A road called Skyline
11-09-19, 11:09 AM
#1
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A road called Skyline
Seems like anywhere there's some hills, there's a road called Skyline. It's a ridge road, great views on either side, and good for bike riding. You're best off to do it early on weekends before the Sunday car drivers come out. When I lived in the Bay Area, there were at least two of them. The one on the Peninsula ends up being on just about any longer bike rides. In the East Bay, any ride up and over the hills will usually involve it.
I moved to Portland 6 years ago and quickly found that there's a very similar road here. There's usually a bit of climbing to get on it, then it's rolling along the spine, just like back in Cali.
I've seen others describe rides up a Skyline in other parts of the country, and wonder how many of them there are. I'll start up a list on this post and update as others add theirs.
1. Skyline Blvd, East Bay above Oakland California
2. Skyline Blvd, Peinsula above Silicon Valley California
3. SW and NW Skyline Blvd, Portland OR
4. Skyline Blvd, Eugene (@CliffordK)
6. Skyline Drive, Shenandoah NP, VA (@ex Pres)
7. Skyline Road, Eastern Iowa (@SalsaShark)
8. Skyline Drive/Duluth Traverse/Skyline Parkway, Duluth Minnesota, (@gomango)
9. Skyline Drive, Tustin CA (j@cb4)
10. Skyline Drive, NE Indiana (@Bianchigirll)
11. Skyline Drive, Laguna Beach, CA (@Thalia949)
12. Skyline Drive, Knoxville TN (@Whit31)
13. Skyline Dr, Corona CA (@joesch)
14. Skyline Drive, Morristown, NJ (@noglider)
15. Skyline Dr, Utah (@jamesdak)
16. Skyline Drive, Sandyston, NJ (@amillhench)
I moved to Portland 6 years ago and quickly found that there's a very similar road here. There's usually a bit of climbing to get on it, then it's rolling along the spine, just like back in Cali.
I've seen others describe rides up a Skyline in other parts of the country, and wonder how many of them there are. I'll start up a list on this post and update as others add theirs.
1. Skyline Blvd, East Bay above Oakland California
2. Skyline Blvd, Peinsula above Silicon Valley California
3. SW and NW Skyline Blvd, Portland OR
4. Skyline Blvd, Eugene (@CliffordK)
6. Skyline Drive, Shenandoah NP, VA (@ex Pres)
7. Skyline Road, Eastern Iowa (@SalsaShark)
8. Skyline Drive/Duluth Traverse/Skyline Parkway, Duluth Minnesota, (@gomango)
9. Skyline Drive, Tustin CA (j@cb4)
10. Skyline Drive, NE Indiana (@Bianchigirll)
11. Skyline Drive, Laguna Beach, CA (@Thalia949)
12. Skyline Drive, Knoxville TN (@Whit31)
13. Skyline Dr, Corona CA (@joesch)
14. Skyline Drive, Morristown, NJ (@noglider)
15. Skyline Dr, Utah (@jamesdak)
16. Skyline Drive, Sandyston, NJ (@amillhench)
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Last edited by gugie; 11-13-19 at 06:29 PM.
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11-09-19, 11:22 AM
#2
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Hmmmpf. Google Maps will give you quite a list. There is a Skyline Blvd in Eugene, up near Hendricks Park. A lot of little loop roads up there. I'm pretty sure I've ridden my bike up there, but don't remember it as being that memorable.
I wouldn't be surprised if there was a Skyline (road, drive, blvd, place, loop) in just about every city that wasn't pancake flat. Of course, go to Montana, and it would be Big Sky....
I wouldn't be surprised if there was a Skyline (road, drive, blvd, place, loop) in just about every city that wasn't pancake flat. Of course, go to Montana, and it would be Big Sky....
11-09-19, 11:27 AM
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When I lived in the Portland area, I never rode Skyline on a bicycle. It was plenty dangerous on a motorcycle!. Timing is everything in terms of a clear road. Going up Germantown to get there and then to near the end to end up at Helvatia Tavern was a favorite ride.
