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68 miles- This very popular ride is often the heart of formal rides around Clear Lake which can be easily extended to 75 or 100 miles. It is moderate with most of the ride flat to rolling. There are a few steep grades but they pass quickly as you enjoy this ride around California's largest natural freshwater lake.
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MILEAGE
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LOCATION
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0.0
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Library Park - Ample parking, restrooms, nearby restaurants. Full bicycle shop on Main Street between Third and Fourth on the east side of the street. Begin at Park and Third Streets. Head up Third to Main (stop sign). Go right on Main Street through town and past all facilities.
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0.4
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Bike lane begins.
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0.7
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Turn left on 16th Street, follow the bike lane.
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0.8
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Turn right on High Street. Follow the bike lane. High Street becomes Lakeshore Boulevard. This is the natural flow of traffic. You are now riding along the shore of Clear Lake, the largest natural lake totally within the boundaries of California and, at 2.5 million years, possibly the oldest lake in North America.
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2.0
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Crystal Lake Way takes off to the left and the bike lane ends. (Within the next year the bike lane will be extended another 0.7 miles to Park Way.) Follow Lakeshore Boulevard along the lake.
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3.1
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Set back about 100 yards up on the hill to your left you can see the old Fearn Mansion, now locally referred to as the Castle, which was built in the early 1890s for a Swiss consulate.
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4.8
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After passing many resorts and homes along the way you temporarily leave the edge of Clear Lake and head inland.
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5.8
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Turn right on the Nice/Lucerne Cutoff and follow it through wooded country past Rodman Slough and over the bridge at 6.9 miles. Shoulder improves at 7.2 miles.
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7.9
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Turn right on Lakeshore Boulevard, then turn right immediately again toward the lake.
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8.3
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Turn left. You are still on Lakeshore Boulevard. This area includes two bed and breakfast inns, Robin's Nest and Featherbed Railroad Company.
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9.3
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Just before you connect with Highway 20, turn right on Lakeshore Boulevard and follow it through the residential area. The road is narrow but the traffic is light.
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9.9
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Restaurants, services and gas stations. Continue on Lakeshore Boulevard past resorts, the marina and homes.
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10.3
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Pass the Brown Mansion on the left. Built in 1906, it has been used for numerous purposes and was at one time known as the Clear Lake Lodge. 10.7 At the stop sign join Highway 20. 10.8 Take the small gravel and dirt road, which parallels the highway to get away from the traffic for about a quarter mile.
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11.4
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Pass intersection with Bartlett Springs Road, to the left. (Bartlett Mountain or Killer Mountain Loop, see map 10.) Continue east on Highway 20 past walnut orchards and golf driving range to Lucerne.
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12.7
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Lucerne has all facilities including parks and places to purchase food and drinks.
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13.8
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Several blocks to the left, away from the highway, is the old Lucerne Hotel, which was built in the 1920s. For a short distance east of town the paved shoulder narrows again and then widens to four feet for most of the way until you leave Highway 20.
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15.0
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Several nice areas for lake access for swimming or fishing.
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15.5
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View of Mount Konocti across Clear Lake.
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16.3
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Kono Tayee is a residential development up the mountain to the left. Kristalberg Bed and Breakfast at the top of the hill has a fantastic view of Clear Lake and the surrounding scenery.
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18.4
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This area is called The Narrows; view of Buckingham Point across the lake.
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18.7
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Pass Paradise Cove on your right. The road remains rolling with mostly good shoulders and occasional narrow spots. 19.9 Glenhaven is a small tourist community with lodging and gas station available.
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20.7
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Leaving Glenhaven, pass a short rock wall between you and the lake; This was a Works Progress Administration project created during the Depression to put people back to work. Signs of these projects are at various locations throughout Lake County.
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23.2
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Pass Wigeon Bay.
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23.6
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Enter the town of Clearlake Oaks. Many facilities are available including gas stations, restaurants, quick stops and a park.
