | 15.04 mi | Turn Right - Sharp Park Rd. | Then go 2.06 mi |
| 18 | 17.10 mi | Turn Left - Francisco Blvd. | Then go 0.34 mi |
| 19 | 17.44 mi | Continue on Bradford Way | Then go 0.18 mi |
| 20 | 17.61 mi | Turn Left - Moris Point Rd. | Then go 0.09 mi |
| 21 | 17.70 mi | Turn Right - Cabrillo Hwy/ Coast Hwy | Then go 1.81 mi |
| 22 | 19.51 mi | Turn Right - Cabrillo Hwy/ Coast Hwy | Then go 5.84 mi |
| 23 | 25.35 mi | Straight - Continue on Hwy 1 | Then go 12.33 mi |
| 24 | 37.68 mi | Turn Left - Verde Rd | Then go 0.02 mi |
| 25 | 37.69 mi | Turn Right - Verde Ave. | Then go 0.42 mi |
| 26 | 38.11 mi | Turn Left - Lobitos Creek Cut-Off | Then go 1.68 mi |
| 27 | 39.79 mi | Straight - Tunitas Creek Rd | Then go 5.81 mi |
| 28 | 45.60 mi | Bear Right - Star Hill Rd. | Then go 0.31 mi |
| 29 | 45.91 mi | Turn Left - Swett Rd. | Then go 0.67 mi |
| 30 | 46.58 mi | Turn Left - Skyline Blvd./ Hwy 35 | Then go 0.82 mi |
| 31 | 47.40 mi | Bear Right - Kings Mountain Rd. | Then go 3.89 mi |
| 32 | 51.29 mi | Turn Left - Kings Mountain Rd. | Then go 0.89 mi |
| 33 | 52.18 mi | Turn Left - Woodside Rd./ Hwy 84 | Then go 0.71 mi |
| 34 | 52.89 mi | Turn Left - Canada Rd. | Then go 1.73 mi |
| 35 | 54.62 mi | Turn Right - Jefferson Ave. | Then go 2.61 mi |
| 36 | 57.23 mi | Turn Left - Jefferson Ave. | Then go 1.95 mi |
| 37 | 59.18 mi | Turn Left - Middlefield Rd. | Then go 0.08 mi |
| 38 | 59.26 mi | Winslow St. | Then go 0.10 mi |
| 39 | 59.36 mi | Stop - |
Points of Interest
Sports Basement Depart
Location: 37.802511, -122.458849Parking and last minute supplies are available at the Sports Basement. © Pete Ferguson
Ocean Beach
Location: 37.737806, -122.506485Flat and scenic is the name of the game on this Pacific Coast ride. © Pete Ferguson
Pacifica State Beach
Location: 37.598778, -122.502022Great rest stop. Lots of places for food and supplies. © Pete Ferguson
Shoulderless Road
Location: 37.584632, -122.515068Use caution on this narrow stretch of road. © Pete Ferguson
Scenic Devils Slide
Location: 37.574220, -122.518845Full of scenic seaside bluffs and ocean views, this stretch of Highway 1 lacks a shoulder. © Pete Ferguson
Moss Beach
Location: 37.535641, -122.518158Rounding the bend to Moss Beach, the road levels off a bit. © Pete Ferguson
To Hwy 1
Location: 37.668332, -122.485714Bikes aren't allowed on this descent of Hwy. So continue on Skyline Blvd. before taking a right onto Sharp Park Rd. This will shoot you straight over to Hwy 1.
Half Moon Bay
Location: 37.450196, -122.429752Stop in town at one of the many eateries of cafe's before continuing south on Highway 1. © Pete Ferguson
Half Moon Bay Coffee Co
Location: 37.466564, -122.428207Montara State Beach Overlook
Location: 37.557495, -122.513866© Pete Ferguson
Lobitos Creek/Tunitas Creek Climb
Location: 37.382571, -122.400098Gaining 1850 feet over 6 miles, the climb up Tunitas Creek averages 5.6-percent up a dark, redwood-covered road (often shrowded in fog), but kicks off with a stiff .5-mile, 9-percent stretch up Lobitos Creek Road.
Woodside Bakery
Location: 37.429921, -122.254744Pick up post-ride some snacks for the Caltrains ride back to San Francisco at the infamous bakery across from Roberts Market.
Caltrain Redwood City station
Location: 37.484224, -122.230089Located at El Camino Real and Jefferson Ave., the Caltrain station in Redwood City is sometimes a welcome alternative to riding back north (often into headwinds) on Highway 1.
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