rudolfs001
Booty Hunter
I'll be up in Sacramento in a couple weeks. Work lets off at 5:30, so I'll have a couple hours of daylight. What are some good nearby rides to do?
Going up to Sacramento in a few weeks for a business trip, what are some good roads to ride?
- Thread starter rudolfs001
- Start date
flying_hun
Adverse Selection
I would head into the foothills east of Sac. Where specifically would depend upon where in Sac I was starting from and heading back to. If you were south of Hwy 50, you might consider heading up to Fiddletown above Plymouth on Hwy 49, and from there to Volcano, and from there to West Point on Hwy 26, then back down to Moke Hill, then I would reverse it.
Other options include heading up to and beyond Georgetown, and head out for an out and back on Wentworth Springs. One of the common ways to get up there is via Salmon Falls Road, but it can get a little squiddy for my taste.
The main thing is the theme of up into the foothills and back down again. You can work your up and down the eastern border of Sac to find new varieties.
Some folks like the delta, and it's pleasant. You can explore out there quite a bit, but it's more cruising than sport riding type stuff.
Other options include heading up to and beyond Georgetown, and head out for an out and back on Wentworth Springs. One of the common ways to get up there is via Salmon Falls Road, but it can get a little squiddy for my taste.
The main thing is the theme of up into the foothills and back down again. You can work your up and down the eastern border of Sac to find new varieties.
Some folks like the delta, and it's pleasant. You can explore out there quite a bit, but it's more cruising than sport riding type stuff.
flying_hun
Adverse Selection
49 is where the PoPo live.
Sunday I rode it from Grass Valley up to the summit and didn't encounter any once it stopped being freeway :dunno
rudolfs001
Booty Hunter
Thanks for the suggestions guys!
I'll be starting in Downtown and tend to ride on the sportier side, so 49 will definitely eat some of those evenings :ride
I'll be starting in Downtown and tend to ride on the sportier side, so 49 will definitely eat some of those evenings :ride
49 South between Auburn through Placerville and Plymouth to Jackson has been heavily patrolled in the past. There is a CHP Station in Jackson. For good reason as there are a lot of houses and sightseers.
Some good riding southeast of Sacramento. 50 East to Eldorado Hill Blvd. Going south this changes in Latrobe Road. Keep going south and turn left at Old Sacramento Road (if you get to Hwy 16, you went too far). Take Old Sacramento Road to through Plymough where it changes to Fiddletown road. Follow up through the foothills to Ram's Horn Grade road into Volcano. Head up to Hwy 88 and Catch the fun part of Hwy 26 over to Mokelumne Hill where it meets Hwy 49. Chill out and cruise back to Sacramento through Jackson to Hwy 16, back to Latrobe Road. (Hwy 16 from Rancho Murietta into Sacramento sucks and has a lot of head on crashes.)
NOTE: OLD Sacramento Road and Fiddletown Road have a lot of bumpy, blind decreasing radius corners that can catch any rider off guard. I see the Hun mentioned this as I was putting together my post.
If you like this ride, grab a map and look for all the other little fun roads in the area Jesus Maria, Railroad Flat or Sutter Creek Volcano Road and explore a bit. There are a bunch of little nowhere roads in the area that really fun.
Edit: If you're right in downtown Sac its really only around 35 miles or so to Berryessa via Davis and Winters.
Some good riding southeast of Sacramento. 50 East to Eldorado Hill Blvd. Going south this changes in Latrobe Road. Keep going south and turn left at Old Sacramento Road (if you get to Hwy 16, you went too far). Take Old Sacramento Road to through Plymough where it changes to Fiddletown road. Follow up through the foothills to Ram's Horn Grade road into Volcano. Head up to Hwy 88 and Catch the fun part of Hwy 26 over to Mokelumne Hill where it meets Hwy 49. Chill out and cruise back to Sacramento through Jackson to Hwy 16, back to Latrobe Road. (Hwy 16 from Rancho Murietta into Sacramento sucks and has a lot of head on crashes.)
NOTE: OLD Sacramento Road and Fiddletown Road have a lot of bumpy, blind decreasing radius corners that can catch any rider off guard. I see the Hun mentioned this as I was putting together my post.
If you like this ride, grab a map and look for all the other little fun roads in the area Jesus Maria, Railroad Flat or Sutter Creek Volcano Road and explore a bit. There are a bunch of little nowhere roads in the area that really fun.
Edit: If you're right in downtown Sac its really only around 35 miles or so to Berryessa via Davis and Winters.
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I like to go up toward Foresthill ... there's a lot of great motorcycle roads in the area south of I-80 and north of US-50.
flying_hun
Adverse Selection
The last two times that I've had roadside conversations with Officer Friendly it has been on 49 headed into Downieville. In general, 49 between Placerville and Mariposa fairly crawls with CHP. The roads above and below 49 tend to be far more interesting than 49 itself.
Good to know. I'll probably head up in that direction again in a few weeks, need to decide exactly where though.
zphreak
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I work in Downtown Sacramento.
If leaving right at 5:30, you'll have a little traffic to deal with but nothing like the Bay Area.
