The best traffic-free bike rides in the Santa Cruz Mountains

Great paved road that takes you through Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve. On clear days, there are great views of the Cupertino valley and the San Francisco Bay.

Stevens Creek Reservoir spans 87 acres and is surrounded by a 1,063-acre park. Visitors can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, and limited fishing. Seasonal boating for low-power boats is available from mid-April to mid-October. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset, with vehicle entry fees collected year-round at the Chestnut Parking Lot. Visitors can explore natural beauty and historic remnants like the Villa Maria orchard.

Woodside Store was built back in the 1850s by two pioneers who came to California for the gold rush. At the time it was the only stagecoach stop between San Francisco and Santa Clara, and it carried all the essential items that travelers riding between cities might need. The store has been restored, inside and out, to look exactly as it did centuries ago. You can call the museum ahead of your trip to book tours.

Alameda de las Pulgas Road has consistent traffic but features a good bike lane for safe cycling. The route is straightforward and flat, it works for a smooth ride through the area.

A lovely little cut through from the quiet MP part of Alma to the busy PA side (or the turn across the tracks and El Camino to Sand Hill). If you're not in a hurry, pause on the bridge to enjoy the view of the creek which might be dry in the summer or a raging torrent in the winter. The rail bridge to the west is the original Southern Pacific bridge from a century ago, still in use by Caltrain. And if you look closely, you will find El Palo Alto (from which the city gets its name) in this grove of redwoods. It is not obvious in 2024 but it is signed.

The San Francisquito Creek Bridge provides a smooth ride over the San Francisquito Creek, which eventually ends in southwest San Francisco Bay. Enjoy the beauty here and stop on the bridge to peer down into the creek.

The Woodside Store, also known as Tripp Store, is located at 3300 Tripp Road at Kings Mountain Road in Woodside, San Mateo County, California. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1985 and was designated a California Historical Landmark in 1949. The store's history dates back to October 1849 when Matthias Alfred Parkhurst purchased land in the area and began a shingle-making and lumber business with his partners, including Robert Orville Tripp. The store was established in 1853, originally serving the needs of lumbermen and settlers during the Gold Rush era. Dr. Tripp became the sole operator of the store after Parkhurst's death in 1863, running it until his own death in 1909. He was a well-known figure in Woodside, holding various public offices. The San Mateo County Historical Association acquired the store in the 1940s, and it was restored to its 1880s condition by 1994.

Higgins Canyon Road, located near Half Moon Bay in San Mateo County, California, is a scenic and narrow route that is popular among cyclists. The road begins in the quaint town of Half Moon Bay and heads inland into the Santa Cruz Mountains. Starting with a gentle incline, the road passes through farmland, horse pastures, and eucalyptus groves before climbing into dense forests of redwoods and oaks. The climb along Higgins Canyon Road is steadily uphill, but manageable, and features several sharp curves and blind corners (be alert on the descent!). The road is narrow and, unfortunately, lacks a shoulder in most areas, but the traffic is relatively light. As you climb, you are rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding hills, valleys, and occasional glimpses of the distant Pacific Ocean. Higgins Canyon Road also connects to other popular cycling roads, like Tunitas Creek Road and Lobitos Creek Road, offering further opportunities for extended your ride through the scenic terrain of the Santa Cruz Mountains.