Sea Otter Classic Training Ride -- Mt. Tam

Mt. Tam Summit – Lance’s Sea Otter Classic Training Ride – 20.9 miles; 3200’ elevation gain - Ross, CA

(Not exactly bike racing at Sea Otter Classic, but this mountain bike training ride maps the typical distance of 20+ miles, and gives you 3200’ of elevation gain. While the elevation is less Sea Otter than in some years, the long stretches up Rocky Ridge and Eldridge Grade will condition you for biking any trails the Sea Otter Classic dishes out.)

Directions: 101N; Sir Francis Drake (west); left on Lagunitas Road; Left and park on Ross Common.
Ride:
0.0 Left on Lagunitas Road from Ross Common to trailhead in Natalie Coffin Greene Park.
1.1 Ride up gated trail around right side of Phoenix Lake, hugging it until the trail heads away from the lake.
2.1 Right onto Shaver Grade at four-way intersection.
3.1 (530’) Hard Left at Five Corners.
3.8 (780’) Right on Sky Oaks, and take immediate
3.9 Left on Bullfrog Rd (gravel road).
4.2 (650’) Left into parking lot and up trailhead (bearing right towards Bon Tempe Dam).
4.4 Continue right and ride across the dam enjoying views of Bon Tempe Lake and Lake Alpine.
4.6 Left onto Rocky Ridge and prepare yourself for a grueling climb over the next .5 mile.
5.2 You'll hit a slight plateau where you can catch your breath (there's more climbing but the worst is over)
6.5 (1420’) Left onto Rocky Spring (and mercifully it’s all downhill to Lake Lagunitas from here).
7.4 Right on Lagunitas continuing around Lake Lagunitas and crossing over 3 footbridges.
8.3 Right on Lakeview climbing up towards Eldridge Grade.
9.0 (980’) Straight through intersection with Eldridge and you’re actually now on Eldridge Grade.
10.1 (1450’) Right at intersection with Indian Fire Road and continue another 2.5 miles up Eldridge Grade.
12.6 Cross East Ridgecrest Blvd (the paved road that takes you to the top of Mt. Tam.) and continue up to the top of the East Peak of Mt Tam on a paved trail running parallel to Ridgecrest.
12.9 Arrive at East Peak (2340’). Once you’ve taken in the magnificent views of San Francisco, the Pacific Ocean, and Angel Island head back down Ridgecrest Blvd or the paved trail.
13.2 Right/Straight back down Eldridge.
15.7 Straight past the intersection with Indian Fire Road, and
16.8 Right at the intersection with Lakeview, enjoy the great descent down Eldridge Grade.
17.6 Stay left down a steep section and continue on Eldridge.
18.1 At a 3-way intersection, go Right continuing down Eldridge.
18.9 Right at the 4-way with Shaver continuing around Phoenix Lake back to the Natalie Coffin Greene trailhead.
19.9 Arrive at Natalie Coffin Greene Park (time yourself for your training ride). Head down Lagunitas Rd towards Ross.
20.9 Arrive Ross Common.