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Keith Vetter's Guide to the East Bay Hills

Some Climbs in the Berkeley-East Bay Hills


By Keith Vetter
Last modified October 19, 2005

Overview

The East Bay has two main areas for bike climbs. One area is the Berkeley Hills. They have good climbs, while also providing access to longer routes. The other area is Mt. Diablo. Mt. Diablo provides some of the best biking anywhere in the Bay area. Additionally, further afield, there more climbs such as the Bears, the south part of Redwood Rd, Palomares Rd and Patterson Pass Rd out beyond Livermore.

The Berkeley Hills is a ridge line just east of Berkeley. The ridge extends in the north from the top of Spruce Road about 20 miles south to where Skyline Blvd turns into Golf Links Rd. In between, it ridge ranges in height from 800' to 1,960' and averages
around 1,300'. The climbs in the East Bay are lower and shorter than what you find on
the peninsula. However, the typical bike ride usually climbs both the west and east sides of the hills.

The information here was gathered via a combination of the Avocet altimeter computer on my bike, driving some of the climbs, and USGS topo maps. Grant Petersen's excellent book
"Roads to Ride" (ISBN: 0-930588-07-x) was used to corroborate some of the data.

Check out KLIMB for a great bike mapping program that lets you see all these climbs on a map, and to plan bike rides up them.

For a good list of climbs on the Bay Area, check out Southwest San Francisco Bay Area Climbs by Dan Connelly.


Berkeley Hills -- West Side


Berkeley Hills -- Crest


Berkeley Hills -- East Side


Mt. Diablo



The Bears



Climb Descriptions

Berkeley Hills -- West Side


The west side of the ridge is residential and full of twisty, tiny roads (all different). Many of these roads can be extremely steep (such as Marin Ave with its 22% grade). If you leave one of the normal climbing routes you probably will find yourself facing some steep climbs. Descending these streets, however, can be a real blast and a good way to learn proper descending techniques.



Spruce Rd
Distance: 2.3 miles
Climbing: 580' -- 240' to 820' 6%
Location: north side of Berkeley campus at Hearst Ave to Wildcat Canyon Rd



Euclid Ave
Distance: 2.3 miles
Climbing: 580' -- 320' to 880' 6%
Location: north side of Berkeley campus at Hearst Ave to Grizzly Peak Blvd

Spruce and Euclid are the two main roads heading up into the hills on the north side of Berkeley. Spruce was repaved in Fall of 2005 and is now as smooth as Euclid. Traditionally one ascends Spruce and descends Euclid.



Marin Ave
Distance: 1 miles
Climbing: 680' -- 300' to 980' 22%
Location: Arlington Circle up to Grizzly Peak Blvd

A road notorious for its steepness--the last bit reaches 22%. Do it once to say you've done it, then use Euclid Ave instead to get tothe same place.



Centennial Dr
Distance: 1.9 miles
Climbing: 770' -- 480' to 1,250' 13%
Location: Berkeley's football stadium up to Grizzly Peak Blvd

A steep road that is not much fun to climb. The descent has some fast sections and some sections where you'll be standing on your brakes.



Claremont Ave
Distance: 2.3 miles
Climbing: 968' -- 340' to 1,308' 9%
Location: Claremont Hotel up to Grizzly Peak Blvd

The toughest climb in the hills that I regularly do. The first mile is an inviting, "gentle" 6% grade. Then it gets steep and tough. If you want more climbing at the top, turn left and head up Grizzly Peak Blvd and then up Vollmer Peak. The descent is a screamer, especially after the big hairpin.



Tunnel
Distance: 4.3 miles
Climbing: 1,160' -- 340' to 1,400' 4.5%
Location: Claremont Hotel up to Grizzly Peak Blvd

This is the Old La Honda of the Berkeley Hills. It is my main route up into the hills. The first part up to Hiller Dr is a pain with too much traffic (but an ample shoulder), but after that the road empties out. A long climb, nice steady grade, great views and little traffic makes this a classic climb.



Snake Rd
Distance: 2.0 miles
Climbing: 680' -- 580' to 1,260' 6.5%
Location: Montclair district of Oakland up to Skyline Blvd

One route up through the maze of roads above the Mountclair district. It's easy to get lost but no problem, as long as you keep going up you'll get to the top.



Sheperd Canyon Rd
Distance: 2.0 miles
Climbing: 590' -- 640' to 1,230' 9%
Location: Montclair district of Oakland up to Skyline Blvd

The lower part climbs, following an old railway grade (which has been turned into a bike path). A half mile from the top, the old railway went into a tunnel (which came out on Pinehurst Rd) leaving the road no option but to head up steeply.



Joaquin Miller Rd
Distance: 1.2 miles
Climbing: 460' -- 700' to 1,160' 10%
Location: Mormom Temple in Oakland up to Skyline Blvd

The descent on this is great--wide, steep, little traffic and no stop signs. The climb is brutal so instead I take back roads like Butters which get you to the same place but much happier.



Redwood Rd west
Distance: 1.6 miles
Climbing: 530' -- 460' to 990' 10%
Location: Near Holy Names College up to Skyline Blvd

An even faster descent than Joaquin Miller Rd but, unfortunately, it has two traffic lights. The climb is also more brutal Joaquin Miller Rd.

Berkeley Hills -- Crest



Grizzly Peak Blvd north
Distance: 4.1 miles
Climbing: 780' -- 880' to 1,660' 4%
Location: Spruce Rd south to high point just north of South Park Dr

A steady, easy climb up from Spruce Rd. After Centennial Dr it gets a bit steeper with some great views.



