San Francisco 3 day tour

[Bodhi65]

Hi,

I am arriving in San Francisco from New York on Tuesday around noon and leaving Thursday at noon. We rented a few Harley's, sorry but eagle rider has a $100/day special. Can anyone suggest a good 3 day route? Id like to maybe ride Napa, Skaggs, and PCH in no particular order. I would appreciate any suggestions and local knowledge to make the most of our mini vacation. We can comfortably ride around 300 miles per day.

 

Thanks for any help.

 

Alan

[David13]

I was just up there at the end of the year.

I would suggest some rides over some of the bridges. And then a ride south to Skyline, coming south out of the city. You have to jog over from 280 south to get to it. Then south, by Alice's Restaurant, lunch if you want, and down to 4 corners, then 9 south into Santa Cruz. Then up highway 1 (check for closures, all the way into San Francisco, or back onto Skyline on any of the roads east from the waterfront.

Or the reverse.

Another day to the north. Out toward Mt Tam, or Muir Woods, or both.

And Bolinas Road east to Fairfax, then back south to the city.

Maybe someone else will suggest things to the east. I don't really think there is much to see to the east, unless you get some real distance to the east.

dc

[CoarsegoldKid]

Hello Alan I received your email. I hope several of the riders from the Bay area chime in as they will know the area far better than I. I think the good riding will be north of the bay. Many roads in the area. Too bad you only have two days to spend. Get a Northern California map from a fuel station and or a California map at the very least.

Highway 1 is a good bet heading north and it can be wet from rain or fog and be cold. A few mile inland and it can be warm and dry. The weather forecast for the Petaluma area mid week looks great.

The wine country is up in that country with plenty of twisty beautiful roads. I don't think you can go wrong just following your nose. Enjoy your time there.

[Firefight911]

Get on your scoots, head north across the Golden Gate. Run up the Marin Headlands for some great views back in to the city. (Exit IMMEDIATELY after crossing bridge.) They are up on your left.

 

 

 

After this head north on 101 and then take Hwy 1 (Shoreline Hwy) out of Sausalito to the coast.

 

Run Hwy 1 north and stop in Bodega. This is different than Bodega Bay!!!!!

 

The church from the Birds is in Bodega.

 

 

Continue up Hwy 1 to Jenner and hang a right on 116 (River Road). Take this in to Santa Rosa and stop at the Peanuts, Charles Schulz museum. Very cool bit of history there and it is adjacent to his skate rink.

 

Once done there, run over to the Santa Rosa Airport and check out the air museum. F-4, F-16, etc., etc., some very cool birds!!! A lot of times there are some private owned P-51s out on the apron with some very proud owners who like to show off their planes!!!

 

Jump on 101 and run through Healdsburg. Great food on the square. From here run out Dry Creek Road which turns in to Skaggs Springs Rd. Take it out to the coast again.

 

Head north on Hwy 1 again at Stewarts Point and go north to Point Arena and stop in at Zen Motorcycle Shop for some fun local talk. Catch the Point Arena Lighthouse while in town.

 

Zen House

 

Continue north in to Mendocino. Great food and places to stay in both Mendocino and Fort Bragg.

 

Depending on your company/budget/desires, I HIGHLY recommend Glendeven Inn to stay.

 

Head back down Hwy 1 to Hwy 128 and head east. Stay on this all the way to the Napa Valley - Calistoga, Yountville, St. Helena, etc.

 

Once done running up and down here, jump up in to Silverado Trail and head up toward Angwin on Deer Park Road. Take this up to Chiles Pope Valley Road and hang a right and run back down to Sage Canyon Rd and head over to Cappell Valley Rd. (This is all 128.) Slide over on 128 to Berryessa Dam.

 

 

 

Once here you can run in to Davis for food, etc. or whatever, continue in to Sacramento to see GoV. Moonbeam's office.

 

This should be a good leg to run for a day or two or three?

 

I can't go with or meet up with ya as I am headed out to Death Valley but others will hopefully chime in with other offerings.

[skinny_tom (aka boney)]

Looks like the weather is going to be good for you. 65-ish in the valleys and 55-ish on the coast.

 

I figure you'll have to be in SF late Wednesday or early Thursday to get the bikes back, and it's likely you won't be leaving SF until early afternoon on Tuesday. I'm setting this up with those limitations.

