Most San Francisco road rides start by crossing the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin, where Hawk Hill climbs 1.8 miles and about 540 feet above the bridge in the Marin Headlands. From there riders head on to the Paradise Loop around Tiburon or up Mt. Tamalpais, while south of the city the Peninsula climbs of Old La Honda and Kings Mountain rise from Woodside to Skyline Boulevard.
DIRT CIRCUS
Fat Cake Club
Huckleberry Bicycles
Mattina Cycling Club
Ornot
PAS NORMAL STUDIOS - SAN FRANCISCO
Phixed Kings Expeditions
Rapha San Francisco
Roaring Mouse Cycles
SF Bike and Brew
The SWELL Ride
Thursdays
Velo Girls
Womp Womp CC
Summit Bicycles
As Far As I'm Concerned
EBGB - East Bay Gravel Bikers
East Bay Mochi Gang
Waffles n Wheels
STAY TRUE CYCLES
SM Cycle Sport
Redwood Cycle House
RA Cycles | Northern California
Sports Basement Walnut Creek Ride Group
Over the bridge to Marin
Bikes cross the Golden Gate Bridge on the sidewalks, toll-free, 24 hours a day. Which sidewalk you use depends on the day and time, and the limit is 15 mph (5 mph around the towers).
On the Marin side, Hawk Hill climbs Conzelman Road from Alexander Avenue: 1.8 miles and about 540 feet at roughly 6%, with the bridge and the city below you. Past the top, Conzelman drops steeply toward the Point Bonita side of the Headlands. Many rides continue through Sausalito, either on to the Paradise Loop, about 11 miles around the Tiburon peninsula on Paradise Drive, or up Mt. Tamalpais. The classic Mt. Tam climb starts in Stinson Beach and follows Panoramic Highway, Pantoll Road and Ridgecrest Boulevard: 6.6 miles and about 2,400 feet at close to 7%, to roughly 2,560 feet near West Peak. Ferries from Sausalito and Tiburon carry bikes back to the city.
South to the Peninsula climbs
Woodside is the base for the Peninsula climbs. Old La Honda Road runs 3.3 miles and about 1,300 feet at 7.5% from Portola Road to Skyline Boulevard, under redwoods. Kings Mountain Road, a little over 4 miles past Huddart Park, is the other way up to Skyline, or a twisty way down.
Riding inside the city
Golden Gate Park is the flat option: a stretch of JFK Drive, now JFK Promenade, has been permanently car-free since 2022 after decades of weekend closures. To reach it from downtown without the hills, riders take the Wiggle, about 1 mile of signed streets from Market Street to the Panhandle where the grade never tops about 6%. For a short steep effort, Twin Peaks rises to 922 feet in the middle of the city.
Frequently asked questions
What cycling clubs are there in San Francisco?
The list above shows the San Francisco clubs that post their group rides, each with its next ride, start time and distance. Read a club’s profile to see how it rides, and message the organizers in the app if you have questions before your first ride.
How long is the Hawk Hill climb?
It’s 1.8 miles and about 540 feet at roughly 6%, on Conzelman Road in the Marin Headlands. It starts at Alexander Avenue just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, a few minutes after you cross. The top looks back over the bridge and the city; beyond it, Conzelman drops steeply toward Point Bonita.
Can you bike across the Golden Gate Bridge?
Yes, for free and 24 hours a day, on the bridge sidewalks. On weekdays bikes use the east sidewalk until 3:30 pm and the west sidewalk after that; on weekends and holidays the west sidewalk is open to bikes, plus the east one during daylight saving time. At night, riders use the east sidewalk through security gates. The limit is 15 mph, 5 mph around the towers, and all classes of e-bike are allowed.
What is the Paradise Loop in Marin?
A road loop around the Tiburon peninsula, named after Paradise Drive along the bay shore: about 11 miles with roughly 850 feet of climbing. From the city, riders usually cross the Golden Gate Bridge and ride through Sausalito to get there, then either ride back or take the ferry home from Tiburon.
Where are the Old La Honda and Kings Mountain climbs?
Both climb from Woodside, on the Peninsula south of San Francisco, to Skyline Boulevard. Old La Honda is 3.3 miles and about 1,300 feet at 7.5%, from Portola Road under redwoods. Kings Mountain Road is a little over 4 miles past Huddart Park. Riders often go up one and down the other.
Where can I ride without hills in San Francisco?
Golden Gate Park is the flattest riding in the city: part of JFK Drive, now JFK Promenade, has been car-free since 2022. From downtown, the Wiggle links Market Street to the Panhandle in about 1 mile of signed streets with no grade steeper than about 6%. The waterfront from the Embarcadero past the Marina Green and Crissy Field to the Golden Gate Bridge is also mostly flat.