Sanborn to Russian Ridge Challenge Ride

The Strava route below can be copied into navigation tools such as BikeGPS. https://www.strava.com/routes/2759322635330602042

Sanborn to Russian Ridge – Challenge Ride Turn by Turn:

1. John Nicholas Trail from the parking lot on Black Mountain Rd. 1.9 mi. Fire Road relatively flat, then 3.2 mile narrow path & single track climb. 
2. Right on Skyline Trail to Saratoga Gap Vista Point. 5.6 miles, single track rolling
3. From the Saratoga Gap parking lot at the intersection of State Route 9 and 35, cross State Route 9 to the trail head and take the Saratoga Gap Trail 2.0 mi. single track, rolling.
4. At the 2.0 mile point, the trail ends at State Route 35.  Cross the highway to continue on the Hickory Oaks Trail.  Climb the initial hill, then bear right to stay on the Hickory Oaks Trail. When the trail forks, bear left to the Turtle Rock lookout.  Total 0.2 miles, dirt road and single track, climb. 
5. Continue past the lookout to where the trail rejoins the opposite fork and turn left to stay on the Hickory Oaks Trailgoing north.  0.7 mile, dirt road, rolling
6. Right on Long Ridge Trail. The trail is single track for a short distance, then merges onto a dirt road.  Continue on the dirt road to where there is a stone lookout bench on the left.  0.7 mile total.  Single track, then dirt road, rolling
7. Veer right to stay on Long Ridge Trail. 1.3 miles, single track, rolling
8. Left on Peter’s Creek Trail, 0.1 mile, single track, flat
9. Left on Chestnut Trail, 1.6 miles, single track, rolling
10. Left on Tree Farm Trail, where you will emerge from a forest into a Christmas tree farm.  1.2 mile, gravel road and single track, rolling
11. Left on Sunny Jim Trail, 1.4 miles, dirt road, climb and descent
12. Sunny Jim Trail ends at Alpine Rd.  Cross Alpine Rd., continue into the Russian Ridge parking lot to the trailhead for the Ridge Trail. 
13. Take the Ridge Trail to Boreal Hill.  0.9 miles, narrow path and dirt road, climb
14. Descent Boreal Hill to return to Ridge Trail and continue to proceed north to the end of the trail at Rapley Ranch Rd.  1.7 miles, mostly single track, descent. 
15. At this point, turn around to mostly retrace your route. 
16. Ridge Trail to the Russian Ridge Parking lot, 2.6 miles, single track and dirt road, rolling
17. Cross Alpine Rd. to the Sunny Jim Trail. 1.4 miles dirt road, climb and descent
18. Right on Tree Farm Trail, 1.2 mile gravel road and single track, rolling  
19. Right on Chestnut Trail, 1.6 miles, single track, rolling
20. Right on Peter’s Creek Trail, 1.5 miles, mostly single track, climb. 
21. Left on Long Ridge Trail Within 300 feet there is a fork.  Veer right to stay on Long Ridge Trail 0.2 Narrow Path, descent
22. Left on Hickory Oaks Trail, until you reach the fork. Bear left at the fork to stay on the dirt road, bypassing Turtle Rock lookout. Continue on to State Route 35. 1 mile total, dirt road, rolling 
23. Cross State Route 35 to continue on Saratoga Gap Trail 2.0 miles, single track, rolling.
24. Cross State Route 9 to Parking lot at Saratoga Gap Vista Point.
25. Take Skyline Trail from Saratoga Gap Vista Point. 5.6 miles, single track rolling
26. Left on John Nicholas Trail, 3.2 mile narrow path & single track descent, then 1.9 mi. dirt road, relatively flat, back to the parking on Black Mountain Rd.

Mountain biking is a dangerous sport that could lead to injury or death. Always wear a helmet. Stay on trails, carry an official park map, food and water. Trail conditions can change rapidly. This web site may not contain accurate trail descriptions. SFbayareamountainbiking.com and its authors are not responsible for any injuries sustained while bicycling the trails described on this web site.