Head up to the foothills, since you have a few days to ride then schedule some time going north and south. Head up 80 and catch 49 south all the way to 4 to 99 and back to Sacramento is a good 2 hour loop.
Can even add 193 in there through Cool, Rock Creek Rd and Mosquito Rd.
Lots to explore, dress in layers and keep something to clean your visor. There's a ton of little bugs flying out in the evenings.
If leaving right at 5:30, you'll have a little traffic to deal with but nothing like the Bay Area.
Head up to the foothills, since you have a few days to ride then schedule some time going north and south. Head up 80 and catch 49 south all the way to 4 to 99 and back to Sacramento is a good 2 hour loop.
Can even add 193 in there through Cool, Rock Creek Rd and Mosquito Rd.
Lots to explore, dress in layers and keep something to clean your visor. There's a ton of little bugs flying out in the evenings.
rudolfs001
Booty Hunter
zphreak
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DOH - Maybe a couple more hours :cool
It's been a while since I've been out to ride the hills, mostly just to and from work these days.
ScottRNelson
Mr. Dual Sport Rider
Highway 49 between Auburn and Nevada City is totally boring - the only truly boring part of that entire 300 mile road.
I would suggest taking Highway 50 up to Folsom/El Dorado Hills, then getting on Salmon Falls Road. The quickest way there would be to take El Dorado Hills Blvd which dumps you right onto Salmon Falls. You don't want to go crazy fast on that road, but it is enjoyable at an interesting pace.
Once you get to Highway 49, head north to Cool, then take Highway 193 up to Georgetown. If you feel like riding for a couple of more hours, head north-east on Wentworth Springs Road. Wentworth Springs Rd is a wonderful high speed road through the forest. Ride it all the way to Ice House, then take that back to Highway 50. It will likely be dark by then. Otherwise, follow Highway 193 back around toward Placerville. I quite like that half of 193.
If you want to add a bit more riding at that point and don't mind a tighter almost "goaty" road, take Rock Creek Rd east from that one hairpin turn on 193, then take Mosquito Road back into Placerville.
You might consider Latrobe Rd out of El Dorado Hills to S Shingle Rd then take that into Shingle Springs. My favorite barbecue restaurant is right before the freeway there: Back Forty Texas BBQ. Take Ponderosa Rd north out of there to Green Valley, then head west to Folsom or east to Placerville.
Also off of Latrobe Rd, a bit further along, is Old Sacramento Rd, which turns into Fiddletown Rd. A loop all the way out Fiddletown Rd then back on Omo Ranch Rd would be a great ride.
One other good choice is to take Foresthill Rd out of Auburn, or slightly better, Highway 49 down to Old Foresthill Rd, then ride all the way to the town of Foresthill. Get on Mosquito Ridge Rd there, which is one of the legendary roads in the area, similar to Mines Rd. Take it all the way to French Meadows Reservoir if you want a long ride.
I know a lot of other good roads in the area, but those are the best one. If you manage to do all of those and want more, drop me a note.
I would suggest taking Highway 50 up to Folsom/El Dorado Hills, then getting on Salmon Falls Road. The quickest way there would be to take El Dorado Hills Blvd which dumps you right onto Salmon Falls. You don't want to go crazy fast on that road, but it is enjoyable at an interesting pace.
Once you get to Highway 49, head north to Cool, then take Highway 193 up to Georgetown. If you feel like riding for a couple of more hours, head north-east on Wentworth Springs Road. Wentworth Springs Rd is a wonderful high speed road through the forest. Ride it all the way to Ice House, then take that back to Highway 50. It will likely be dark by then. Otherwise, follow Highway 193 back around toward Placerville. I quite like that half of 193.
If you want to add a bit more riding at that point and don't mind a tighter almost "goaty" road, take Rock Creek Rd east from that one hairpin turn on 193, then take Mosquito Road back into Placerville.
You might consider Latrobe Rd out of El Dorado Hills to S Shingle Rd then take that into Shingle Springs. My favorite barbecue restaurant is right before the freeway there: Back Forty Texas BBQ. Take Ponderosa Rd north out of there to Green Valley, then head west to Folsom or east to Placerville.
Also off of Latrobe Rd, a bit further along, is Old Sacramento Rd, which turns into Fiddletown Rd. A loop all the way out Fiddletown Rd then back on Omo Ranch Rd would be a great ride.
One other good choice is to take Foresthill Rd out of Auburn, or slightly better, Highway 49 down to Old Foresthill Rd, then ride all the way to the town of Foresthill. Get on Mosquito Ridge Rd there, which is one of the legendary roads in the area, similar to Mines Rd. Take it all the way to French Meadows Reservoir if you want a long ride.
I know a lot of other good roads in the area, but those are the best one. If you manage to do all of those and want more, drop me a note.
ScottRNelson
Mr. Dual Sport Rider
Almost forgot. If you want an alternative to heading toward the Sierras, go to Freeport and get on Highway 160 along the Sacramento river. It's interesting all the way to the Antioch bridge. Be prepared to hit a few bugs if it's warm out - bugs or crosswinds, depending on time of day.