How many miles is Mt Hamilton?
Usa, north-america
31 km
1,282 m
hard
Year-round
Cruising through Santa Clara County? You HAVE to hit Mt. Hamilton Road! They say it’s got 365 curves – one for every day of the year! Seriously, prepare for some serious switchbacks (motion sickness pills might be a good idea!).
This beauty is actually part of California State Route 130, and clocks in at around 19 miles of pure, paved driving bliss.
You'll be climbing to a whopping 4,206 feet above sea level, where you'll find the Lick Observatory – the first mountaintop observatory. Cyclists love this route, so keep an eye out and share the road.
Fun fact: this road was built way back in 1875–76 to haul equipment up to the observatory with horse-drawn wagons. So the grades are pretty gentle, but the road is narrow in spots and those curves are no joke.
Being high up in the Diablo Range, Mt. Hamilton can get snow in the winter. It gets cooler as you climb, so pack a jacket. This mountain can be unpredictable, occasionally a cold, wet storm from the Gulf of Alaska or Canada, Mt. Hamilton gets significant snowfall.
But is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY. The views of San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley are breathtaking. On a clear day, you can even spot the Sierra Nevada way off in the distance.
Heads up: there are no gas stations or restaurants on the road or at the summit, so fuel up and pack some snacks before you go. Mount Hamilton is 20 miles east of San Jose, and this journey has spectacular, even spine-tingling views.
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 31 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,282 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in north-america
extremeDare to Drive Cuesta de los Arrepentidos to Real de Catorce in Mexico
🇲🇽 Mexico
Okay, picture this: You're in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, about to embark on a real adventure to Real de Catorce, an almost 9,000-foot-high ghost town. Your chariot? It *has* to be a 4x4 because you're about to tackle Cuesta de los Arrepentidos, or Repentant's Slope. For nearly 7 miles, this wild, unpaved track snakes through the northern part of the state across the Sierra de Catorce range. It's a historical route, dating back to 1778, and until the tunnel was built, it was the *only* way in. You'll pass abandoned mines, ghost towns, defunct train stations, and the seemingly endless Wirikuta desert. The views? Incredible. The experience? Absolutely unforgettable – if you can handle it. This isn't a Sunday drive, folks. We're talking brutally steep climbs, a seriously narrow path, and nerve-wracking drop-offs into a canyon and dry riverbed. Leave the motorcycles and bikes at home. Highlights? The aptly named Paso del Diablo (Devil's Pass) and the eerie Socavón de la Purísima (Immaculate Conception’s Sinkhole) are the stuff of legends. Most folks come in from the east, taking a 17-mile cobblestone stretch off Highway 62. Then there's the Túnel Ogarrio – a long, dark tunnel that takes you right into town. It’s almost a mile and a half long and one-lane only, so hope no one's coming the other way! Legend has it there used to be a phone at the entrance to check for traffic but no one seems to use it anymore. Get ready for the ride of your life!
