San Francisco, CA: Highway 1 to Half Moon Bay

San Francisco, CA: Highway 1 to Half Moon Bay

Escaping San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway, this 60 miler cruises by ocean bluffs to a lung-testing climb up Tunitas Creek Road (and a Caltrain return-trip).

Author:	Bicycling Magazine
Date:	27 Jan 2009 7:24:09 PM
Activity:	Bicycling ActivitySearchBicycling
State:	California (CA)
Distance:	59.44 mi (Change units)
Elevation:	Total Gain: 6143 ft Total Loss: 6153 ft Net Change: -9 ft
Difficulty:	7 / 10
Tags:	San Francisco, California, Highway 1, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica
Rating:	Unrated Rate it

Dripping in sensory appeal, this Highway 1 classic departs from the Sports Basement parking lot and tackles a quick climb up the Presidio to reveal a postcard-worthy glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge and an inspiring Pacific Ocean vista (that repeats itself around almost every bend on this route).

The sounds, smells, and sights of the Pacific are near-constant on this ride. After briefly veering off the coast along Highway 35, the route crosses into Daly, where hang gliders roam the skies (they’re the only ones getting a better view than the cyclists). Rolling through Devil’s Slide, you’ll be treated to ocean-misted bluffs and ideal rainbow conditions, but be wary of the descent on this narrow, shoulder-less stretch of road.

Continue to Montara State Beach, soaking in the lush greens of hillside grasses and the deep ocean blues just off your right shoulder. With its abundance of galleries and cafés, Half Moon Bay makes for an ideal mid-ride pit stop. The mellow pace and terrain of this route come to an end at Lobitos Creek Road, the base of the Tunitas Creek Climb. After a stiff, .5-mile stretch at 9%, the grade settles down to a lung-testing 5.6% average up to the top. Climbing under the cover of tall, dark redwoods, the road is often shrouded in fog. Descend down Kings Mountain Road, and catch the Caltrain from the Redwood City station. You’ve earned the ride home.

-Mapped by Pete Ferguson

TO TRAILHEAD: Begins Sports Basement in the Marina Green-San Francisco

Position Format:	Datum:

Tracks

Dist: 59.44 mi	Points: 1108	Calories: none
Time: none	Speed: 0.0 mph	Pace: 0:00 / mi

