Pacific Coast Route - Section 4 - March 2011

[JHamelman]

Just received this report via Twitter:

> Long-term closure on #acapacificcoast between Palo Colorado Rd and Bixby Bridge in Big Sur. 40ft of road disappeared today.

This occurs on Map 47. CalTrans also reports that SR 1 is closed from 2.5 mi. S. to 1.5 mi. S. of Big Sur. No detour evident.

.Jennifer.

[cgarch]

More info here: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/paffairs/monterey/mar2011hurricane_pt.pdf

Here's the detour: Southbound: In Carmel on CA 1, turn left (east) at Carmel Valley Road for about 40 miles. At Arroyo Seco Rd. if you turn right and go about 5 miles west, there's an NFS Campground at Arroyo Seco. Great place to stay and have a shower, but crowded on the weekends. Otherwise turn left (east) on Arroyo Seco Rd.. At Elm Ave. veer right, crossing the creek on the bridge. At Central, turn right headed south. after ~5 miles, turn right on to the shoulder of southbound 101, headed to King City (no other road available). Just before crossing the bridge over the Salinas river to King City, exit at Jolon Rd. (aka county rd G14). Follow Jolon (pronounced Hoe-lawn) about 16 miles or so to Ft. Hunter-Liggett. Turn right into the camp (Mission Rd.) - you will need a valid ID to enter the base. Just inside the checkpoint, if you turn left at the next road there is a campground you can stay at. Otherwise continue on Mission Rd. to the left turn at Nacimiento-Ferguson Rd.. Shortly you will reach a river crossing. It's an Army metal grate bridge, ridable but be careful. You can also wade across the river but with this year's rainfall it would probably not be too wise. Continue on N-F rd about 25 miles to the coast. It may seem a short distance but it requires crossing the coast range at about a pass of about 2800'. The descent to the coast is wicked steep. Do take your time and enjoy the scenery, it is one of the most spectacular on the coast. At the coast the road dumps you right at Kirk Creek, a worthy destination.

Southbound, the grades aren't too bad and heading west the climb over N-F is reasonable, but steady 6%+. If you're northbound N-F is very steep as you gain 2800' in 7 miles. There are several pitches in excess of 10%. Similarly the climb from Arroyo Seco on Carmel Valley road is steep but not as bad.

Regardless of what you think of the military ownership of Hunter-Liggett you will find vast expanses of open range, wildflowers and wildlife. It is an extraordinarily peaceful ride from Mission Rd. to the base of the climb unsullied by cattle grazing (unless the Army is doing live fire exercises . . . ). Unfortunately, the roads are regularly patrolled and they don't take kindly to straying off the road nor to dilly-dallying. Best to keep a good casual pace. I've been hassled for taking photos, even in areas where all you can see is vegetation. Be mindful if you ride through this area, as least until you pass the western checkpoint.

Camping: Arroyo Seco NF, the campground at Hunter Liggett, and then there are two primitive NFS sites along NF outside the base, but before you hit the climb.
Supplies: stock up in Carmel Valley Village. Stock up in King City before you head out Jolon. Very limited services between King City and Kirk Creek. Of course there are no stores at Kirk Creek area.
Worthy side trips: Mission San Antonio, on the base. Cone Peak (+5k AMSL), some 5-6 miles north on the ridge road.

I've ridden this several times in the last 15 years, it is spectacular country and even better with a road closure.

[JHamelman]

cgarch,

Thanks for posting info on a detour for this closure!

.Jennifer.

[cgarch]

cgarch,

Thanks for posting info on a detour for this closure!

.Jennifer.

Happy to help out. Media reports today place the closure specifically near the Rocky Creek Bridge, just north of the Bixby Bridge. More to come.

[johnsondasw]

More info here: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/paffairs/monterey/mar2011hurricane_pt.pdf

Here's the detour: Southbound: In Carmel on CA 1, turn left (east) at Carmel Valley Road for about 40 miles.

I have relatives in this area, and have ridden the Carmel Valley road many times.  Be very careful here.  The shoulder on the road disappears about 5 miles from Carmel.  The road then is very curvy with poor sight distance, and the cars go way too fast and the drivers are often obnoxious.  They will continually try to squeeze around you, with out slowing down, putting you in a pinch repeatedly.  You better have a mirror for this.  I quit riding it several years ago because of this.