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11-09-19, 11:56 AM
#5
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As a young lad my great auntie would take me on a drive on Skyline, East Bay SF Bay area.
In LA, the nearest road like that is Mulholland Drive. There is still a dirt section, thankfully so.
In the western part of it is the
Home - The Rock Store
a "refuel" stop for serious bike riders and motorcyclists.
In LA, the nearest road like that is Mulholland Drive. There is still a dirt section, thankfully so.
In the western part of it is the
Home - The Rock Store
a "refuel" stop for serious bike riders and motorcyclists.
11-09-19, 12:21 PM
#6
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~15 years ago I road my first road bike, a 2003 Specialized Sequoia from Luray up to one of the higher points along Skyline Drive. Can’t remember where I stopped and turned around to head back but the total trip was in the 30 mile range but with quite a bit of elevation gain. Coming down the mountain was a lot of fun.
11-09-19, 12:54 PM
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Old Germantown Road is one of my favorite ways to get up there. From Cornell Rd to Cornelius Pass it’s practically crowded with cyclists these days but a lot fewer use the section west of Cornelius Pass out toward Helvetia. I like to ride that section and come down Logie Pass to Hillsboro, but it’s a lot of work.
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11-09-19, 02:16 PM
#8
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There's no Skyline roads in the area where I live. However, I do come across Skyline bicycles which was a Canadian brand of entry level bicycles owned by the Consumer's Distributing chain of warehouse style retail outlets. I believe the chain also had some USA outlets, primarily in the north-east. So, I can still ride a Skyline, despite there being no roads by that name, in my region.
11-09-19, 03:09 PM
#9
Hwy 35/Skyline Blvd. Portion of it that goes through the heavy forested mountains, just south of SF, in the Bay area, had been always my go to road for riding my motorcycle to hit the mountain twisties. Never rode my bicycle through there because of the fast car and motorcycle traffic that regularly ply those twisties (And the CHP that regularly chase them down when they speed). Although there are enough bicycle riders that goes through Skyline/HWy 35, that enjoy the mountain rides.
11-09-19, 03:29 PM
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Hwy 35/Skyline Blvd. Portion of it that goes through the heavy forested mountains, just south of SF, in the Bay area, had been always my go to road for riding my motorcycle to hit the mountain twisties. Never rode my bicycle through there because of the fast car and motorcycle traffic that regularly ply those twisties (And the CHP that regularly chase them down when they speed). Although there are enough bicycle riders that goes through Skyline/HWy 35, that enjoy the mountain rides.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
11-09-19, 04:11 PM
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Skyline Drive in Shenandoah is my stomping grounds. Didn’t realize until I looked but I haven’t taken a picture up there in a while. This is Jarman Gap Road - one of the “back doors” to Skyline.
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11-09-19, 06:05 PM
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I can't think of Skyline in Eugene without thinking of Pre I was a kid there in the early 70s
11-09-19, 06:34 PM
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Above Silicon Valley?
Actually, I used this map more for rides to Summit Rd from Santa Cruz, especially via Scott’s Valley, then Bean Creek, Mt Charlie Rd., etc
......And descending Zayante
Actually, I used this map more for rides to Summit Rd from Santa Cruz, especially via Scott’s Valley, then Bean Creek, Mt Charlie Rd., etc
......And descending Zayante
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Last edited by Wildwood; 11-09-19 at 06:45 PM.
11-09-19, 08:15 PM
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In case you ride at night...Skyline in Oakland had lights embedded in the curbs to help drivers when the fog settled in. Uhumm, I never did, but people would go there at night to see how far they could drive with their lights off. Met a guy on the plane who was a camera man from Carolina coming out to film the Superbowl. He wanted some fill in shots of SF. Told him that was the best place to catch a panoramic view if the city..
11-09-19, 08:30 PM
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We have a Skyline Rd in our county. It runs dead East/West just South of the regional airport (which i always assumed is where the road got its name). It's paved with 3 or 4 miles of rolling hills, and lots of good gravel riding if you turn off to the South. Highly recommended area to get out for a ride!
