Most Popular Rural Cycling Roads in Gold Country
Central Calaveras County
Angels Camp
A popular bike route from Angels Camp are the roads often used in the annual Mr Frog Bike Ride held in April. (Map below shows start in Murphy’s) Begin your ride from Mountain Pedaler Bike Store and ride through the hilly neighborhoods of Angels Camp above Greenhorn Creek golf resort. Ride through historic downtown Angels Camp before heading up Highway 4 to the small Gold Rush Camp Vallecito. Its Union Church is a California Historic Landmark. Leaving Vallecito descend down to Parrotts Ferry bridge on New Melones Lake. Return to Highway 4 and head back to Angels camp. Your ride will make a giant loop back through Angels Camp and up to Murphys via Murphys Grade Road. Ride through downtown Murphys and return up French Gulch Road, a favorite local backroad lined with oak trees and hayfields, then back down Murphys Grade Road into Angels Camp.
There are several local restaurants for post ride lunch or coffee at Starbucks.
Route Options from Angels Camp
Dogtown-Calaveritas Out and Back, 28 Miles, Rolling hills and few steep climbs
Dogtown to San Dominican to Stevenot Winery, to Murphy’s
Old Gulch to Michael and Cave City
Why it’s the best
Some of the States most scenic Gold Rush Rural Roads are a short drive from Central Valley, Sacramento and Modesto and 2 hour drive from most Bay Area communities.
How to get there
West Calaveras County offers an never-ending supply of hill climbing in the Foothills, just a short drive from the Central Valley, Sacramento and Bay Area.
From Stockton take CA Highway 4, for 30 miles to Angels Camp
From Highway 49 take Highway 49 to Angels Camp
Best bike shops in Motherlode
Jackson Family Sports 275 CA-88 Jackson, CA
Mountain Pedaler Bicycle 352 S Main St, Angels Camp, CA
Sonora Cyclery 13867 Mono Way Sonora CA
For more information: Call The Motherlode Bicycle Coalition Co-Founder Rob Williams, 209-531-5844 or email rbwilliams72@gmail.com. Check Meetup: Valley Springs Cyclists
The Motherlode Bicycle Coalition is a fiscally sponsored project of the California Bicycle Education Fund and in Partnership with the Golden Chain Bike Club and Sponsored by Mountain Pedaler, Jackson, and Sonora Bike Stores.
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