Mosquito Rd Loop
| Level of Difficulty:
Difficult to very difficult (3600' total climbing) |
|
| Riding Time: 3-4 hours | Printable Area Map: Mosquito Rd Loop (Adobe Acrobat required) |
| Season to Ride: Year round. |
Description: This ride is
exceptionally beautiful, and is certainly a treasure of El Dorado County.
Rock Creek Rd has wonderful views of the American River Canyon, and the descent
down to Mosquito Bridge (an single car cable suspension bridge - about 100 years
old) is priceless. By all means bring your camera, or you'll be kicking
yourself afterwards. The first half of the ride is relatively moderate,
it's the last half that is difficult. The loop can be traveled in either
direction - the direction shown here is given for two reasons - first it puts
you on the canyon side of the road on Rock Creek Rd (better views), and it gets
you through the busy Highway 193 as quickly as possible. An added plus for
this direction is that the steep climbing is on the north side of the hills
(cooler in summer). An extra special time to ride this is after a good rain
storm (there will be several spectacular waterfalls along the way).
Special note: The descent on Mosquito Rd down to Mosquito Bridge is steep -
especially as it gets near the river (several switchbacks). This is not
a time to see how fast you can go on your bike! Please go
slowly around these corners and give respect to the cars coming uphill.
Traffic
notes: Highway 49 and 193 can have heavy to moderate traffic.
Rock Creek Rd generally has light traffic, but cars/trucks can appear suddenly
around it's many curves. Mosquito Rd (generally light in traffic) has
several very sharp corners - and caution is advised - especially on the steep
descent down to Mosquito Bridge.
|
Miles |
Directions |
|
0.0 |
Start at corner of
Main St and Highway 49.
Head north (across Highway 50). |
|
0.8 |
Intersection
with Highway 193.
Turn Right onto Highway 193. |
|
3.0 |
Cross
American River. This
area is also known as Chili Bar (limited groceries on north side of
river). Start
climb up to Rock Creek Rd. |
|
3.9 |
Turn
Right onto Rock Creek Rd. |
|
9.4 |
Cross
Rock Creek Bridge.
Climb next 1 mile is stiff.
After that it’s less steep. |
|
12.6 |
Mosquito
Cutoff Rd – continue straight (on Rock Creek Rd). |
|
12.8 |
Finnon
Lake Campground. |
|
14.0 |
Turn
Right onto Mosquito Rd (just past end of Airport runway) |
|
14.8 |
Pass
Mosquito Cutoff Rd (continue straight downhill).
Road levels out shortly, then starts steep descent into canyon.
Please ride cautiously as road is narrow, and several sharp corners
are coming up. |
|
16.5 |
First
of 4 very sharp switchbacks |
|
16.9 |
Mosquito
Bridge (suspension bridge).
You may want to walk your bike across this as narrow bike tires can
slip in-between the gaps in the boards. |
|
17.3 |
Top
of steep grade.
Remaining climb is less steep – though still very stiff in a few
spots. |
|
18.9 |
Top
of first climb.
Road descends for a bit, then continues climbing. |
|
20.5 |
Intersection
with Union Ridge Rd.
Mosquito Rd goes to Right (turn Right here). |
|
21.0 |
Very sharp corner her |
|
22.4 |
Turn
Right at stop sign (continue on Mosquito Rd) |
|
22.7 |
Turn
Right at stop sign (go under Highway 50). |
|
22.8 |
Continue
straight at stop sign. Road now becomes Main St.
Follow this straight through Placerville. |
|
23.7 |
Ride
ends at corner of Highway 49 and Main St. |