How To Pull Off A Last-Minute Cycling Adventure This President’s Day Weekend
5 Camping Destinations Within Cycling Distance Of San Francisco
As you may or may not have realized, Monday is President’s Day. And with San Francisco’s unseasonably gorgeous weather set to continue through Tuesday, the three-day weekend is an ideal time to get out for a microadventure.
Although it’s early in the season, camping reservations will be tough to come by (China Camp, Angel Island, and Samuel Taylor are all full for the weekend). But if you have access to a bicycle, and are willing and able to ride to the campground, you should have no trouble finding a place to pitch your tent.
Many campgrounds in the Bay Area offer hike/bike sites, no frills campsites made available on a first-come, first-served basis to people who show up on foot or on a bicycle. This can help make planning a camping trip in the bay Area less stressful and more spontaneous. And if you don’t know it already, you’ll soon find that cycling to your campsite is far more fun and challenging than driving there.
The five destinations featured below are all within 35 miles of downtown San Francisco, and a reasonably fit person should have little trouble riding there in a day (just take it slow!). In terms of gear and how to pack it, I would suggest having a rear rack, though panniers are not at all necessary (a milk crate and some bungees will do the trick). I’ve included suggested routes, which you can follow on your phone, exercising the usual caution.
Happy riding! Maybe I’ll see you on the road.
1
China Camp
Distance From San Francisco
25 Miles
Elevation Gain/Loss
↑846 ft · ↓889 ft
Campground
China Camp SP
Hike / Bike Site
Yes
Amenities
Fire Ring | Flush Toilets | Picnic Tables | Showers
Overview
China Camp State Park is an old Chinese fishing settlement in San Rafael. Set among a grove of oaks, bay laurels, and madrones, the sites are shaded and somewhat protected from the elements. You’ll find many miles of hiking trails, and mountain bikers come from near and far for the single track. The campground has full facilities, including showers, which you may appreciate after riding all the way from San Francisco. Check out the historical shrimping village just down the road, which preserves some of the buildings and boats used by the original Chinese settlers.
Getting There, And Back Again
Of the five destinations, this may the easiest to get to on a bicycle. The elevation gains are minimal (as minimal as you’re likely to find in this area) and you’ll have good bike lanes almost the entire way. You may want to print the directions and tape them to your handlebars, as there are quite a few turns to remember. To get back to the city, I recommend turning right out of the China Camp lot and continuing east along San Pedro Road. The ride around the peninsula is lovely.
Why You Should Go
Because it’s close to San Francisco and easy to ride to. The history is interesting and the hiking beautiful. There are plenty of places to stop for a bite to eat along the way.
2
Samuel P. Taylor
Distance From San Francisco
33 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss
↑1,204 ft · ↓1,115 ft
Campground
Samuel P. Taylor SP
Hike / Bike Site
Yes
Amenities
Barbecue | Flush Toilets | Picnic Tables | Showers
Overview
Beautiful campground located in a dense old-growth redwood forest with a salmon spawning creek running through it. The park was established by the eponymous Sam Taylor and has been a destination for city-wiry San Franciscans since the 1870s. The hike/bike site is right near the creek and has sort of an “open plan” meaning you’ll be sharing the space with all the other hikers and bikers (which can be a good or bad thing depending on your perspective). Plan to spend part of your visit hiking through the magnificent redwood forest. And as if that weren’t enough, the park is situated in Point Reyes, with its rolling hills and majestic coastline. Go up on Saturday, spend the day exploring Point Reyes on Sunday and return to the city on Monday.
Getting There, And Back Again
A little more climbing, though you’ll max out at under 600 ft. This being Marin, you’ll have signed bike routes the entire way. The inland route via Sir Francis Drake Blvd is the best way to get out to the park, and you can return along the same route.
For more of a challenge on the way back, I recommend the “coastal route” along Highway 1, especially if you can out there early before the traffic starts. You’ll pass through bucolic countryside with rolling hills, which should be brilliantly green at this time of the year, and you’ll get a taste of Bolinas Bay and a bit of the coast. If the weather turns out to be as nice as forecasted, you may even want to spend time on the beach.
A word of warning: the climb starting from Stinson Beach up and over the shoulder of Mt Tam is a tough one, so if you decide to take the coastal route, make sure you’re prepared for 1,500 ft of climbing.
Why You Should Go
For the centuries-old redwoods, for the camaraderie of other adventure cyclists whom you’re sure to find there, and, if you’re up to the challenge, for the ride back along the coast.
