Start: Highway 84
Finish: Skyline Blvd (Hwy 35)

Distance: 4.9 miles
Estimated Travel Time: 12 minutes

Submitted by: Yosemite_Sam

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Start: Reliez Valley Rd., Martinez, Ca
Finish: Pinole Valley Rd., Pinole, Ca

Distance: 7.6 miles
Estimated Travel Time: 13 minutes

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Start: Wildcat Canyon Rd., Berkeley, Ca
Finish: Alhambra Valley Rd., Orinda, Ca

Distance: 8.3 miles
Estimated Travel Time: 15 minutes

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Description:
Bear Creek Rd. is a wonderful ribbon of asphalt that winds it’s ways around the Briones Reservoir. It starts off in the valley, but quickly starts to climb up to the ridge. At this point the road really opens-up with wide sweeping turns.

Speed:
The corners, gentle and sweeping, with lots of ‘run-off’ are very inviting. The posted speed limit is quite reasonable, but the road just begs to be driven faster. There are a few park entrances on both sides of the road to keep an eye out for.

Road Condition:
Bear Creak Rd. is two lanes the entire length and has very wide paved shoulders. The pavement is very well maintained around the reservoir and is one of the smoothest roads I’ve ever driven on!

Traffic:
Traffic is generally light and moves well. There are wide shoulders that would allow slower traffic to pull-over, although there is little reason for anyone to be going slow unless they are towing something. There may be some cyclists on the road, but the shoulders are wide enough for them to not be an issue for driving.

Accessibility:
With proximity to CA-24 and several other nice driving roads this is relatively accessible. There are no amenities available, but you are not far from civilization.

Length:
This road is of average length and is just long enough for you to get into a grove (or recover from more difficult driving).

Start: Grizzly Peak Rd., Berkeley, Ca
Finish: Bear Creak Rd., Orinda, Ca

Distance: 3.7 miles
Estimated Travel Time: 9 minutes

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Start: Skyline Blvd., Berkeley, Ca
Finish: Wildcat Canyon Rd., Berkeley, Ca

Distance: 5.3 miles
Estimated Travel Time: 11 minutes

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Start: Redwood Rd., Oakland, Ca
Finish: Skyline Blvd., Oakland, Ca

Distance: 6.7 miles
Estimated Travel Time: 15 minutes

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Start: Grass Valley Rd., Oakland, Ca
Finish: Grizzly Peak Rd., Berkeley, Ca

Distance: 10.4 miles
Estimated Travel Time: 23 minutes

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Start: I-580, Castro Valley, Ca
Finish: Skyline Blvd., Oakland, Ca

Distance: 12.5 miles
Estimated Travel Time: 23 minutes

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Description:
There are some roads in the Bay Area that are better known, but this is one of my personal favorites for a drive. It starts in downtown Castro Valley, but after about 2 miles leads out into the back country. Once you pass the golf course things start to get more fun with tighter curves and a steeper road. After the first climb there is a nice decent before another climb. This second climb is really nice with lots of back-and-forth sections that get you into a perfect rhythm.

Speed:
You really have to watch your speed while driving out of Castro Valley as it’s in a busy area, including a few school zones. Also, there are also a couple of places (like by the entrance to the Chabot Regional Park) where you should make sure you are driving the posted speed limit.

Road Condition:
The road is fairly decently maintained, but there may be some dirt on the canyon side of the road. Also, the ‘cliff’ side of the road has some areas with little-to-no ‘run-off’. For the most part, the road condition has not been a concern for me when driving this road.

Traffic:
The major traffic on Redwood Rd. is from cyclists if it is a sunny/warm day. The down hill portions they will often times keep pace with vehicles, but in the up hill sections you may have to wait for a safe place to pass. If there is slower vehicle traffic there are many places to pull-off, but several times I’ve been stuck behind a slower vehicle that will not pull over.

Accessibility:
This is a great alternative road if you are driving the from Castro Valley area towards Berkeley or Orinda. There are no gas or food stops along the way, but there are facilities at the regional parks.

Length:
I really wish this road was longer, but it is what it is. I have been known to drive this road ‘out and back’ just to make the total trip a little longer.

Start: Highland Rd., Livermore, Ca
Finish: North Canyon Pkwy., Livermore, Ca

Distance: 5.4 miles
Estimated Travel Time: 9 minutes

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Start: Camino Tassajara, Dublin, Ca
Finish: Manning Rd., Livermore, Ca

Distance: 4.7 miles
Estimated Travel Time: 8 minutes

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