Weaving through the hills on the way to the Bodega coast. Photo by Caroline Hall.
As we enjoy the first few weeks of beautiful fall weather in the Sonoma Valley, it’s the perfect time to round up your favorite co-pilot and take in some of the most beautiful scenery in the country with a relaxing Sunday drive – right in your own backyard.
To help find some of the finest roads in the North Bay, we went to the experts: local race car drivers and car buffs, who know some of these roads like the backs of their hands.
So, load up the car and get going. Just be sure to buckle up and keep your speed at the limit. You wouldn’t want to miss one bit of the view.
Spring Mountain Road
Kevin Buckler, owner and driver, The Racers Group, Petaluma:
“Since I’m also in the wine business, we like being up in the wine country, so I really like the trips on Mark West Road and Spring Mountain Road. On Spring Mountain up in St. Helena, you’re winding up the mountain all the way to the top to visit some stellar wineries, and then you head back down the road. That’s a true sports car road.”
Pope Valley/Tomales Bay
Steve Page, president and general manager, Infineon Raceway, Sonoma resident:
“The drive up through Pope Valley from Lake Berryessa to Middletown is fantastic and absolutely stunning. There is also a road from Petaluma to Marshall that winds up at Tomales Bay that is equally spectacular. These are both just really scenic and great driving roads, and I’ve been known to take a car for a good workout there.”
Highway 128/Highway 1
Mark Wolocatiuk, chief instructor, Jim Russell Racing Drivers School, Santa Rosa resident:
“Anything from Napa Valley on Highway 128 to the coast is really good. It’s fairly open and you can cruise along at 60 mph most of the way. It’s got a great view and it goes through the Navarro River Redwoods, which is really pretty. I also like Highway 175 from Clear Lake to Hopland. One of the nicest, smoothest stretches of road is the one from Point Reyes Station to Tomales Bay on Highway 1. That’s always a nice, open drive with great weather.”
Bodega Bay/Trinity Road
Dane Cameron, Atlantic Championship driver, Sonoma native:
“One of the nicer roads in the area is the road out to Bodega Bay from Petaluma. It’s a long drive, but it’s pretty fun. There’s a lot of scenery, and all of a sudden you come up on the beach. Trinity Road from Glen Ellen to Napa is also pretty. It’s high up on the mountain and there are some really cool views. It’s pretty twisty, and a really enjoyable drive. When I’m heading out for a drive, I always look for a quality road, some decent scenery and not too much traffic.”
Stinson Beach/Calistoga Road
Memo Gidley, Grand-Am Series driver, Novato resident:
“Tam Junction to Stinson Beach is an awesome road from all aspects – turns, beauty and everything. That’s a good one. I also really like the drive from Santa Rosa over the hills to Calistoga on Calistoga Road. That’s wicked, too. I may or may not have done some over-zealous driving there in the past.”
Lucas Valley Road/Highway 1
J.R. Hildebrand, Firestone Indy Lights Series driver, Sausalito native:
“I’m originally from Marin, so I’d say one of the best roads is Lucas Valley Road heading out toward Nicasio. It’s through a wooded area, and it’s fairly removed from civilization and headed to the coast. It’s pretty curvy and hilly, so it’s an easy drive to stay within the speed limit and not worry about getting a ticket. Highway 1 headed out to the beach is also really gorgeous and fun. If I have a free weekend, those are really the only roads I’ll head out on.”