3
Anthony Chabot
Distance From San Francisco
31 miles from El Cerrito Del Norte BART Station
Elevation Gain/Loss
↑3,711 ft · ↓3,094 ft
Campground
Anthony Chabot Family Campground
Hike / Bike Site
No
Amenities
Flush Toilets | Picnic Tables | Showers
Overview
This is a bikepacking microadventure for those equipped with a mountain or cyclocross bike. The off-road portion starts at the north end of Wildcat Canyon and continues through Tilden and Redwood parks ending at the family campground in Anthony Chabot Park. The Berkeley Hills follow the Hayward Fault and feature a surprising array of landscapes and ecosystems, from grasslands to redwood groves to misty hilltops. With all the rain we’ve had, the trails may be muddy. But for a bikepacker, that’s all part of the fun.
Getting There, And Back Again
I wouldn’t recommend doing this ride unless you have a mountain bike or a cyclocross bike with wide, knobby tiers. If you live in San Francisco, you can take BART to the El Cerrito del Norte stop (second to last one on the Richmond line). From there it’s a short, 20 min ride up to Wildcat Canyon. Don’t rely on Google Maps, but take a paper trail map instead (there are kiosks throughout the parks or they can be found online). The route I’ve suggested is mostly on dirt, but there are a few stretches where you’ll have no choice but to ride on the roads. For instance you’ll need to take Grizzly Peak/Skyline Blvd to get from Tilden to Redwood Park.
Why You Should Go
For the muddy, ridiculously fun trail riding.
4
Half Moon Bay
Distance From San Francisco
31 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss
↑1,713 ft · ↓1,729 ft
Campground
Half Moon Bay SB
Hike / Bike Site
Yes
Amenities
Flush Toilets | Picnic Tables | Groceries Nearby
Overview
The perfect destination for an overnight bicycle trip from San Francisco. Half Moon Bay is a lovely seaside community, with cafes, restaurants, shops and all the services you might require. There’s a campground at the State Beach and the hike/bike site sits in a quiet corner of the campground with easy access to the beach. Pick up groceries at the Safeway nearby for your camp feast. The sunsets are not to be missed.
Getting There And Back Again
The 30 mile signed route stays off busy Highway 1 for the most part, and the hill climbs are moderate, making this a good introduction to cycling the famed California Coast. On your way to Half Moon Bay, you have the option of riding the “Planet of the Apes” trail, an old, overgrown section of an abandoned highway. Just be prepared for broken pavement and off-road conditions.
To get back to San Francisco, either return the way you came, or tackle the Coast Range by riding up Tunitas Creek Rd, which begins about ten miles south of Half Moon Bay. This climb is extremely tough, especially if you’re loaded down with gear. But it’s also one of the prettiest routes on the peninsula, climbing up through shady, old-growth forests. A burner, but definitely worth it. And when you make it to the other side, you can ride down to Menlo Park and catch CalTrain back to the city. You certainly will have earned it.
Why You Should Go
Breathtaking views, a challenging but manageable bike ride, oceanside camping, and gorgeous sunsets. Everybody who lives in SF and enjoys cycling, should do this ride at some point.
5
Mount Tam
Distance From San Francisco
20 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss
↑1,952 ft · ↓515 ft
Campground
Pantoll Campground | Bootjack Campground
Hike / Bike Site
No, but all sites are first-come, first-served
Amenities
Fire Pits| Flush Toilets | Picnic Tables | Showers
Overview
Riding to the top of Tam is another rite of passage for Bay Area cyclists. And with two campgrounds near the summit, there’s no rush to the top, you could take all day if you wanted. Most of the 20 miles will be spent getting to and across the bridge and through Sausalito and Mill Valley, where you might stop for a coffee or for lunch, saving the big climb for later in the afternoon. There are plenty of hiking trails and you can test your bike handling skill, not to mention your courage, by riding Tam’s famed mountain bike routes. You’ll be up high and exposed so make sure to pack plenty of layers. The current forecasts call for clear skies both Saturday and Sunday nights, which should give you decent stargazing conditions.
Getting There, And Back Again
Pretty straightforward. In fact, you shouldn’t even need directions, just keep your bike pointed toward the top of the mountain. To mix things up, you could ride down the western flank of the ridge and take Highway 1 or the Coast Trail (unpaved) back to the City.
Why You Should Go
For the stunning views, the clear, crip highland air, and the long decent.
