DXchulo

Anyone have a route for Mt. Diablo? I don't have a whole lot of time, so basically all I'm looking for is the climb itself. I found this: https://gorp.away.com/gorp/publishers...e/bik_ebay.htm

Will that work? Anyone have better ideas?

I might try to squeeze in Mt. Hamilton as well, but that probably won't happen. If you know a Mt. Hamilton route feel free to add that in as well.

Snicklefritz

When I do Mt. Diablo, I often ride from home since I live in Pleasanton. If I'm pressed for time, I'll do the following:

I680 to Crow canyon road. Turn right (east). Go a couple of miles and then turn into Diablo Vista Park. It will be on the right just after the baseball fields. That's a great place to park. Go back out and turn right to get back on the road you were on. Keep going straight and after a few more miles you'll see signs to turn into Mt. Diablo State Park. The main climb starts about 1 or 2 miles after you turn off the main road.

cyclintom

Unless you're a star climber I suggest Snicklefritz's route. Southgate and Summit Rd and better routes for first timers. Northgate is steeper though longer and when you hit Summit Rd it can leave you so burned out by the top that you have to walk the final 13% wall.

BE CAREFUL descending. A lot of people buy it here.

bigbossman 

From I680/Crow Canyon to Diablo Vista Park is more than a couple of miles. I ride this route almost daily, and it is more like 5 miles or so from the freeway to the park. Alternately, you can exit the 680 at El Cerro Road (which turns into Diablo Road), and reach Mount Diablo Scenic Boulevard (south gate) more directly.

Whether you choose either the Crow Canyon exit or the El Cerro exit from 680, you might be better off continuing on to The Athenian School, and parking there. That way you are at the base of the mountain and can start the climb immediately if you want. The school is located at the base of Mt. Diablo on Mount Diablo Scenic Boulevard, just off Diablo Rd/Blackhawk Road. Just turn right out of their parking lot and go up about 11 miles.......

Directions from their web site:

Directions from the El Cerro exit - Exit at El Cerro Road and go east. It will merge into Diablo Road. Continue east past the Green Valley School and past the fire station. Continue on the two-lane road past the Diablo Country Club. Proceed to the stop sign. Turn left onto Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd. Turn right into the first driveway.

The descent can be an adventure - at least down from the top for the first 4.5 miles to the Junction Ranger Station. That part of the road is steep, narrow, in disrepair, and very twisty. After you reach the junction, either way from there down is much better and a lot of fun. Things to watch out for are hairpin turns right around blind corners, and opposing vehicular traffic (both car and motocycle) that can come around those blind curves more or less crowding into your lane.

Pay attention to what you are doing, and you'll have a marvelous descent. It does improve with repetition - the first few times I was very tenative and conservative, but now that I know the road and can set myself up it is a real hoot descending bottom 2/3rds of the mountain.

But Be Careful - trouble can visit you swiftly, and if it does you'll either eat the rocky inside of the road or go over the steep outside edge of the road. I've seen both - one isn't necessarily better than the other.........

Oh - and one other thing. START EARLY. Most of the route is in full sun, and you don't want to be climbing in full sun when it is 100 degrees.

'nother

If you have a little time but not all day to do Mt. Hamilton, you could drive partway up Mt. Hamilton Road to Joseph D. Grant County Park and ride to the summit from there. That leaves you with about 11 miles (one way) and skips one of the intermediate descents. There's pretty much only one way up Mt. Hamilton unless you have a lot more time (i.e. to do the back side, which is considerably more difficult and remote). Look up Mount Hamilton Road/CA Route 130 and Alum Rock Road out of San José.

DXchulo

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I'm going to be on a trip with my girlfriend who doesn't ride, so I think I'm going to make her hang out at the park for a while. Once I'm at the park it should be right in front of my face, right?

I'm a flatlander and I'll be on a rented bike, so I'm definitely going to take it easy on the descent.

Can anyone tell me more about the differences between south gate and north gate? Thanks again.

UmneyDurak

I like this route: https://calcycling.org/routes/diablo.php

RoboCheme

I like the Northgate descent better than southgate. The north descent seems faster and less technical. I was riding my brakes a lot on the descent to the south. You might want to ascent from the south and descend to the north (if you can get your gf to meet you at Northgate). It's a pain getting from Northgate back to the south (either very roundabout or busy streets with not bike lanes).

fogrider

a good place to start for the north ascent is heather farms, its a big city park that is very close to the road for the north ascent...I'm sure you can find it on google or anyother map. if your gf is not into hanging around the park (there is everthing you might want in a park) it is close to downtown walnut creek and yor gf could do some shopping there...the shopping there is on par with downtown san francisco and there is a performance bike also.

bigbossman 

If you're pressed for time, AND you are a flatlander, take my advice and park at the Athenian School. There is a nice soccer field/park there, and it is right at the base of the climb. Diablo Vista Park is a nice park, but it is still at least 2-3 miles from the beginning of the climb and has two short climbs of it's own before you get to the beginning of the Diablo climb.

Figure 2hrs for the ascent (the best do it in ~1), and about 20 minutes or so for the descent. Go up the south and descend the south. It is approximately 11 miles of climbing.

The north approach starts in Walnut Creek. It is longer and has more traffic. The south road starts in Danville. It is shorter and as a result, easier. The north and south routes meet at The Junction ranger station, 4.5 miles from the summit. From there, it is a single road to the top, Switchbacks, in the sun, and various degrees of steep. The last 1000 feet or so of the climb are steep enough that your front wheel will go very light with every pedal stroke. Lots of fellows do it with a double, I could not do it without a triple (FWIW). There are plenty of opportunnities to refill water bottles, so 2 should be plenty.

If you go up the south road and down the north, figure a minimum of 45 miles round trip to circumnavigate around the west slope of the mountain to get back to the south gate where you started. I've done it many times, and the ride is nice if you know the route - no so nice in some parts if you get into the busier thoroughfares in the Walnut Creek area (stay away from Ygnacio Valley Road, for example).

If you have time while you're here, I would be glad to show you on a map. It is pretty straighforward.

Snicklefritz

[QUOTE=bigbossman]From I680/Crow Canyon to Diablo Vista Park is more than a couple of miles. I ride this route almost daily, and it is more like 5 miles or so from the freeway to the park. Alternately, you can exit the 680 at El Cerro Road (which turns into Diablo Road), and reach Mount Diablo Scenic Boulevard (south gate) more directly.
I think you misread what I wrote.

Once the main road turns onto mt. diablo scene drive, then it's another mile or so before the serious climbing starts.

brownhairgirl

your post was really helpful!! thanks

garciawork

I'll 2nd the being careful on the descent. I'm one of the guys who has been taken out going down Northgate. I start from my apartment in Pleasant Hill, and its 7.6 miles to the gate. Perfect warm up time. I haven't been down Southgate yet, so I can't comment there. I can tell you that the north side has some pretty steep sections early on, and then gets a little easier to me as I get higher, and it feels AWESOME when you are done.