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
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