Grizzly Peak Blvd south
Distance: 1.0 miles
Climbing: 302' -- 1',308 to 1,610'
Location: where Claremont Ave comes in up to South Park Dr

Great views. If I'm fresh, I hardly notice this climb, but if I'm tired it can be a difficult. This, combined with Claremont and Vollmer Peak, makes the best hill workout around. Descending this you feel that if you're not careful, you could fly right off the edge.



Vollmer Peak
Distance: 0.9 miles
Climbing: 255' -- 1',650 to 1,905'
Location: Grizzly Peak Blvd at Lomas Cantadas to dead end at the top

A short road in Tilden Park starting near the steam trains that takes you up to the highest point in the Berkeley Hills. Steep, but thankfully short.

Berkeley Hills -- East Side

The east side of the ridge is mostly undeveloped. There are fewer climbs
but they are more rural and deserted.



Wildcat Canyon Rd
Distance: 2.5 miles
Climbing: 620' -- 420' to 1,040' 7%
Location: San Pablo Dam Rd up to Inspiration Point

A very popular road for climbing. The first mile is steep. After passing El Toyonal Road it eases up until reaching Inspiration Point. The descent isn't much fun because of the tight turns, reverse grades and slick pavement.



South Park Dr
Distance: 1.4 miles
Climbing: 730' -- 930' to 1,660' 11%
Location: Wildcat Canyon Rd at Brazil House up to Grizzly Peak Blvd

The fastest descent in the Berkeley Hills; also the only place I've heard of bicyclists getting speeding tickets. The climb is a slog.



El Toyanal/Lomas Cantada
Distance: 3.0 miles
Climbing: 1,250' -- 400' to 1,650' 10%
Location: Camino Pablo in Orinda to Grizzly Peak Blvd

A steep, not very exciting climb from Orinda. I much prefer descending Lomas Cantada and taking the washed out section of El Toyonal over to Wildcat Canyon Rd.



Hwy 24/Fish Ranch Rd
Distance: 3 miles
Climbing: 848' -- 460' to 1,308' 6%
Location: Orinda Village up to Grizzly Peak Blvd

Not much fun as a climb, but useful as a fast way back to Berkeley from Orinda. Descending it is actually kind of fun with its wide shoulder and fast speeds.



Pinehurst Rd
Distance: 4.1 miles
Climbing: 733' -- 497' to 1,230'
Location: intersection with Canyon Rd up to Sklyline Blvd

A popular climb. The lower sections follows an old railroad grade through beautiful redwood trees. Where the old railroad entered a tunnel (coming out at Sheperd Canyon Rd), the road takes a hairpin turn and starts to climb. The climb isn't bad until the last quarter miles where it steepens up.



Redwood Rd east
Distance: 2.3 miles
Climbing: 490' -- 500' to 990'
Location: intersection with Pinehurst Rd up to Skyline Blvd

A beautiful road with a gentle climb. The only problem is that at the top you have a short steep climb on Joaquin Miller Rd and Skyline. The descent is fun--you don't have to use your brakes at all.

Mt. Diablo

Mt. Diablo is a majestic mountain standing 3,849' tall. They claim that from the top you can see more land area than any other mountain in the world except for Mt. Kilamanjaro. The climbing is fantastic with good pavement and little traffic.



South Gate Rd
Distance: 7.0 miles
Climbing: 1,560' -- 600' to 2,160' 4.5%
Location: Diablo Rd east in Danville up to Summit Rd

One of my favorite climbs anywhere. Climbing this during the spring with wildflowers about on a weekday with no traffic is about as good as it gets. The descent is also great.



North Gate Rd
Distance: 7.8 miles
Climbing: 1,978' -- 182' to 2,160' 6%
Location: Walnut Ave in Walnut Creek up to Summit Rd

Similiar to South Gate Rd but a bit steeper



Summit Rd
Distance: 4.6 miles
Climbing: 1,689' -- 2,160' to 3,849' 7%
Location: junction of South Gate Rd and North Gate Rd up to top

After climbing 7 miles on South Gate Rd, the additional steepness of Summit makes you realize how much work you've done. But once you get used to the steepness, you just climb along enjoying the views. Beware of the false summit about a mile from the top. The last 200 yards to the top parking lot are real steep.



Morgan Territory Rd north
Distance: 5.4 miles
Climbing: 1,430' -- 700' to 2,130'
Location: Marsh Creek Rd near Clayton to high point

Beautiful, wooded, shaded climb. The only problem is that it is hard to combine this into a loop. There's water at the park at the top.



Morgan Territory Rd south
Distance: 5.0 miles
Climbing: 1,506' -- 624' to 2,130' 7.5%
Location: Manning Rd north of Livermore to high point

An exposed, shadeless, narrow, curvy climb. I find it more fun to climb the north side and descend this side.

The Bears



Mama Bear
Distance: 0.7 miles
Climbing: 260' -- 540' to 800' 7%
Location: on Bear Creek Rd north of Briones Park



Papa Bear
Distance: 0.7 miles
Climbing: 460' -- 620' to 1,080' 7%
Location: on Bear Creek Rd west of Happy Valley Rd



Pumphouse Hill
Distance: 1.9 miles
Climbing: 740' -- 340' to 1,080' 5.5%
Location: on Bear Creek Rd east of San Pablo Dam Rd

A popular road which somehow has never grabbed my fancy. The pavement is good, the shoulders wide, the traffic is almost non-existent and the turns are fast. The biggest problem is that it can get very hot during the summer (there's water available in Briones Park).



Pig Farm Hill
Distance: 1.5 miles
Climbing: 461' -- 369' to 830' 7%
Location: Alhambra Valley Rd east of Bear Creek Rd

A short, nasty, exposed climb with a great name.



Happy Valley
Distance: 0.8 miles
Climbing: 380' -- 620' to 1,000' 9%
Location: off of Bear Creek Rd south of Briones Park

A utilitarian climb in that it gains you access into the Lafayette area.