hardWhat are the 15 Best USA Motorcycle Roads? The Definitive List
🇺🇸 Usa
# America's Best Riding Roads: The Ultimate Motorcycle Bucket List Over 230,000 members of the American Motorcyclist Association voted on what they consider the most thrilling roads to ride in the U.S. Out of more than 100 nominations, these 15 routes made the cut—and they've earned their spots through a combination of technical challenges, jaw-dropping scenery, and pure riding satisfaction. ## The Hidden Gems **Washington Route 129 & Oregon Route 3** The ride from Clarkston, WA to Enterprise, OR is all about that legendary "Rattlesnake Grade"—a series of tight, technical switchbacks that plunge dramatically into the canyon below. It's the kind of road that gets your adrenaline pumping. **Ohio Route 83** Don't sleep on the Midwest. This stretch from Calcutta to Poland, Ohio flows beautifully through rolling hills with a surprisingly satisfying rhythm that'll have you grinning the whole way. ## Mountain Passes & Desert Runs **California Route 58** This one takes you from McKittrick to Santa Margarita, cutting right through the California Coast Ranges and dipping into the Mojave Desert. Seriously diverse terrain. **Virginia Route 60** Between Harrisonburg, VA and Seneca Rocks, WV, you'll find high-speed sweepers mixed with demanding climbs through some seriously gorgeous mountain country. **California Route 36** Stretching from Humboldt County down to Lassen County, this road feels like a rollercoaster with hundreds of curves weaving through ancient redwoods and rolling foothills. **Lolo Pass (U.S. 12)** Sitting at 5,233 feet right on the Idaho-Montana border, this northern Rocky Mountain classic delivers everything you want from an alpine pass. ## The Legends **Natchez Trace Parkway** A whopping 444 miles connecting Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN. What makes it special? Zero commercial traffic and uninterrupted scenic beauty for the entire journey. **Angeles Crest Highway (CA-2)** Sixty-six miles of high-elevation twists through the San Gabriel Mountains, climbing to 7,000 feet with curves that just keep coming. **Going-to-the-Sun Road** Located in Glacier National Park, Montana, this is an engineering masterpiece. Narrow passages hug sheer cliff faces—it's both beautiful and intense. **Cherohala Skyway** Forty-three miles of sweeping curves connecting North Carolina and Tennessee, climbing to mile-high elevations with stunning vistas throughout. **Pacific Coast Highway (CA-1)** The iconic coastal dream ride. Between San Simeon and Carmel on California's central coast, you get cliffside curves and ocean views that hit different. **Million Dollar Highway (U.S. 550)** From Silverton to Ouray, Colorado, this beast features no guardrails, serious vertical drops, and three mountain passes all topping 10,000 feet. It's as wild as it sounds. **Tail of the Dragon (U.S. 129)** Eleven miles, 318 curves—this is the technical challenge that separates riders from passengers. Pure grip-and-rip riding. **Blue Ridge Parkway** A leisurely 469 miles through North Carolina and Virginia along the mountain crest. Perfect for when you want scenery over speed. **Beartooth Highway (U.S. 212)** The undisputed king. This alpine pass tops out at 10,947 feet with incredible switchbacks and views that'll stop you in your tracks. Ride it at least once in your lifetime.
hardSignal Peak: Ultimate 4wd destination in NM
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, fellow adventurers, let me tell you about Signal Peak! This baby sits pretty in Grant County, New Mexico, smack-dab in the Gila National Forest. We're talking serious altitude here – 9,002 feet (2,744m)! The road up, Signal Peak Road (aka Forest Road 154), is a 6.7-mile unpaved path north of Silver City. Translation? Leave your low riders at home! You'll want something with some clearance to tackle this steep climb. Trust me, the views are worth it. Starting near a *ahem* let's say "challenging" area, you'll ascend 517 meters, with an average gradient of 4.79%. The prize? A fire lookout at the top! From there, you can feast your eyes on most of southwestern New Mexico, the vast Chihuahuan Desert to the south, and the rugged Gila Wilderness to the north. It’s panorama perfection!
hardHilman Lake
🇺🇸 Usa
Okay, adventurers, listen up! Hilman Lake in Colorado's Conejos County is calling your name, but fair warning: this isn't your Sunday drive. We're talking a heart-pumping climb to 11,000 feet! The road? Let's just say "rough and rugged" is an understatement. Think rocky, steep, and definitely not for the faint of heart (or those without 4x4). Seriously, if unpaved mountain roads aren't your jam, maybe grab a postcard instead. Winter? Forget about it – this road's a no-go when the snow flies. And heights? Yeah, you'll be seeing a lot of them. The trail keeps going up until you reach the top of an unnamed peak at 11,430ft! But trust me, the views are worth every white-knuckle moment. Just picture yourself surrounded by pristine alpine scenery, with a sparkling lake as your reward. It's an unforgettable experience, as long as you're prepared for the challenge!