THE COMBINED PACIFIC GRADE/EBBETTS PASS WEB PAGE

The left column details our original ride over Pacific Grade and Ebbetts Pass, back in September 1998. The right column shows our second ride, June 10th, 2001. Since then we've done this ride again, October 25, 2009. Pictures of that ride are available on our Picasa Google site here. I'll update and summarize here-

  • Lodging in Bear Valley has changed; the Red Dog Lodge apparently ceased to exist a few years back (most Google references go to our own website). You can get rooms at the much-fancier Bear Valley Lodge, at a much-fancier price, $95+. We decided to spend the night in Angel's Camp instead, at the very affordable ($60) Gold Country Inn. The place appears a bit funky on the outside, but management was very friendly and the room was nicer than expected. There are other options in Angels Camp as well, more conventional and higher-priced, such as the Best Western ($125), and another property with "character" that we've stayed in the past, the Jumping Frog ($80). I'd have no problem staying at the Gold Country Inn again.
     

  • It's just over an hour's drive from Angels Camp to Bear Valley. That works out pretty well; eat breakfast in Angels Camp, drive up and you're ready to go.
     

  • There's lots of parking at Bear Valley (it's a ski resort after all, and doesn't get the sort of business in the summer it sees in the winter, unless there's a special event going on). The route is simple. From Bear Valley, head out to the main highway and go UP. Whenever in doubt, always go up and you'll probably be going the right way. Funny how that is with my rides.
     

  • Water cannot be counted on anywhere during this ride, unless you head all the way to Markleeville. Campgrounds are notorious for working water; during prime camping season it's usually running, but it seems to be shut off in early fall, possibly to keep pipes from freezing. Two large water bottles are possibly not enough for this ride, especially for someone pushing their limits. I carried extra water in a handlebar bag.
     

  • We chose to turn around at the ranch you come to on the east side of Ebbetts, after it flattens out. This will be about 2.3 miles short of the turnoff for Wolf Creek Campground that we had used before, and about 300ft higher (6300ft instead of 6000ft). You still get a 2500ft climb back up to the top!
     

  • If the Lake Alpine resort (a few miles east of Bear Valley) is closed, there are no pay showers available before the long drive home. You might consider bringing along a supply of "wet ones" (diaper wipes) to freshen up a bit.
     

  • Gearing- I'm running a "compact" double, 50/34 up front with a 12-27 in back. And I enjoy climbing. If steep hills are challenging to you, a triple crank might be something to consider. However, my son, who's pretty, er, sturdy, made it up without ever using his small chainring, so his lowest gear was a 39/27. The steepest sections don't go on forever, so if you have to walk a bit, you can.  --Mike--

Bear Valley to Markleeville (sort of)
and back!
September 20, 1998

Want to find a way to get in lots of climbing without putting in a whole lot of miles?   Want to find out which is stronger...your knees or your frame?  Want to emulate that feeling of "free fall" that's typically left to downhill mountain bike racers?  Then this is the ticket!

This is a 60-mile out-and-back that takes you through some of the most interesting and breathtaking areas you've ever seen.  Highway 4 is a crazy, one and a half lane road that meanders past many lakes, streams, a couple waterfalls, and some of the most spectacular vistas anywhere.
bearvalley.gif (8815 bytes)
room view.jpg (21920 bytes) start of ride
The left picture is the one of the beautiful rooms at the Red Dog Lodge in Bear Valley (209) 753-2344.  Actually, it's a pretty decent & inexpensive place to stay...$39/night for 1 or 2 people (2 beds), $49 for 3 (3 beds) [1998 dollars...a bit more expensive now, call for current rates].  Shower and bathroom facilities are down the hall.  One word of warning...all rooms sit above a bar which, fortunately, closes at midnight (or at least it did the night we were there).  Note: 10/25/09 The Red Dog Lodge no longer exists!  Lodging is also available at Alpine Lake Lodge, shown below on the right...don't have the rates, but the best thing about the place is that you can get a hot shower there after the ride for just $1.50.  At that end of your ride, this will seem like the bargain of the century!
24 percent grade! lake alpine lodge.jpg (23965 bytes)
It doesn't take long to see what you're in for...within the first mile after leaving Bear Valley, you're climbing an easy grade, the weather's near-perfect, and then you see the sign.  Not just any "trucks use low gears" type of sign.  No, this sign is telling people with anything longer than a Toyota Celica or with brakes less powerful than a locomotive that they should turn back now, because there's a 24% grade coming up. 
This, as they say, is the start of something big.  8050 feet here (you've started at around 7100 feet in Bear Valley), and you've just passed Mosquito Lake, one of many small, beautiful spots of sparkling blue water that you just won't find in the bay area.  From here you descend almost exactly 1000 feet into Hermit Valley.   No biggie...except that this all happens in just a mile and a half.  1,000 feet in a mile and a half.  If you need to put this into perspective, consider that Old La Honda climbs about that much in almost four miles.

