Metcalf Rd - San Jose, CA

Metcalf Rd in the South Bay, just on the southern edge of San Jose, CA, is the launchpad for an all-day epic adventure—situated mere miles from one of California’s most densely populated metropolitan areas. Connect a specific series of twisty backroads, and you can ride all the way from Morgan Hill to Berkeley while crossing over freeways, rather than riding on them.

How does it work? Metcalf starts the day with a steep, technical climb to a destination actually labeled on the map as "Motorcycle County Park." 445 acres of OHV. Nice. From Metcalf, transition into San Felipe Rd, skirting the southeastern edges of San Jose before you plot a course for Quimby Rd.

Quimby delivers tight hairpins, incredibly steep gradients, and amazing panoramic views across the South Bay, before dropping down a narrow, single-lane descent on the back side of the ridge to connect with Hwy 130.

Yuppers! You’ve reached Mt Hamilton Rd.

Now, If you don't want to summit Mt Hamilton, you can head north along Calaveras Rd to Hwy 84, pick up Palomares Rd, cross the 680 Freeway in Alameda County, and chain together Redwood Rd, Pinehurst Rd, Skyline Blvd, and Grizzly Peak Blvd. Just like that, you're in Berkeley. Sweet.

But Mt Hamilton is an absolute favorite ride for a reason. It is an endless buffet of banked curves up to the Lick Observatory, followed by a dramatic plunge down the backside via San Antonio Valley Rd to The Junction. For those wondering, yes—The Junction is open. It’s currently operating on weekends as the Rainbow Junction Farm, serving up cold drinks, snacks, and water refills.

And then comes Mines Rd. We all love Mines, don't we? Just make sure to watch for gravel and maintain proper lane position on blind corners as you head north into Livermore. From there, trace Vasco Rd past the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, cross over 580 Freeway, and skip a few miles west to Morgan Territory Rd for some glorious, single-lane goat to reach Marsh Creek Rd. By now, you're nearing Clayton.

Word of advice: don't hit this stretch when the local schools are letting out. What a mess! Instead, ease into Walnut Creek and conclude your epic day by assailing North Gate Rd to the top of Mt Diablo. Epic Ride day.