[JHamelman]

Looks like repairs are moving forward on this section of road:

http://www.cyclelicio.us/2011/highway-1-repairs-to-begin-in-april/

http://www.tamcmonterey.org/new/index.html

.Jennifer.

[omgitzme]

Here's a good blog that has more info, not sure if it's official but they do update frequently (just did today) and they also have a Twitter.

Blog: http://blogbigsur.wordpress.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BigSurCC

[ktoddbrown]

We just finished a modified route from Pacifica, CA to Newport Beach, CA. After talking with locals and our knees we decided to come down Salinas Valley via farm frontage roads following the 101. We ended up with a weather system sitting off of San Francisco which gave us a very nasty southern headwind but otherwise the riding was lovely this time of year. I understand that in the summer Salinas Valley is exceptionally hot so that's something to consider if you ride that time of year.

The Carmal Valley road mentioned in this thread is a popular local ride but considered hilly. Here is the alternative we took:

On map 46 of the Pacific Coast Route continue on Molera Rd as it turns into Nashua Rd. Then either take a left into town on Blanco Rd (We can recommend the GoodNite Inn, 545 Work St, Salinas, CA (831) 757-9681, as a cheap clean place to stay) or a right to G17/Reservation/River Rd. Be careful on Blanco Rd as it's very busy but has a good shoulder; my riding partner wasn't comfortable crossing this road and ended up riding on the wrong shoulder into Salinas. Follow G17 to Soledad (stop in at the Soledad Mission for bathrooms, free oranges in season and a bit of CA history). Ideally at this point we wanted to cross over to the other side of the 101 and take G15/Metz Rd but the bridge across the river/stream was out. Instead we took Central Ave to the 101 and crossed into King City.

From King City we caught a bus to San Luis Obispo because of the wind. However the maps show more frontage roads all the way down. I'm confident that we could have continued down the valley and hooked back up with the route there.

Ride safe and with a strong tailwind!
-Kathe

[cgarch]

Yes you can string together some frontage roads, but there will still be several stretches that require riding on 101, notably from San Ardo to Bradley being the longest. At San Miguel look at crossing the river and riding River Rd. on the east side of the river. However as you get near Paso Robles those narrow roads can be quite busy and unnerving.

The Big Sur blog post notes that there is another closure on CA 1 now south of the Plaskett Creek CG. So it looks like the CA 1 route between San Simeon and Carmel is hosed for a while.

Craig

[cgarch]

CALTRANS PRESS RELEASE
Today’s date: Monday, April 4, 2011 @ 2:30 pm
District: 5 – Santa Barbara, SLO, Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties
Contact: Susana Z. Cruz (Bilingual) or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3189

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

***TRAFFIC ADVISORY #22***

HIGHWAY 1 CARMEL TO CAMBRIA ROADWAY UPDATE – ROADWAY OPEN FROM 7AM TO 7PM AT ALDER CREEK; ROCKY CREEK STILL CLOSED

MONTEREY COUNTY:

(1) The mudslide on Highway 1 at Alder Creek (PM 8.0) remains cleared sufficiently to allow for the road to open in both directions daily from 7am to 7pm. Motorists should remain very alert, as conditions can change at any moment and crews will be working in the area to continue slide clean up. The section of road between Ragged Point and Lucia (Alder Creek is between the two) will be closed in both directions overnight during the hours of 7pm to 7am for safety reasons. Another update will be provided as new information becomes available.

(2) Highway 1 at Rocky Creek (Post Mile 60.5) continues to be closed in both directions. However, pedestrians are being escorted in both directions through a half-mile section from one end of the slide to the other twice daily: AT 7 AM AND 4 PM PROMPTLY. Bicycles are allowed to be walked through the closure during these escorts. People are asked to park cars in the Bixby Creek/Old Coast Road turnout at the south end, and the Rocky Creek Bridge turnout at the north end.

