It is about two miles of switchbacks at a steady 5% grade.
In the summer months, this area is fed by streams and springs and is green, while the rest of the landscape is brown. At 5.6 miles, there is a turn to the left into a surreal world of flora. Note: you are also heading further away from civilization if you need it - Strava Beacon is a good idea.įrom mile four to mile five, you are at the lowest point of the loop, deep in the wilderness and unlikely to see many people. There is one ~20% grade section - watch your speed as the road narrows and descends through the trees. At about four miles into the ride, watch out for MMWD pylons or signs warning you of steep or rutted sections. You'll lose about 1,000 feet in the following fun 2.5 miles. The curve is loose gravel, and the camber goes in the wrong direction.
The following section will be the long, winding descent - making this an excellent place for a rewarding food and water break before the descent.Īs you descend, the first big turn around the hill to the right is an "ET curve" where some riders have been known to wipe out or fly off. You'll find several beautiful views looking down to Kent Lake, back to the San Francisco skyline, and forward toward Tomales Bay.Īt 2.5 miles, you'll come to a meadow overlook with a pipe. The road on the right is San Geronimo Ridge Road, and you'll descend this road on your way back from the ~11-mile loop.įollowing Pine Mountain Fire Road up is a winding climb with a few short, steep sections to test your balance and muscles. This is also where the loop converges, and the first part and last part are the same. This first part is popular with hikers and provides bike access to the White Hill area and Cascade Canyon Fire Road (aka Repack Road) for bikers.Īt about 0.5 miles, you'll come to a shady level area with a Y-junction - go left here on Pine Mountain Fire Road (clockwise). I don't find the downhills or views in the other direction as rewarding.įrom the Azalea Hill parking lot, there is a meandering climb with some steep rocky sections. I recommend clockwise because, after an initial steep climb, the loop then offers a long steady descent to Kent Lake and then a winding ascent with beautiful views. You could ride the loop in either direction. This description assumes you start from Azalea. Alternative access points are from White Hill Road or Conifer Road in Woodacre. The most accessible access is from the Azalea Hill parking lot off Bolinas Road outside Fairfax. Some sections will require picking carefully through rocks and boulders for those on thinner tires.
#Thanksgiving fairfax mtb ride full
This loop is certainly accessible for gravel bikes, but those on a full suspension MTB will have more speed and resilience. During the weekend, the first few miles are a busy access route to the popular Carson Falls Hike. If you see these, it usually means there is a rough part of the road coming up (clockwise).ĭuring the week, you are unlikely to see more than a few people on the trail (in great contrast to the Tam Watershed just a few miles away). Word of caution: At the time of writing, the MMWD has put up a few orange pylons and construction A-Frames. Occasionally ruts in the road, caused by winter flooding, can come up by surprise if you are not watching your speed. Some shorter parts are steep, up to 20%+, and can be technical because of grade - whether up or down. It is a doubletrack fire road nearly the whole way with some parts overgrown to the point of feeling a bit narrower. The reward is immense views to the San Francisco Bay to the east and views to Tomales Bay to the west. Because of the extreme climb, few people go beyond the first few miles. Beautiful loop around the Pine Mountain watershed.
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