Alpine Lake – Alpine Dam loop from Mount Tamalpais Watershed

Alpine Lake – Alpine Dam loop from Mount Tamalpais Watershed

Hard

4.8

(9548)

9,549

riders

Alpine Lake – Alpine Dam loop from Mount Tamalpais Watershed

04:29

88.6km

1,390m

Road cycling

Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: September 10, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Mount Tamalpais State Park

Stinson Beach (GGNRA)

White Hill Open Space Preserve

Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

3.00 km

Mount Tamalpais Watershed

Nature Reserve

5.87 km

Alpine Lake

Highlight • Lake

This lake was formed by the building of Alpine Dam in 1917. It sits between Kent Lake and Bon Tempe Lake, and is popular for a variety of outdoor activities.

Tip by

6.44 km

Alpine Dam

Highlight (Segment) • Structure

Constructed in 1917 this dam forms Alpine Lake, which sites between Kent and Bon Tempe Lakes. The road across the top of the dam make it a great place to ride on a loop around the lake.

Tip by

9.94 km

Fairfax—Bolinas Road

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Bolinas-Fairfax Road climbs steeply but without car traffic on a well paved road from Hwy 1 at sea level to about 500 m elevation at the top of the Bolinas …

Tip by

10.5 km

Seven Sisters

Highlight (Segment) • Mountain Pass

After climbing the Bolinas-Fairfax road from sea level at Hwy 1 (1,500 feet over four miles, reaching grades of 10% along the way) turn south when topping out at the …

Tip by

25.1 km

Stinson Beach (GGNRA)

Nature Reserve

26.1 km

Shoreline Highway 1

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

Maybe the flattest and fastest gently winding section of California Coastal Highway 1, but with these views across the laguna it may be hard not to stop or slow down to take in the beauty.

Tip by

67.1 km

Nicasio

Highlight • Settlement

Handful of historic town buildings (some are a museum), church, ranch now a grocery store, around a large square sports field.

Tip by

73.4 km

Roy's Redwoods Open Space Preserve and French Ranch Open Space Preserve

Highlight • Forest

The two Open Space Preserves meet in this valley of stately redwood trees that's refreshingly cool even in summer, which is welcome before or after the climbs that go both directions in and out of this valley.

Tip by

78.2 km

White Hill Summit on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard

Highlight • Summit

Highest point between Fairfax and San Geronimo, the saddle was originally cut for the train in the 19th century, later widened for the highway. Can be busy but has a wide bike lane.

Tip by

88.6 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

48.7 km

31.3 km

8.46 km

108 m

Surfaces

85.9 km