11-09-19, 09:02 PM
#16
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I rode a couple segments of the Peninsula 35/Skyline Rd today as part of a loop through Pescadero, albeit on a more modern bike. I PRd from KMR to 92 it was such a calm and beautiful day. Much of the road surface quality of this Skyline has suffered comparatively in the last 10-15 years due to the rough chipseal they’ve put down. Hwy 84 down into la Honda on the other hand is so smooth in comparison.
11-09-19, 09:53 PM
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Interesting thread. Living in Berkeley, I take many rides on the #1 Skyline on the list (and also on #2 ). #1 may possibly be the penultimate Skyline. Little traffic, epic views, nice curves, good road surface, many riders. If anyone is visiting, let me know and if I'm not working I'll happily give you a tour of Skyline.
I am one of the lucky ones. I hope to hear from others with epic Skyline rides.
I am one of the lucky ones. I hope to hear from others with epic Skyline rides.
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11-09-19, 10:07 PM
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I grew up there myself. Miss it sometimes. Seems like everytime I came home on leave from the Army I'd spend a day or two hiking up there and doing photography. I was a runner in those days not a biker but man would I love to bike that now.
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11-10-19, 06:04 AM
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One of our favorite and most scenic rides is the Skyline Drive/Duluth Traverse singletrack trails.
From the top, the rider looks out over Duluth harbor and it is a charming sight!
https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/539...uluth-traverse
Also connects to the Skyline Parkway, which is our Duluth bypass on our bike tour to the family cabin in Ely.
From the top, the rider looks out over Duluth harbor and it is a charming sight!
https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/539...uluth-traverse
Also connects to the Skyline Parkway, which is our Duluth bypass on our bike tour to the family cabin in Ely.
Last edited by gomango; 11-10-19 at 08:52 AM.
11-10-19, 07:07 AM
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Skyline Drive in Tustin CA - Climbs up to Tustin Heights (shockingly)
A regular bike club route, not all that hard, but a nice segment - if you don't know your way you can get you all turned around
A regular bike club route, not all that hard, but a nice segment - if you don't know your way you can get you all turned around
11-10-19, 07:12 AM
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We even have a Skyline drive here in N.E. Indiana although our hills aren't all that big.
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11-10-19, 08:51 AM
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The one in Shenandoah NP is quite a climb, sit and spin until further notice. I did that a couple years ago, heading out from Front Royal with three other riders. We'd been riding together several hours already, all going the same speed, but the climb quickly separated us, one rider gradually disappearing in front of me, the other two behind me. For a while I'd see another rider on the straight sections, but long before I reached the top I was alone. Then I saw someone in my mirror, a cyclist gaining on me fast. Then a young woman whizzed past me with a cheerful hello and continued on up. When I got to the top she was taking selfies (the view was spectacular, even without her in it). I helped her get a better photo. She explained she was training for some big climb in the French Alps.
My friends and I regrouped at Luray.
One rider saw three black bears on that climb; one crossing the road, another two sitting on a rock watching us go by. I didn't see any bears.
My friends and I regrouped at Luray.
One rider saw three black bears on that climb; one crossing the road, another two sitting on a rock watching us go by. I didn't see any bears.
11-10-19, 10:22 AM
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My memory is tickling me about a motorcycle road in Socal but it's just not there...
Meanwhile I found this. MTB Project has 115 hits for Skyline, though I bet a lot of them are different segments and routes along a smaller number of trails
https://www.mtbproject.com/search?q=skyline
Meanwhile I found this. MTB Project has 115 hits for Skyline, though I bet a lot of them are different segments and routes along a smaller number of trails
https://www.mtbproject.com/search?q=skyline
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11-10-19, 10:56 AM
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https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/c.../skyline-drive
11-10-19, 11:15 AM
#25
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There’s a Skyline Drive in Knoxville TN.