Dry Creek & Alexander Valleys #3 recommended intermediate ride

Healdsburg, CA, US

Route Overview

Wine Country Bikes

Sonoma, California Bike Tours & Rentals

34 mi.
1,310 ft.

This is a favorite route for bike clubs and cyclists throughout the area- and with good reason. The quiet intimate scenes of small family run vineyards in Dry Creek Valley, combined with the beautiful broad vistas of the Alexander Valley, paint an unforgettable picture of the northern Sonoma County Wine Country. We now offer E-Bikes so no one is left behind in a group or make the most of your day and cover some extra rolling miles. Have lunch in Geyserville and if you'd like to visit a winery check out Locals tasting room or Silver Oak Winery.

Route Details

A ride that connects two wine regions, offers a couple great food options and a number of outstanding wineries- if you have one on your list. Best of all you'll probably see many fellow cyclists, get off the beaten path and feel connected to the simple life of Northern California.

**We suggest you follow this link on your phone to create a free Ride With GPS account and automatically become a member of the Wine Country Bikes RWGPS Club. Installing their free app will then allow you to use turn by turn voice navigation on any Wine Country Bikes routes and download our routes and maps to your phone for offline usage.

From our Bike Touring Center you’ll head west out of the Town of Healdsburg. On Westside Rd- just past Davero Farms & Winery you'll head north on West Dry Creek Road hugging the foothills of the Inner Coastal Range weaving your way along a curving, rolling, country road along the valley floor. Take a look at the map and get a feel of the few surrounding summits listed. The two valleys on this ride are connected by a small mountain range in the middle, only a mile climb from Dry Creek Valley into the Alexander Valley but you'll be surrounded by many significant climbs popular for cycling in the area.

At about 5 miles into the ride, you’ll pass Lambert Bridge Rd- if you need water or food take a right and cut across the valley to the Dry Creek General Store (about a mile) . The store used to be an Old Stage Coach stop where the infamous bandit and poet Black Bart did his dirty work.

Continuing north on West Dry Creek, you’ll roll past small vineyards on the right and dense woodlands on the left. At Yoakim Bridge Road near the north end of the Valley continue on for a short out and back on an “old timey” stretch of road to Bella Vineyards, that’s one of the prettiest settings in Northern Sonoma County with its wine caves and beautiful picnic area.

Return to Yoakim Bridge Rd and use it to head east across the Valley passing Dry Creek Peach and Produce. If they happen to be open, definitely stop. The white peaches are awesome and firm enough to hold up in a jersey pocket until you really need them!

A quick right and then left onto Canyon Rd takes you up the 1.5 mile long hill past the old Walnut Hill Cemetery that sits on top of the ridge separating the Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys. A steep descent down the other side drops you into Alexander Valley and the one block town of Geyserville. We hightly recommend lunch at Diavola - they have a really nice patio and local, fresh, Italian style food.

In Geyserville you’ll take Hwy 128 to continue east across the broad valley to edge of the Mayacamas range before turning south to keep you in the flat and rolling terrain of the valley. As you wind your way through the vineyards you’ll pass Robert Young on Red Winery Rd, known for its Chardonnay and many generations of wine makers.

If you haven't visited any wineries yet we'd recommend Silver Oak Winery (modern style barn tasting room), a short jaunt to your left when you reach Alexander Valley Rd.

  • Remember to use Caution on Alexander Valley Road (use Lytton Station Rd) - try to avoid commute hours- weekends are the quietest.
  • No winery stops and want to add some adventure and a challenge? Make a left instead of a right on Pine Flat Rd and take a beautiful climb into the mountains.

More resources

Important Reminders

Riding under the influence of alchohol is illegal and unsafe!

All the same laws apply to bicyclists as do cars therefore we recommend using the spit bucket provided in every tasting room and purchase a few bottles to enjoy later.

Visit Wine Country Bikes to choose your equipment.

Our Specialized Lightweight Sirrus Touring Hybrid or Specialized Allez Aluminum Road bikes are appropriate for this ride but you may also want to consider one of our carbon fiber road bikes.

*****Use Caution on Alexander Valley Road (use Lytton Station Rd) - try to avoid commute hours- weekends are the quietest. **

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