The riders in the picture are Dick Kiser, our resident former steel-is-real now carbon-fiber convert salesperson, and on the right, Bruno Colchen, our service manager, both from our Redwood City store.  At this point, both were favorably impressed with the beautiful scenary, fresh air and perhaps even the route I chose...even though I had warned them repeatedly beforehand of what we were about to get into.
pacificgrade.gif (7070 bytes)
For about half a mile past this point, the road drops off at a relatively easy 8-10%.   And then comes something more commonly found on a mad-dog downhill mountain bike course...one moment, you're looking forward and there's a road there...the next, it's gone.  Trust me, you will never forget that first hard right-hand turn where the road suddenly disappears underneath you.  You will wonder how it's possible to even pave something this steep!  Dick might have said something like "Oh my God!" but I remember Bruno's reaction much more vividly...he laughed.  The absurdity of something so steep, and knowing that we were going to be coming back up that same grade just a few hours later...well, his reaction, while it caught me off-guard, made perfect sense!
hermitvalley.gif (5552 bytes)
Hermit Valley is a beautiful, quiet place.  But that's not the reason you don't want to leave it- Hermit Valley is the ultimate soup-bowl.  Maybe two miles long, with a big wall on either side.  Actually, the climb up to Ebbett's Pass isn't nearly as bad as you would think...it's one of the easier 1700-foot climbs you'll come across.  We should note here, by the way, that reliable water supplies are always in question...bring everything you need!
ebbettseast.jpg (63192 bytes)
The descent and subsequent climb back up Ebbett's Pass is stunningly beautiful!
ebbetts east side3.jpg (21267 bytes) turnaround.jpg (12506 bytes)
Is this spectacular or what?  We're about half-way down the eastern side of Ebbett's Pass. OK, we just skipped forward...way forward, to the turn-around point at the Centerville Campground, just prior to joining highway 89 (near Markleeville and Monitor Pass).
ebbetts bottom2.jpg (17150 bytes) ebbetts east side2.jpg (24410 bytes)
This is along the bottom of the grade, a couple miles back from the turn-point.   And yes, that's a cyclist heading in the opposite direction. On the east side of the pass, you're going to climb, and climb, and climb, and climb...it's definitely the longest climb of the ride.  But also the most beautiful, as you can see here.
ppassahead.jpg (18679 bytes) ebbetts lake.jpg (16032 bytes)
Way off in the distance there you can see Dick or Bruno, not sure which.  This is one of the more open sections of the climb, and one of the places where you might begin to reflect on the folly of your endeavor. This is the lake you come to just prior to the top of Ebbett's Pass, just one more example of how pretty it is up at 8000 feet!  Of course, the best thing about this particular lake is that it means you only have about 700 feet of climbing to go!
tomattop.jpg (20352 bytes) ebbetts lake2.jpg (18368 bytes)
On the left you see the road as you climb past the lake, and on the right we're looking back at it and the rather awesome clouds that have begun to appear.  On my first ride up this pass, some 25 years ago, I remember leaving Markleeville and looking up...way up...towards the peak of Ebbett's Pass...where a wild thunderstorm was raging away.  Hey, we were young, stupid and had no future, and didn't give it a second's thought.  Today's weather was, however, a whole lot nicer!
livermorebound.jpg (17359 bytes)
Last photo of the day.  We've manage to survive the incredible climb up Pacific Grade which was, in the end, not nearly as bad as we'd imagined it to be.   Now we're descending in the area of Lake Alpine, and really looking forward to those showers!   Just under 60 miles, around 7-8,000 feet of climbing...it was a wonderful ride.  --Mike--

PS:  Bruno's bike is a 1997 LeMond Chambery OCLV with 39-53 front and 13-26 rear gearing.  Dick rode a 1998 TREK 5000, and had intentions of riding with its stock 12-23 rear cassette; finally, the day before the ride, he relented (under considerable pressure) and installed a 13-26 as well.  My bike, a TREK 1998 Y-Foil 66, was set up with a 39-53 front and 12-25 rear.  I would definitely be willing to admit that a 12-27 would have been a wiser choice!