 

Day 1; Short, like 90-ish miles. Destination- Calistoga. Take 101 north out of SF and follow it to East Highway 37. Don't forget to stop at the view point at the north end of the bridge... Or, take Conzelman Rd. to the top of the hill on the opposite side of the highway from the view point. Turn north on 121 to Sonoma/Napa and follow the signs to Napa. In Napa turn north on 29 and, if you want to ride past/stop at the iconic wineries, you'll pass right by them going up the valley. I prefer Silverado Trail myself. There's a little less "rush" on it and the sights are better. I've marked it on the map, but 29 works too. No recommendations for lodging in Calistoga- it's only a day ride for me.

here's a map

 

The next day, north out 128 from Calistoga- head west out Skaggs Springs Road to the coast. Be aware that the majority of Skaggs is narrow and not-so-smooth. Only the parts by Lake Sonoma are the super sweet sweepers that all the squids brag about.

Once you hit the coast, take Hwy 1 as far south as you can. You'll almost be back in SF.

map here

 

Neither of these days are particularly "long" days mileage wise, but they'll give you plenty of time to stop and take pictures.

 

[KTM Doug]

Since everyone one else is sending you north, if you have time come back down south of SF on 1 and head to Moss Landing and have some sea food at Phil's Famous Seafood Restaurant. It is a favorite stop for lot's of BMWST folks. Some come up from LA just for lunch and the ride!

[Bodhi65]

Many thanks for all the local knowledge. Here is my tentative Itinerary. Please help me tweak it if you have any advice, hotel or restaurant suggestions. Thanks for the suggestions and tips.

 

Tues- Leave Eagle Rider San Francisco at 2PM- GG to 101 to 37 to Napa to Silverado Trail to Calistoga (There is a real twisty section on the map route 29N, looks like it could be fun for a couple miles north then back south)- To Healdsburg area for Hotel/evening.

 

Weds- Skaggs road to Stewarts Point to Bolinas. Looks like we must ride Bolinas-Fairfax Road, maybe both ways.

 

Thursday- Get up early, Hotel unknown, Must return Bikes by 11AM. Shoreline Hwy to Panoramic HWY to Sausolito to GG back to Eagle Rider.

 

 

Thanks again everyone, I appreciate it a great deal. if you are in the Long Island, NY/Connecticut/Catskill region, send me an email and Id like to return the favor.

 

Alan

[skinny_tom (aka boney)]

Looks like we must ride Bolinas-Fairfax Road, maybe both ways.

 

 

I would recommend only going as far as the dam on Bolinas-Fairfax road. Not because the road isn't any good, but it's just going to be a long way out and back for more of what you just rode. Don't get me wrong, it's nice, but it's going to eat a lot of your time. If the weather is nice, after visiting the dam, you should turn south on Ridgecrest over to Pan-Toll and head up to the top of Mt. Tamalpias. If it's foggy then the ride isn't as nice, but on a sunny day Ridgecrest is awesome and the view from Mt. Tam can't be beat.

[Bodhi65]

Thank you so much, that is just the type of advice I truely appreciate. I will take your route because I heard, god willing, the weather is going to be great. Once on top of mt. tamalpias, where should I go to work my way back towards San Francisco?

 

 

 

Alan

[skinny_tom (aka boney)]

If you have the time, ride back down Panoramic to Stinson Beach and follow Hwy 1 south back to 101. It's a nice ride. If you're running short on daylight and/or have a place picked out that's not on the coast, just shortcut the other direction on Panoramic to 101. It will cut off an hour easy.

 

Plan on 30 minutes from the GGB to Eagle Rider. Traffic in SF moves slowly.

[Bodhi65]

I want to thank all who gave me advice on this trip. We had an awesome ride and all of your suggested routes we're right on the money. Tuesday -We went from GG bridge to Napa, up Silverado trail to 128 Sage Canyon Road to Berryessa Rd. spent night in Middletown.

Weds- 29 south to 128 to Geyersville. Skaggs road through mountains and redwoods to PCH at Stewart,s Point. Took 1 south to Bolinas faifax road ( quite challenging on 700+ lb Harley, my friends were not happy with this one) to ridgecrest over Mt. Tam (not a cloud in sky) to Panoramic Hwy, back to Eagle Rider at 4:45 pm. Spent the night in city and flew back home to Long Island next morning.

 

Thanks again for all your route advice, kindness, and hospitality. California is a motorcycling paradise. I'll be back again next year.

 

Alan