351 mi · 11,600 ft of climbing · high point 7,382 ft · start/finish downtown Napa (First St & Main St)
Ridden Nov 2, 2026 · High Sierra
The ride
Instead of jumping straight on the freeway, this one leaves Napa on CA-12 past Suisun City and across to Rio Vista, then follows the Delta: River Road through Isleton, Walnut Grove and Courtland, levees and orchards and bridges, up to Jefferson Boulevard and into Sacramento.
Then it's Highway 50 all the way up. Rancho Cordova, Cameron Park, El Dorado, Placerville and Pollock Pines, past Riverton and up the South Fork American River canyon. Alder Creek Road breaks up the climb, then it's back on 50 through Strawberry, and Johnson Pass Road (the old highway through Little Norway) gets you up to Echo Summit, the high point at 7,382 ft, right above the Lake Tahoe basin.
Home is the fast way, back down 50 through Pacific, Camino, Diamond Springs, Folsom and Sacramento, then I-80 through Dixon, Vacaville and Fairfield and Jameson Canyon. It's about 351 mi with ~11,600 ft of climbing, so call it a full day. Fuel's easy on 50, but there's a quiet stretch between Pollock Pines and Strawberry, so don't run it low up the canyon. Echo Summit is a major pass that stays open in winter but sees chain controls and storm closures, so check Caltrans before you go.
[Steve: add your full write-up here]
Key roads and highlights
CA-12 Suisun City to Rio Vista
River Road through Isleton
Victory Highway / River Road through Walnut Grove and Courtland
Jefferson Boulevard into Sacramento
US-50 through Placerville and Pollock Pines
South Fork American River canyon past Riverton
Alder Creek Road
Strawberry
Johnson Pass Road through Little Norway
Echo Summit, high point ~7,382 ft
Home via US-50 and I-80
Gallery
Ride photos coming soon
Not starting in Napa? No problem. Every Two Wheel Touring GPX is a loop that begins and ends at First & Main in downtown Napa, but you don't have to. Join the line wherever it's closest to you, ride any section you like, or flip the whole thing and run it the other way. For step-by-step help in Garmin, REVER, Calimoto, Scenic, Google My Maps, and a free GPX editor, see Riding a route from your own start.
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