1. Mount Hamilton road. Take Alum Rock exit of 280/680 (East San-Jose or so). Continue until you see a sign towards Rt. 130/Mt. Hamilton Road/Lick observatory. Take it all the way up to the observatory (they give tours/lectures on the weekend), and you can also continue (through San Antonio Valley) all the way until Livermore/I-5. Do not go there after or before sunset on clear nights, as the headlights are going to going to interfere with the astronomical observations. See [URL=
https://g35driver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128449]this[URL] thread for pictures. *Very* twisty, at many points you will actually struggle to stay at the speed limit. Narrow, good pavement. Not too many stunnas.

2. Highway 9 / Highway 35 (Skyline Blvd). Either: exit 85 of Saratoga, go through downtown Saratoga ("Big Basin Road"), turn onto Hwy 9, continue until parking lot, turn onto 35 (you can go right until Alice's/Four Corners). Or take CA-84 West from 280, turn onto 35, continue towards Hwy 9. Skyline Blvd is wider and less twisty than other roads. Very high speed (speed limit is 55). The downside are: too many SUVs who refuse to yield, too many stunnaz (motorcyclists who'd love to be your hood ornament and water-cooled (996/997) Porsche 911 drivers who drive at 100+ mph in the opposite lane).

3. Hicks Road. Take Camden exit of Hwy 85, go South, turn onto Hicks road. Very twisty, bad pavement, narrow. Rather "questionable" local folks residing on the road, so don't go there after dark and don't stop unless you need to. There's some criminal activity that has presently happened there. If you go towards the afternoon and on a cold day, there'll be no bicyclists. The big upside is the road is almost entirely deserted (no other cars, few motorcycles) and offers amazing scenery/wild-life without leaving SJ. See this thread for pictures/discussion I had with g35chippie about the area.

 

Pretty much the same as the last guy. Try this one... 280 to 84 west to the top of the ridge..(alices) here you have a choice...2 hours + or quick loop...for the quick route go straight.. first 2 miles is a blast.. you hit what the bikes call crazy eights... all the way to hwy 1 make a right..up to Hwy 92 right. Go to the top of the hill make a right thats skyline. wide open(have radar dector ON) back to 84 left back to 280. Long way.. At alices go left. All the way to Hwy 9. go right all the way to Santa Cruz.. Play in the sand and drive hwy 17 all the way back!!!
Happy trails!!!

 

I like to drive out bodega hwy until i hit highway 1 then i decide if i want to go south and hit fairfax/bolinas road or go north all the way up to skaggs springs road and if any of you have been on skaggs that is one hell of a road lol I also occasionally hit lucas valley road but almost always get stuck behind some marin retard driving a 80k sports car 10mph below the posted speed limit

 

+1 for skyline. i love it!

 

There's a short road that goes towards the Stevens Creek dam. I usually like to take that to the end, then make a right to hwy 9 to 35 to 280

 

Tried that drive yesterday. Pretty hairy at places - the road is pretty friggin narrow, especially heading up to the observatory.

 

Wow! Some great reports here, can't wait to get back in town and try out a couple... keep 'em coming guys!

 

Starbucks on Pleasant Hill road to Alhambra Valley Rd, Martinez to Bear Creek rd, Orinda to Wildcat Canyon, Berkeley/Tilden to Grizzly Peak to Fishranch rd, Oakland Hills to hwy 24 back to Walnut Creek.