As a general rule, the Yellowjackets don't do much riding on the Peninsula. We have Dumbarton-Alpine and, of course, the Monterey ride, but neither has any significant climbing. So it might come as a surprise to many riders that the Peninsula not only has it's own Skyline (State Route 35), but that with elevations above 2000 feet it's significant higher than it's counterpart in our backyard (perhaps a rude surprise).
If you're doing the Advanced or Intermediate rides this weekend, you'll bisect Skyline twice, the first time at the top of Page Mill Road and the second on top of Tunitas Creek Road. If you're not, you're going to miss out on one of the great climbing roads in the Bay Area.
Tunitas Creek Road is a fantastic climb, famous for its dense redwoods. There's little traffic, the redwoods offer shelter from the heat of the day and the surroundings are breathtaking as the road snakes up through the Santa Cruz Mountains from Highway One to Skyline Boulevard.
Initially, the road parallels the creek of the same name, climbing on a (more or less) well-paved road which has been improved considerably for the passage of the Tour of California in February '09. In all, the climb rises 1,950 feet over 9 and half miles for an average grade of 3.88%. As always, that hardly tells the whole story.
The first section from Highway 1 to Lobitos Cutoff is fairly shallow, winding past vegetable farms, including the (seasonal) pumpkin patch at the Tunitas Creek Family Farm. Then you'll pass, and likely stop at, the famous "Bike Hut", a converted garage set up by a local farmers to support the many cyclists who pass by on the way up to Skyline and down to Highway One. This section of road runs for 2 miles, rising only 80 feet for a super-mild average grade of .78%. There's even a brief downhill section to get your blood flowing.
The Bike Hut, Tunitas Creek Rd
The second section from Lobitos Creek Cutoff to Lobitos Creek Road offers a slightly greater challenge, rising a mere 295 feet over 1.66 miles for an average of 3.4 percent. As you near Lobitos Creek Rd, the grade starts increasing and the road gains dense redwood cover—the last quarter mile before the intersection kicks up to 5%.
Unlike the redwood groves that we are familiar with (Pinehurst, Redwood Rd, Lucas Valley) which you can ride in and out of in a matter of minutes, you'll be tucked in the redwoods from this point all the way to the summit. It really is spectacular.
The third section from Lobitos Creek Road to Star Hill Road is the crux of the climb. In almost 4 and a half miles the road rises 1411 for a significant average grade of 5.95 percent. As you pass Lobitos Creek Road with almost six miles to Skyline, the road rises steadily as it twists and turns through the thick stand of redwoods.
Grinding out the middle section
Here, the asphalt undulates significantly and it's hard to get into a good rhythm. While most of the grade is in the 7-11% range, there's a section north of 24% at around the 6 mile mark that will have your legs screaming. But the scenery is so blessedly gorgeous, you might not even notice.
Someone, possibly with good intentions, has used pink spray paint to mark the spot on the road 5 miles to the summit (and again 4 miles for good measure). At that point, the grade is 8% and the thought that the road would continue for another 5 miles at that incline is a painful one. But from there, it's only 3.3 miles to flatter section at the top. Time to bear down, grind it out and resist the urge to look down at your odometer every few seconds.
In this part of Tunitas Creek Road, around the five miles to the top, the grove is so dense that the road can stay wet from the morning dew well into the afternoon. The slickness, steepness, curviness and poor condition or certain sections make you think that anyone trying to descend Tunitas Creek has a screw loose.
Arriving at the top of Tunitas Creek Road is glorious!
The last few miles, from Star Hill Road to the summit at Skyline, the road flattens considerably. When you make it to this point with the all the hard climbing behind you with the road still be shrouded in redwoods, you should get a second wind that will carry you the 2+ miles to the top. It's time to sit back and enjoy riding through the forest.
| Section | Distance (miles) | Vertical (feet) | Grade (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| HWY 1 to Lobitos Cutoff | 2.00 | 80 | .78 |
| Lobitos Cutoff to Lobitos Creek Rd | 1.66 | 295 | 3.4 |
| Lobitos Creek Rd to Star Hill Rd | 4.49 | 1,411 | 5.95 |
| Star Hill to Skyline | 1.25 | 156 | 2.36 |
| Full Length | 9.5 | 1,950 | 3.88 |
For Intermediates, Tunitas Creek Road will come at the 30 mile mark. For the Advanced group, it will come 54 miles into the ride. So there will be some significant riding (and climbing) in your legs before you arrive at the start of the ascent. If it's a hot day, the redwoods on the climb will provide much appreciated shelter from the sun.
The middle section of the climb should challenge you. Depending on your gear ratios and your conditioning, you might need to get out of the saddle a few times to drive yourself up to the top. But just keep grinding until the flatter section near Star Hill Rd. The reward for all that hard work is a long descent from Skyline down King Mountain into Woodside.
A couple things to keep in mind:
There's no yellow line in the middle of the road and what few cars there are take some liberties with their line, so please keep an ear out from them as they come around the sharp corners.
There can be a 30 degree difference in the temperature between the east side and the west side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, so dress appropriately.
Road Type: Two Lane Country Road
Characteristic: Winding
Road Condition: Excellent to Really Poor
Length: 9.5 miles
Ascent: 1950 feet
Elevation at Bottom: 110 feet
Elevation at Top: 2,060 feet
Average Grade: 3.89%
Maximum Grade: 24.1%
*Grade measurements made with Path Profiler, Klimb and Google Maps