Distance	Instruction		Distance to next
0.00 mi	Start	Head north	Then go 0.06 mi
0.06 mi	Turn Left	Old Mason St.	Then go 0.49 mi
0.55 mi	Bear Left	Crissy Field Ave.	Then go 0.18 mi
0.73 mi	Straight	Continue on Lincoln Blvd.	Then go 0.22 mi
0.95 mi	Bear Left	Continue on Lincoln Blvd.	Then go 1.48 mi
2.44 mi		Continue on El Camino del Mar	Then go 0.17 mi
2.60 mi	Turn Left	25th Ave.	Then go 0.65 mi
3.26 mi	Turn Right	Anza St	Then go 0.06 mi
3.32 mi	Turn Left	26th Ave.	Then go 0.26 mi
3.58 mi	Turn Right	Cabrillo St.	Then go 1.34 mi
4.92 mi	Turn Left	La Playa St.	Then go 0.13 mi
5.05 mi	Turn Right	Fulton St.	Then go 0.07 mi
5.12 mi	Turn Left	Upper Great Hwy	Then go 2.71 mi
7.83 mi	Straight	Continue on Upper Great Hwy	Then go 0.58 mi
8.41 mi	Bear Right	Skyline Blvd.	Then go 2.25 mi
10.66 mi		Continue on CA-35	Then go 4.38 mi
15.04 mi	Turn Right	Sharp Park Rd.	Then go 2.06 mi
17.10 mi	Turn Left	Francisco Blvd.	Then go 0.34 mi
17.44 mi		Continue on Bradford Way	Then go 0.18 mi
17.61 mi	Turn Left	Moris Point Rd.	Then go 0.09 mi
17.70 mi	Turn Right	Cabrillo Hwy/ Coast Hwy	Then go 1.81 mi
19.51 mi	Turn Right	Cabrillo Hwy/ Coast Hwy	Then go 5.84 mi
25.35 mi	Straight	Continue on Hwy 1	Then go 12.33 mi
37.68 mi	Turn Left	Verde Rd	Then go 0.02 mi
37.69 mi	Turn Right	Verde Ave.	Then go 0.42 mi
38.11 mi	Turn Left	Lobitos Creek Cut-Off	Then go 1.68 mi
39.79 mi	Straight	Tunitas Creek Rd	Then go 5.81 mi
45.60 mi	Bear Right	Star Hill Rd.	Then go 0.31 mi
45.91 mi	Turn Left	Swett Rd.	Then go 0.67 mi
46.58 mi	Turn Left	Skyline Blvd./ Hwy 35	Then go 0.82 mi
47.40 mi	Bear Right	Kings Mountain Rd.	Then go 3.89 mi
51.29 mi	Turn Left	Kings Mountain Rd.	Then go 0.89 mi
52.18 mi	Turn Left	Woodside Rd./ Hwy 84	Then go 0.71 mi
52.89 mi	Turn Left	Canada Rd.	Then go 1.73 mi
54.62 mi	Turn Right	Jefferson Ave.	Then go 2.61 mi
57.23 mi	Turn Left	Jefferson Ave.	Then go 1.95 mi
59.18 mi	Turn Left	Middlefield Rd.	Then go 0.08 mi
59.26 mi		Winslow St.	Then go 0.10 mi
59.36 mi	Stop

Points of Interest

Sports Basement Depart

Location: 37.802511°, -122.458849°
Parking and last minute supplies are available at the Sports Basement. © Pete Ferguson

Ocean Beach

Location: 37.737806°, -122.506485°
Flat and scenic is the name of the game on this Pacific Coast ride. © Pete Ferguson

Pacifica State Beach

Location: 37.598778°, -122.502022°
Great rest stop. Lots of places for food and supplies. © Pete Ferguson

Shoulderless Road

Location: 37.584632°, -122.515068°
Use caution on this narrow stretch of road. © Pete Ferguson

Scenic Devils Slide

Location: 37.574220°, -122.518845°
Full of scenic seaside bluffs and ocean views, this stretch of Highway 1 lacks a shoulder. © Pete Ferguson

Moss Beach

Location: 37.535641°, -122.518158°
Rounding the bend to Moss Beach, the road levels off a bit. © Pete Ferguson

To Hwy 1

Location: 37.668332°, -122.485714°
Bikes aren't allowed on this descent of Hwy. So continue on Skyline Blvd. before taking a right onto Sharp Park Rd. This will shoot you straight over to Hwy 1.

Half Moon Bay

Location: 37.450196°, -122.429752°
Stop in town at one of the many eateries of cafe's before continuing south on Highway 1. © Pete Ferguson

Half Moon Bay Coffee Co

Location: 37.466564°, -122.428207°

Montara State Beach Overlook

Lobitos Creek/Tunitas Creek Climb

Location: 37.382571°, -122.400098°
Gaining 1850 feet over 6 miles, the climb up Tunitas Creek averages 5.6-percent up a dark, redwood-covered road (often shrowded in fog), but kicks off with a stiff .5-mile, 9-percent stretch up Lobitos Creek Road.

Woodside Bakery

Location: 37.429921°, -122.254744°
Pick up post-ride some snacks for the Caltrains ride back to San Francisco at the infamous bakery across from Roberts Market.

Caltrain Redwood City station

Location: 37.484224°, -122.230089°
Located at El Camino Real and Jefferson Ave., the Caltrain station in Redwood City is sometimes a welcome alternative to riding back north (often into headwinds) on Highway 1.