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24.5
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High Valley Road takes off to the left. Continue on Highway 20 to Orchard Shores and Sulphur Bank Drive.
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25.5
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Turn right on Sulphur Bank Drive, which is a narrow but little used road. It climbs slowly at first and then becomes steep.
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26.7
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Pass the entrance to the Elem Indian Colony, a Pome Indian village, and the entrance to Sulphur Bank Mine, an abandoned quicksilver mine.
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28.0
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Reach the top of the hill, which has great views of Clear Lake, Mount Konocti and the surrounding countryside. At the bottom of the hill and to the left is Borax Lake.
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28.5
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For alternate route continue straight on Sulphur Bank Drive for a short downhill into Clearlake Park.) Turn right on North Drive toward Windflower Point. This very rural trip around the peninsula will show you much of the south end of the lake. It is some up and down, good road and light traffic.
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30.9
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Turn left on Lakeshore Drive where Windflower goes straight. At this point you are on the south side of the peninsula, heading toward Clearlake. The road goes down and up and makes sharp turns to left and right for several miles. Stay on Lakeshore Drive. Follow the signs into town.
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37.2
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Pass by Austin Park, which has restrooms, picnicking, swimming, playground and phones. Local businesses abound for the next several miles.
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38.2
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Pass by Redbud Park on the right, which has restrooms, picnicking, and access to the lake.
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38.6
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Turn right on Old Highway 53, which is narrow with little or no shoulders, rolling hills and moderate traffic. Pass by a market and behind Pearce Field, then cross Highway 53 at which time Old Highway 53 becomes Dam Road.
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41.0
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Turn right on Lake Street and pass by the schools. Head into Lower Lake and turn right on Morgan Valley Road in the middle of town. Be sure to stop and see the historic one room, stone, county jail.
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42.3
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At the stoplight go straight ahead on Highway 29 heading toward Lakeport.
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44.1
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Turn right on Point Lakeview Road. Moderate shoulders, lightly traveled. Some steep areas.
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45.4
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Pass by a lava rock quarry on the left.
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45.8
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View of Thurston Lake down the steep bank to your left. This road is like a roller coaster except you have to provide your own power.
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49.6
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Enter the area known as Clear Lake Riviera. Pass by the golf course.
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50.9
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Turn right on Soda Bay Road. At this point there are some places to get food and drink. Soda Bay Road takes you toward Clear Lake and is quickly descending.
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51.4
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Base of Mount Konocti.
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53.5
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Pass by Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa on the right.
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54.1
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Continue past Riviera West on your left. 54.8 Crystal Road turns to the right toward Buckingham Golf Course. Stay on Soda Bay Road through the Black Forest. 55.7 Turn left and stay on Soda Bay Road toward Clear Lake State Park.
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57.1
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Soda Bay. At the market drinks and snacks are available. Several resorts and restaurants.
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59.5
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Pass Clear Lake State Park on the right. If you have time this is a good place to visit. They have hiking trails and a visitor's center with interesting information on the area.
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60.0
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This is a very productive agricultural area, and includes pears, wine grapes and walnuts. Soda Bay Road follows the old property lines; you will make several 90-degree turns in order to follow it.
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60.9
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Pass the Quercus Ranch on the right.
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61.5
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Continue straight down Soda Bay Road. (Right turn to Lakeside County Park.)
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66.5
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Soda Bay Road becomes South Main Street.
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67.0
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Enter city of Lakeport.
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67.1
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Continue on south Main Street past business areas into downtown Lakeport.
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68.3
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Turn right on First Street, then left at the park. End of loop.
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Funding for the series of Lake County Pathways maps is from 1 (one) percent of the transient occupancy tax (TOT) collected in the unincorporated areas of Lake County, by order of Lake County Board of Supervisors. Future development of trailways is a long-term goal. Contact the Lake County Marketing Program for more information, 800-525-3743.
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