looking for recommendations for rides in Golden Gate Nat'l Rec Area

[onsight512]

My wife and I are road tripping with our kids (7 & 9) and are looking for some recommendations for some good dirt. Something good for ten or fifteen miles long. I'm not familiar with the area, so any details will be much appreciated.
Thanks!

[modernfuturist]

Gravelmap.com has a good overview of the area if you zoom in

I like some combination of Coastal (https://gravelmap.com/route/8120-coastal-trail), Bobcat (https://gravelmap.com/route/7829-bobcat-trail), Miwok (https://gravelmap.com/route/7830-miwok-trail), Old Springs (https://gravelmap.com/route/7831-old-springs-trail) and Marincello (https://gravelmap.com/route/7832-marincello-trail) trails...

[onsight512]

Gravelmap.com has a good overview of the area if you zoom in

I like some combination of Coastal (https://gravelmap.com/route/8120-coastal-trail), Bobcat (https://gravelmap.com/route/7829-bobcat-trail), Miwok (https://gravelmap.com/route/7830-miwok-trail), Old Springs (https://gravelmap.com/route/7831-old-springs-trail) and Marincello (https://gravelmap.com/route/7832-marincello-trail) trails...


thanks. that looks great.

[muz]

Just to be clear, you will do the rides with the kids? The trails are very nice, but quite steep and loose in places.

[onsight512]

Just to be clear, you will do the rides with the kids? The trails are very nice, but quite steep and loose in places.

Yes. I'm looking for stuff to ride with my wife and kids.

[muz]

I think Marin headlands would be awfully tough for a typical 9 year old; there is hardly a flat mile, some sections are loose 10+% grades.

I would recommend driving to Pt Reyes Station for a nice breakfast or lunch, then take Marshall Beach Road to a very quiet beach. It's a typical gravel road, mostly flat to rolling until the steep drop to the beach for maybe a tenth of a mile.

You may want to drive to Pierce Point Road from Point Reyes Station (about 6 miles) if you would rather avoid a 0.7mi 9% grade. From there on, it should be manageable.

It's between miles 52 and 62 here (https://ridewithgps.com/routes/9735538).

[onsight512]

I think Marin headlands would be awfully tough for a typical 9 year old; there is hardly a flat mile, some sections are loose 10+% grades.

I would recommend driving to Pt Reyes Station for a nice breakfast or lunch, then take Marshall Beach Road to a very quiet beach. It's a typical gravel road, mostly flat to rolling until the steep drop to the beach for maybe a tenth of a mile.

You may want to drive to Pierce Point Road from Point Reyes Station (about 6 miles) if you would rather avoid a 0.7mi 9% grade. From there on, it should be manageable.

thanks very much

[muz]

Another idea is Angel Island in San Francisco Bay. I took my brother's family there when they were visiting, and the kids enjoyed the ferry ride and the cycling.

http://www.sfgate.com/outdoors/sundaydrive/article/Leave-car-take-bike-to-Angel-Island-3850807.php

[pdmtong]

7 and 9?

rent two tandems from Blazing Saddles at Pier 43...ride along the waterfront then across the GGB to Sausilito for ice cream or perhaps further to Tiburon and then take the ferry back past Alcatraz.

[Duende]

I agree... a lot of the rides mentioned above are not really suitable for kids

This is a ride down in the Fremont area that is really great for kids. Some hills but nothing too crazy.



https://www.fws.gov/refuge/don_edwards_san_francisco_bay/

[modernfuturist]

Yes. I'm looking for stuff to ride with my wife and kids.

Oh dear lord, I almost sent a man and his family unknowingly to their deaths, haha

Check out Samuel P Taylor State Park (http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=469) and the Cross Marin Trail (https://www.traillink.com/trail/sir-francis-drake-bikeway-(cross-marin-trail)/). It's a short drive from Marin and a nice pleasant and mostly shaded trail.

[93KgBike]

There's a beautiful 14 mile loop above San Leandro surrounding Lake Chabot, with views of the bay from the top. Mt. Tam of course. There are very good bayside trails from Redwood City to Mountain View. And Palo Alto has some hilly loops behind Stanford. The hills above Cal are filled with trails too, but many are 14%+ destroyers. Emeryville has decent trails too.

[weaponsgrade]

Every ride I can think of in that area involves some type of climbing, but here are some suggestions. Park at Fort Cronkhite and ride out in a counter-clockwise direction to the Marine Mammal center and then to Battery Townsley. It's a climb the entire way, but it's not too steep and the views are great.

Another option is to start at the Miwok trail where it intersects with Hwy 1. Ride the Miwok trail south and do an out and back to the Muir Beach overlook. The trail is mostly flat except for the last little section right before the overlook. It's quite steep, but it's short. There are great views for most of the ride and a really nice view when you get to the top.

Another is to park at the Tennessee Valley Trailhead and ride out to Tennessee Valley Beach. That's a really easy ride and mostly flat.

[onsight512]

thanks for all of the suggestions, and info, folks. lots of it looks good.