Bruno & Dick each carried two water bottles; I used the single main bottle the Y-Foil allows plus a Camelbak Bandito 50-oz fanny-pack.  I would not under any circumstance attempt this ride with less than two FULL 26oz water bottles and a handful of powerbars (or equivalent). 
Organized Ride Options
Hi Mike,  I read your story and photos of the Bear Valley to Markleeville ride you did back in June 01. You did a great job telling the story and the photos (fantastic, by they way) can only begin to tell the true beauty of this ride.

This past weekend the Mountain Adventures Seminars Company (www.mtadventure.com/) out of the "Base Camp" at Bear Valley hosted the 1st annual Bear Valley BikeFest. Kimi Johnson of M.A.S. did a great job of organizing the event. This was a weekend long gathering of biking enthusiasts of all kinds. Saturday offered seminars for beginning and intermediate mtb riders, trials exhibitions, and an Advanced group ride for mtb'rs. I was going to do the mtb ride but the consensus at sign-ups was that more folks were opting for the 77 mile road ride to Markleeville - so I did it! What an excellent ride! Like you describe in your recount, this is an excellent road ride for the scenery and for those that want to get in some vertical. The Pacific Grade is, well..., humbling to say the least. Sunday was followed up with the advanced mtb ride up to Bear Valley Ski area and back down through some very nice singletrack (Elusive Trail) back down to town. Everyone had a great time with tacos and cervesas rounding out the day at Miguel's afterwards.

I mention this Bike Fest to you as it is was the first annual of what could be a very good thing. Though the attendance was light, I'm sure everyone - myself included - will return next year. Perhaps you could spread the word with your contacts in the biking community. This seems like a great fit for the third weekend of Sept. in that it is typically a "slow season" period and it really injects some revenue into the local businesses. Besides, why not get together with biking buddies for a great weekend in the Sierras!

Sincerely,

Bob Rynd
Biking and outdoor enthusiast from Fremont
 

Check these links for lodging at Bear Valley and Lake Alpine.

Ebbetts Pass and Pacific Grade were revisited in June 2001, with even more photos!

And if this ride isn't enough for you, check out our trip over Sonora Pass!

We also have info from CalTrans showing when this, and several other Trans-Sierra passes, have closed and re-opened each year.

Overview of the various rides on this site-

Last updated 10/30/09 Hit Counter since 05/06/05

 

Ebbetts Pass & Pacific Grade revisited
Check here for our original report on Ebbetts Pass!  Not as many photos, but includes some maps not found here.

June 10th, 2001...yet another glorious day for climbing hills in the Sierras!  Ebbetts is, to me, the most beautiful of all the trans-Sierra passes.  Sure, Tioga Pass is stunning for its dramatic granite walls and views of the Yosemite Valley, but nothing beats Ebbetts Pass & Pacific Grade for its uncrowded 1.5 lane roads, frequent babble of creeks, giant redwoods and a sense that you're experiencing something very special.  Accompanying me on this ride were Brian Krause from our Redwood City store and Mike M.  --Mike--
It used to be called Red Dog Lodge, but now it's Base Camp.  Same great rates (in season weekends, $60/2 people, plus $10 each additional). The cafe at the fancier lodge just down the road, where we had breakfast.
Shortly after you start climbing (which is within a couple hundred feet of starting to ride!) you get the obligatory photo op...24% grade ahead! After winding around and climbing a bit you reach the last outpost of civilization, Lake Alpine.  If you don't like steep roads, turn back now.
Another view of Alpine Lake...very pretty! The first switchback descending Pacific Grade.
What, exactly, does a 24% grade look like?  Not as steep as it feels!  This is the spot where, two years ago, Bruno started laughing as the road curved down and away from him.
1,000 feet below Pacific Grade is Hermit Valley, a very pleasant (but short) piece of flat road. But this ride isn't about flat roads, is it?  Out of Hermit Valley you climb about 2,000 feet to Ebbetts Pass.
The highpoint of our ride, Ebbetts Pass, as Brian hits the summit first. Kinney Reservoir, a mile or two below (east) of Ebbetts Pass, finds Brian & Mike all smiles & ready to go.
On the way down Ebbetts Pass we saw quite a few cyclists coming up the hill, most of them training for the Markleeville Death Ride about a month later.
Down, down, down... ...until you level out into a valley that used to be a bustling mining community.  Not anymore!
Wolf Creek Campground, our turnaround point and also today's base camp for a group training for the Markleeville Death Ride.  They had just done both sides of Monitor Pass, and were getting ready for an assault on Ebbetts.  Interestingly, women outnumbered men in this group.
On the way back we cross Silver Creek, our constant companion on the way up Ebbetts. If not for an occasional Bots Dot on the highway, you could easily think it's 1920 in these parts! 
More DeathRide trainees as we start to climb. Out of water?  There seems to be only one campground on the east side of Ebbetts with running water...I'd strongly suggest filling up!

