Latrobe - French Creek - Green Valley Loop
| Level of Difficulty:
Moderate to Difficult (3300' total climbing) |
Printable Area Map: Latrobe French Creek Green Valley Loop (Adobe Acrobat required) |
| Riding Time: 3-4 hours |
|
| Season to Ride: Year
round - though Summer days can be very hot (early start recommended during
Summer). |
| Description: This
is a wonderful ride to do in early Spring (March / April) when the
wildflowers are out in full force, the hills are green, creeks are
flowing, and the bright colors can really make for some terrific
scenery. By summertime though this area becomes quite hot, so riding
then is recommend only if you get a very early start during this time.
Brandon, French Creek and Old Frenchtown roads are generally very light in
traffic and make ideal cycling. The route climbs out of the lower
foothills up towards Rescue and Cameron Park before it descends back down
to the starting point. The last part of this ride goes out Silva
Valley to get you set up for a spectacular descent down Serrano Pkwy near
the end. Traffic notes: Latrobe Road is narrow at some points and has moderate (but very fast) traffic. South Shingle Rd (the portion used in this ride), Brandon Rd, French Creek and Old Frenchtown Roads are generally light in traffic. Greenwood has moderate traffic. Green Valley Rd has moderate to high traffic and is narrow between Greenwood (where you first turn onto the road) and Cameron Park. |
|
Miles |
Directions |
| 0.0 |
Start
of ride at El Dorado Hills Blvd and Town Center Blvd (at shopping center). |
| 7.8 | Railroad Tracks at top of hill (cross with caution). |
| 8.1 | Intersection with Latrobe Road (just past top of hill). Turn Left on South Shingle Rd |
| 10.2 | Turn Right on Brandon |
| 11.3 | Railroad tracks (cross with caution). |
| 12.3 | Brandon Rd ends. Turn Left on French Creek Rd. |
| 16.8 | Veer towards Right at intersection. Road becomes Old French Town Rd. |
| 19.4 | Two
directions follow quickly. Turn Right on Motherlode Dr. Immediate Left follows onto Greenstone Rd. |
| 19.9 | Railroad tracks – this one particularly bumpy (cross with caution). |
| 22.0 | Turn Left on Green Valley Rd |
| 24.6 | Intersection with Lotus Rd. Go towards Left (still Green Valley Rd). |
| 25.5 | Turn sharp Right for Green Valley Rd (towards Rescue and Cameron Park) |
| 26.1 | Town of Rescue (limited groceries). |
| 28.8 | Intersection with Cameron Park Dr (groceries, supplies). Continue straight |
| 33.6 | Left
on Silva Valley Rd (No lights or stop sign here – Silva Valley Road is on left side only about 200 yards before stoplight). |
| 36.4 | Turn
Right at stop sign onto Serrano Parkway.
Brief climb, then spectacular descent follows. |
| 37.6 | Serrano Parkway ends at stoplight. Turn Left onto El Dorado Hills Blvd |
| 38.6 | Ride ends at Town Center Blvd and El Dorado Hills Blvd. |