Northern California - Mount Diablo: is Northern or Southern descent scarier?

Hi folks,

I'm curious: do you think the Northern or Southern descent of Mount Diablo is the scarier? I've only ever gone down the southern route, towards Danville, and am wondering whether I might want to try the other direction next time....

Neither descent is scary. *shrug* The bottom of the South Side has a few feet of road that are (were? haven't been in a while) in need of some serious tlc. I think the South Side is prettier tho...

Aside from the very bottom privately non maintained section the South side is quite easy. The Northside has a couple sharper turns where I have seen a woman take a spill once. Other than that the scariest part, for me, of all Diablo is where Northgate road reaches the bottom of the steep section. There's a flattish section that is lined by a small talus poked with squirrel tunnels. You can bet there will always be one of these guys trying to make your day memorable.

Both are fun, both are different.

The north descent has more open sight lines, less trees close to the road, and those two hairpins Georges mentioned. The south descent is less open, more tree lined, has more relatively tight turns that you cannot see all the way around, and has horrible pavement at the very bottom.

I prefer the north descent, but not for any real tangible reason.

I like them both. As you learn the mountain, you'll learn how to descend it.

Enjoy it.

BR

The South side, because it's straighter you can get going faster than you want easily.
The North side, because the tight turns require you really lean and scrub speed.
Did that help?

Those giant potholes at the bottom of the south side are the scariest part for me!

I think that the south side is scarier just because I can imagine going off the edge and sliding forever. The dropoff on the north doesn't seem as steep.

Thanks folks! I've only ever climbed north and descended south, so guess I'll reverse it this next time. :thumb:

I hit the South side today...first time since late last year...I see the road at the base hasn't improved. :(

I hit the South side today...first time since late last year...I see the road at the base hasn't improved. :(

Hiya cOlnago! I wonder if perhaps we may have passed each other today.... I did Mt. Diablo today too: parked at the Athenian School, went from there to the summit. Took me 1 hour 17 minutes — so guess I won't be getting the annual Mount Diablo ride's "under one hour" t-shirt this October. :lol:

Hiya cOlnago! I wonder if perhaps we may have passed each other today.... I did Mt. Diablo today too: parked at the Athenian School, went from there to the summit. Took me 1 hour 17 minutes — so guess I won't be getting the annual Mount Diablo ride's "under one hour" t-shirt this October. :lol:

We might have...I parked at the Safeway on Ygnacio and then went up North Gate to summit, down South Gate and back up to summit. I wasn't setting any landspeed records for sure. Maybe it's me but I find North Gate much harder...South Gate is like a stroll in the park comparatively for me (not that it's easy either).

Also, both sides have some blind corners that cars frequently take too fast or (incredibly stupid) pass cyclists going up. After a while you learn exactly how fast you can take every corner but you always have to assume there's an imbicile in a Hummer around the next bend.

There's a double hairpin on NGR and then a sweeping right curve that you can take at full speed followed by a long straight bit that's not too steep but it's your best shot at breaking 45mph.

So which is the tougher ascent? south or north?

just got back from riding to the ranger station via northgate. It's only my second time riding Diablo and both were northgate...


and I do enjoy the northgate descent, gotta love hairpins!

So which is the tougher ascent? south or north?

There's North Gate Road, and then there's the Easy Side.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/Ry-0L7Nj27I/AAAAAAAAByM/RXWJfGeEs8Q/s800/Diablo%20Profile.jpg

I agree with BedRidin. Once you learn both routes, neither is "scary". In fact, on South Gate, I normally will cross over the centerline and use the whole road to turn. There is good sight distance on the south side once you hit the ranger kiosk. Near the slide (with the K-Rail) there is often sand in that corner, so I guess that could be scary, if you start to slide out!

Ditto to all those who talk about the bottom of South Gate. The road is a joke! Where the fark is the city? They need to fill some of those monster pot holes.

The North Gate descent has one tight corner (but I wouldn't call it a hairpin) about 1/3 the way down from the ranger station, a few hundred yards from the second ranch driveway. It's flat and it can get gravelly.

As far as the ascent goes, North Gate is 6 1/2 miles and the South Gate is about 5 1/2 from the actual gate (past the last house). Lot more flattish sections on South Gate...North Gate is pretty much all uphill, and it's nice and consistent, except for the short steep section near the 1000' elevation sign (Burma Road). It's about 8-9% for a quarter mile or so.

The way I like it, and the way I usually do it is up South Gate, down North Gate.

There's North Gate Road, and then there's the Easy Side.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/Ry-0L7Nj27I/AAAAAAAAByM/RXWJfGeEs8Q/s800/Diablo%20Profile.jpg

That explains it. :)