Part 2: The Climb and descent

Once in the park you can view the splendid valley but don’t keep your eyes off the road too long as there are plenty of corners and little between you and the edge of the mountain. Keep an eye out for cyclists as well and share the road, most of them are just trying to have fun like us. Weird way to have fun if you ask me.

Watch out for gravel in turns for 2~3 weeks after any rains. Likewise there are almost always some rocks on the road where there are bare rock outcrops next to the road. If you manage to dodge all the obstacles and keep yourself on the road even with the view you will be rewarded at the top of Mt Hamilton with Lick Observatory. It is sometimes closed but if it isn’t I highly encourage you to stop, even if you do not go in. The view of the south bay is amazing, second to none. 

The observatory is also amazing and parts of it are free to visit. I highly recommend the telescope visit as well, that thing is ridiculous! Speaking of, the Lick Observatory is active and has modern telescopes as well. There is one you can visit, but it is separate from the visitor center at the top. Only go there if you like museums and/or astronomy stuff.

The descent is very much exactly like the climb, but going downwards and into the San Antonio Valley. There are some U turns here that are just *chefs kiss*. There are fewer cyclists but there is a new obstacle in this part however, Cattle Guards. Don't be afraid of them and treat them like speed bumps. Get your butt up off the seat a few inches, keep the front wheel straight, dont brake or turn while over them, and you will be fine. Still watch out for gravel, especially in blind corners.

The climb map

The Descent map

Part 3: San Antonio Valley

At some point you will go over a small curved bridge. To me this is the end of Mt Hamilton and the beginning of a gully that leads to the San Antonio Valley. You will notice some of the 2020 San Jose fire scars as you near the valley. Some of my favorite sets of corners are here, right before reaching the main valley and turning left. The cattle guards are all but done by this point, but do watch out for the little road squirrels. Seriously, they burrow into holes on the edges of the road surface.

The road in the valley is fairly straight and easy to go fast on. I will not say how fast I have gone, but do watch out as the road still does turn, and turns comes at you very fast when you are going, well… fast. 

There is also a place called The Junction at the only junction on this road. It is a little diner place that 2 wheeled enthusiasts like to stop at. I go out for rides to ride so I tend to just keep going past. That road going east leads to the 5, and there isn’t much on the way or at the end. The main road north goes past a firehouse which symbolizes the return of curves. 

Big Valley map

From the Junction and going to nowhere map

Part 4: Canyons

This part is where some of the worst of the San Jose fires hit in 2020. As of 2022 there is some vegetation back but most of the trees are still gone or sickly looking. The curves tend to be nice and gentle, with one or 2 tighter U turns to watch out for.

At some point you will hit the County Line change. If you miss the sign you will notice the road going from having a center marker to it suddenly being gone. From here you now need to be careful about cars, motos, and bicycles, especially in corners. If you ride on the right side of the road and take corners carefully you should be fine. This area is also the most desolate and as far from help as you can get so even more reason to be careful. One upside of being so desolate is there are so few other people on the road here that you will make it through the canyons without encountering another vehicle. 

At some point, the center road marker will come back, then disappear, then come back again. Civilization will also start coming back. The curves tend to be nice, but watch out for those with a tree or rocky outcrop at the apex. Both tend to have gravel in the apex year around. The Canyons end when the road ends and forces you to make a right turn.

Canyons map

Part 5: The end

After the right hander the road surface becomes very nice, but traffic tends to also increase so don’t go crazy. Nothing  special but nothing bad to say about this bit. It ends when you reach another dead end at Tesla Road, next to a Beer Hops growery and brewery. You will likely go left, towards Livermore. I usually take Concanon road all the way to the 84 which starts my highway journey home.

The end map

My main takeaways:

This is likely my favorite route to ride, but it is also the longest, toughest, and least forgiving. Like I mentioned many times there is almost always some amount of gravel in some turns and there are parts with no center dividers. Make sure to fuel up before starting the ride since there is nothing between the start in the South Bay and Livermore. These combined with the lack of cell reception definitively means I recommend taking it easy and go with a friend if you can. Be mindful of the weather, know that it can vary greatly inland compared to in the bay.  If you can, bring the basic first aid kits for people, tires, and motorcycles. But don't let all of this scare you, the ride is totally worth it and has plenty of spots where you can pull over and stop for a moment.

In my ~30 times doing this ride, I have popped a rear tire once, I slipped and fell on ice once, and ridden through or past snow about 5~8 times. I’ve seen and helped 2 different riders right after a crash, one of which required a helicopter airlift out of there. I’ve also seen one or 2 cars that have left the road and started going down the gullies including one or 2 abandoned cars. I have encountered cows on the road more than 5 times. I once or twice went after some rain and had to cross a few streams that were overflowing the road. I once saw 2 guys washing their pickup in one of these small streams crossing the road. I Never know what will happen when I go ride Mines Road, but I do know I will get home tired yet amazed and content with the ride.

The South East Bay Area has some of the best, and remote roads that I regularly ride. There aren’t many roads I ride out there but those few are also some of my favorites.

1- Mines road

In short: This somewhat difficult 2ish hour long ride starts in the south, goes up to Mt Hamilton, goes down on the back side, flies past a place called The Junction, and winds its way up to Livermore. It can be done in reverse, starting in Livermore (as I often do). 

It is best to come prepared for this trip. It gets super hot in the summer so bring water, and there can be snow and ice in the winter. The road surface can also be rough on your tires. Cell phone reception is minimal at best, and it is often devoid of other people in all forms.

Part 1: The Start

CA road 130 is named Mt Hamilton road, likely because it is the road that goes to the top of Mt Hamilton. Starts in residential Alum Road, has a few decent turns, then weaves its way through the eastern foothills. Be careful here after rains as mud likes to make its way onto the road.

There is also an optional start in East San Jose with Quimby Road. It is a bit smaller and slower, but has a few ridiculous curves which are somewhere between fun and terrifying. Both of these lead to the Grant County Park.

Main start map

Quimby start map