Route from Sacramento to San Francisco

[Dougonabike]

Hi

I am planning a tour from Sacramento to San Francisco then Down the Coast. I was wondering if there are any really good roads that connect Sac to SF? Or would I be better off just starting in SF?

Thanks

[gnarlydog]

Why don't you just follow the ACA Western Express route?

[Dougonabike]

I am new to the forums and didn't even know there was  route. I do have my Adventure Cycling maps for the coast. 

[Bclayden]

Doesn't the Western Express route use the ferry to cross SF Bay?  Certainly a viable way to go as cycling routes from East to West SF Bay are roundabout and full of sketchy roads if you are not familiar. 

If you are not in a hurry suggest Westbound from Winters (west of Davis) over to Napa Valley then to Sonoma Valley.  There are various good back country roads that are fairly quiet.  From Petaluma south there are a variety of bike paths and good roads leading to Sausalito and the Golden Gate Bridge.  There are also roads that should be avoided due to heavy or high speed traffic..and sometimes both.  Avoid the temptation to cut the corner from Vallejo to Novato on Route 37 is one. 

Another option is to make your way to Concord or Walnut Creek and jump on BART to SF...or take the ferry from Vallejo of course. 

[Dougonabike]

I just got my Western Express map on Friday. I really don't want to gamble on roads I am unsure of. The Western Express map does have you take a ferry across to SF.

Hell riding near home I have ridden on roads that make me pucker. Obviously I won't ride them again, its the painful learning curve that I am trying to avoid 

[Patco]

As suggested, from Winters take 128 toward St. Helena/ Rutherford. Before reaching Rutherford take a right onto Silverado Trail toward Calistoga. 128 is generally a good road, with some shoulders, but traffic is light. Silverado Trail is a good bike route. Nice shoulders. Silverado Trail bypasses the traffic on 29, which is the main road from Napa to Calistoga and is heavily traveled with wine tourists. Once in Calistoga get yourself to Calistoga Road (also know as the Petrified Forest Road) toward Santa Rosa. About a mile on this road you will want to take a right onto Franz Valley. You will not want to take Calistoga Road all the way to Santa Rosa. Hell, I get nervous when I drive that road - narrow and zero shoulders. Franz Valley is very lightly traveled. Franz Valley will take you to Mark West Springs Road. Mark West is generally okay. Since you want to travel the Coast I suggest taking Mark West Springs all the way to U. S 1 where you can pick up the Pacific Coast Route (Adventure Cycling has maps). Mark West changes to River Road on the west side of U. S. 101. River Road will take you through Guerneville on the way to the coast. I have biked this route, along with others in this area, and this route bypasses some of the more pucker factor roads, be it traffic or just rotten roads, while getting you where you want to go. Hope this helps.

[Dougonabike]

Patco thank you so much for the detailed directions. Now I have to take that route and I can blame you for it. 

[raybo]

I've ridden on the ACA Western Express route from San Francisco to Sacramento.  It is a nice ride on mostly lightly traveled roads to Vallejo where you take a ferry.

I wrote a journal of that ride and you can read about that day's ride and see photos I took along the way.

[Dougonabike]

Raybo Thanks. Looking at the Western Express map I am estimating about 90 miles to my friends house in Carmichael. Should be a fun first day.