[omgitzme]

(2) Highway 1 at Rocky Creek (Post Mile 60.5) continues to be closed in both directions. However, pedestrians are being escorted in both directions through a half-mile section from one end of the slide to the other twice daily: AT 7 AM AND 4 PM PROMPTLY. Bicycles are allowed to be walked through the closure during these escorts. People are asked to park cars in the Bixby Creek/Old Coast Road turnout at the south end, and the Rocky Creek Bridge turnout at the north end.

Nice! I was afraid I was going to have to cancel my whole trip! Thanks for this.

[cgarch]

Looks Like things have gone from bad to worse. Rocky Creek reopens but the slide at Alder Creek is worse and CA 1 will be closed for a month. This site http://blogbigsur.wordpress.com/ continues to be the best source for updates. Sorry, I don't have the ACA maps for the area, so I can't tell you which panel this is.

Today’s Date: Friday, April 15, 2011 @ 2:45 pm
District: 5 – Santa Barbara, SLO, Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties
Contact: Susana Z. Cruz (Bilingual) or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3189

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

***TRAFFIC ADVISORY #31***

HIGHWAY 1 CARMEL TO CAMBRIA ROADWAY UPDATE – ROADWAY REMAINS SHUT DOWN AT ALDER CREEK FOR AT LEAST A MONTH; ROCKY CREEK OPENS OVERNIGHT STARTING SATURDAY

MONTEREY COUNTY:

(1) Geologic instability and more debris falling on Highway 1 at Alder Creek (PM 7) have required the roadway to be closed in both directions for at least a month. Alder Creek is south of Nacimiento-Fergusson Road. Caltrans and the CHP advise against any unnecessary travel. THIS AREA OF HIGHWAY 1 CONTINUES TO BE EXTREMELY UNSTABLE; OUR CREWS AND CONTRACTORS ARE CONTINUALLY MONITORING AND CLEARING THE AREA OF DIRT, MUD AND ROCK FROM DAWN UNTIL DUSK. Opening date will be refined as production becomes known.

(2) Highway 1 at Rocky Creek (Post Mile 60.5) will OPEN for all traffic without any weight or length restrictions from 5 pm on Saturday, April 16 through 8 am on Sunday, April 17. Hwy. 1 will then OPEN each night at this location from 8 pm until 8 am the following morning. One-way reversing traffic control will be in effect. This will continue until all temporary repairs at Rocky Creek are finished. Work is scheduled to be completed the first week of May.

[aggie]

The pictures show that the slide has completely covered the road at Alder Creek.  This slide and the road closure makes it impossible to travel the coast road.  Other than taking the 101 it may be possible to use G14 to Paso Robles and then take hwy 46 to Cambria to rejoin the route.  Maybe someone in the local area can say if this will be a good alternative until the slide is cleared. 

[cgarch]

It is possible to ride the coast at least as far as Kirk Creek CG and then take Nacimiento-Ferguson over to Jolon. (This has been heavily discussed over at http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/forum/board/message/?thread_id=207858. At Jolon, the route would continue south along G14. 2 choices occur shortly afterwards at the town of Lockwood - continue on G18 to rejoin 101 - or - turn right at Interlake Rd. / G14. Interlake Rd. leads to both Lake San Antonio and Lake Nacimiento. There are campgrounds at both lakes (San Antonio is well off route), the one at Nacimiento being kind of expensive. The road has a rather sharp climb up to Lk. Nacimiento and similarly steep descent on the other side. The area is scenic and better than being on 101, but climby and narrow shoulders with a lot of trucks with boats. There's an intersection on this route that leads west to intercept 46 - Chimney Rock Rd -> Vineyard Dr. -> CA 46. Don't be tempted by Santa Rosa Creek Rd. - it has a 'wall' westbound and similar severe descent with hairpin turns past the crest. I wouldn't recommend it for a fully loaded tourist that isn't comfortable on steep twisties. In fact it might make more sense to take the left at Old Creek Rd which dumps out at Cayucos. One isn't missing much from the CA 46 - CA 1 junction back to Cayucos - CA 1 along that stretch is full of fast traffic though the shoulders are good.

G14-G18 (Jolon Rd.) to 101 will require some on and off freeway riding to rejoin the route. There's a dodge off the freeway at Bradley and again at San Miguel. Picking up 46 in Paso is easy to do.