The map above shows the location the campground where we found the water.  Basically, it's on the east side of the pass, so you can get water there on your way while heading west.  Look for the first Silver Creek crossing on the way up, just after the climb starts to get going.

Originally I didn't have this map posted, but today (06/23/01) I got two emails from different people, requesting more info on the location of the water!

You might also consider one of the water bottles with a built-in filter (so you can get water safely from any of the many creeks you'll come across).


This is what it's all about.  Trees, granite, waterfalls, nice pavement, picture-perfect day (temps in the low-60s to mid-80s), light breeze and friendly cyclists.  Oh yeah, and a nice hill to climb to!
At least somebody's found a home in Shangri-La!  Probably not so easy to live here in the winter though.
Just a mile or so to go to the top... ...where we find quite a crowd at Ebbetts Pass!
Descending from Ebbetts into Hermit Valley at high speed isn't the easiest time to take pictures.  But neither is climbing up Pacific Grade.  This is the very start of the climb, just past the creek crossing.
So what's the lowest gear on your bike?  Brian had a 39/25, while I was using a 39/27.  Yes, I was using the 27 at times!  Curiously, shortly after these photos were taken Brian was asking if we had 27s in stock.
 
Rounding the final corner to the Pacific Grade summit. You've just climbed 1,000 feet in just over a mile.  Compare that to Highway 84, where you climb 1,000 feet in over three miles. Mosquito Lake is appropriately named, but I wonder if sucking on my Cytomax-enriched blood might have created a new super-breed of high-speed endurance Mosquitoes?
Heading back to Base Camp at the end of the ride!  About 57 miles, 7700 feet of climbing.  Not nearly as tough as the Sequoia Double Metric century the week before, nor as challenging as Sonora Pass coming up in two weeks.  But definitely a fun ride, worth the three hours of driving to get there.

Tech notes:  Mike M was riding a TREK 5500 with Campy triple, Brian Krause a TREK 5200 with a 39/53 front and 12/25 rear (to be replaced by a 12/27 for the next mountainous ride!) and me with a TREK 5500 with 39/53 and a 12/27 rear.  I felt entirely comfortable with my gearing, but then I like really steep hills, and prefer standing to sitting when the going gets tough.

For the photos, I actually brought both of my digital cameras, my standard take-photos-as-you-ride Olympus 450Z, as well as the much higher resolution Olympus 3000.  All shots taken while riding were done with the 450Z, while most of those where I had time to stop and set up the shot were done with the 3000.  The 3000 is capable of absolutely stunning photos, with enlargements to 12x18 entirely reasonable.  Over 150 photos were taken, which is one of the reasons it's taken so long to get this page up...an awful lot of shots to go through and process!  --Mike--

 
 

OUR WEBSITE AT A GLANCE

Interesting stories 
Common questions 
Humor 
Editorials 
Kid's stuff 
Choices/Skills 
Tech Stuff 
Rides & Maps 

 
Directions & Hours We're Open
1451 El Camino Redwood City, CA 94063 (650) 366-7130
2310 Homestead (Foothill Crossing), Los Altos, CA 94024 (408) 735-8735

www.ChainReaction.com & www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Email to Mike in Redwood City or Steve in Los Altos
Content, including text & images, may not be republished without permission
Web Author: Mike Jacoubowsky, Chain Reaction Bicycles
Not responsible for typos etc, but please let us know about them!

Chain Reaction sells bicycles & accessories from Trek, Gary Fisher, BikeFriday,Shimano, Pearl Izumi, Continental, Descente,
Sidi, Giro, Blackburn, Speedplay, Oakley, Saris, NiteRider, Bontrager, Torelli, Look, DeFeet, Rock N Roll, Hammer, Cytomax,
Powerbar, Fox, Clif Bar, CamelBak, Chris King, Profile Design, Craft, X-Lab and many more!