Page Mill Rd, Alpine Rd, Pescadero Creek Rd

Contributer: BigMotor (08-23-2007)
Distance: 29.7 mi.

Leaving the Coast Highway at Pesacdero, the road heading east is initially flat and fast. There is a gas station to the left at stop sign in Loma Mar. After this the turns get progressively tighter. There can be a moderate amount of vehicle traffic and there are many homes and farms. These dwindle in number as the road rises into the hills, and gets inreasingly technical. Some corners decrease in radius and a couple come up unexpectedly, especially during the final steep rise to a ridge that offers a view of a north - south valley. The descent to Cloverdale Road is fun. Stay to your right as you approach the intersection - there is a short right-turn lane to hook up to Alpine Road. Alpine is pockmarked, narrow and tight as it wends through the trees, and very technical. Some stretches are one lane only - beware of oncoming traffic during busy hours. On a late Sunday afternoon I had no oncoming traffic. It gradually rises from the redwoods to rolling ranches in the higher elevations until it reaches the park near the top. The corners are still very tight, but the surface is better and the corners more predictable. There are no barriers so if you run off over you go. Watch for cars pulling onto/off the road where there are trailheads. Once you cross Skyline it becomes Page Mill Road. The first section is freshly paved and is fast. After a mile it yields to older good blacktop, but there are more turnouts for parking and trailheads. There are some fantastic view of the Santa Clara Valley from here, including tantalizing looks at the Mt. Hamilton Observatory. Ah, Mines Road! The road gets wider and more residential until it finally meets up with I-280 and goes into Palo Alto.

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