Route 47 - Palomar Mountain. 83 mi, 8955 ft el, 111 ft/mi.

0.0 S Melrose
1.5 L San Elijo
2.2 R Elfin Forest
5.4 = Harmony Grove
9.4 R Harmony Grove
9.8 R Harmony Grove
9.9 L Howard
10.4 R Auto Park
10.6 L Hale
11.2 R Washington *
15.4 R El Norte
16.1 L Valley
16.8 R Lake Wohlford *
24.7 R Valley Center
29.8 R Hwy 76 *
34.6 L S Grade Palomar Mtn
41.1 L Canfield
41.2 U-Turn market
41.3 R S Grade
47.8 R Hwy 76
53.0 L Valley Center
58.0 L Lake Wohlford *
65.9 L Valley
66.6 R El Norte
67.5 L Washington
71.2 L Hale
71.3 R Simpson
71.8 L Andreasen
72.6 L Enterprise
72.8 R Harmony Grove
73.2 L Harmony Grove
77.5 = Elfin Forest
80.3 L San Elijo
81.6 R Melrose
83.1 return to start

* Notes
11.8 R Days Market
18.7 R toilet in park
29.3 L market refuel
63.7 L toilet in park

37 - La Costa to Palomar Mountain - 90 miles, 9306 ft el, 103 ft/mi

0.0 E Alga
2.5 R Melrose
3.0 R Rancho Santa Fe
3.4 L San Elijo
4.7 R Elfin Forest
7.6 = Harmony Grove
11.9 R Harmony Grove
12.3 R Harmony Grove
12.4 L Howard
12.9 R Auto Park
13.1 L Hale
13.7 R Washington *
17.9 R El Norte
18.2 L Valley
19.0 R Lake Wohlford *
26.9 R Valley Center
31.8 R Hwy 76 *
37.0 L S Grade / Palomar Mtn
43.6 L Canfield
43.7 L market U-turn
43.8 R S Grade
50.3 R Hwy 76
55.5 L Valley Center
60.5 L Lake Wohlford *
68.4 L Valley
69.2 R El Norte
69.9 L Washington
73.7 L Hale
73.8 R Simpson
74.3 L Andreasen
75.1 L Enterprise
75.3 R Harmony Grove
75.7 L Harmony Grove
80.0 = Elfin Forest
82.8 L San Elijo
84.5 L Rancho Santa Fe
86.1 R La Costa
88.3 R El Camino
89.5 return to start


* Notes
11.5 R toilet in park
19.3 R Texaco refuel
31.9 L Market refuel
39.8 L toilet in park

The climb up Mt Palomar is the one great mountain climbs in San Diego. Lance does it on a single speed. 5000 feet in 11 miles makes it good preparation for your next bike tour of the Alps! The descent is a classic mountain high-speed technical descent.

Attention to weather will make or break your enjoyment of this climb. The ascent is unbearable in the heat, and the descent is unbearable in the cold. Check the forecast for Palomar Mountain before you go.

Under 60 degrees - bring a jacket, long finger gloves and knee warmers. Nice extras would be a balclava, insulated gloves, and an insulated jersey. Pack them on your back or tie them under your saddle. Otherwise, plan on violently shivering on the descent, and losing all feeling in your hands. Research hypothermia.

Over 80 degrees - bring extra water, as there is none between the Taco Shop and Mothers Kitchen. Much of the climb is in direct sun. Research heat exhaustion. Low salt levels from sweating is also a problem. Salt takes a long time to absorb, and like food and water, if you wait until you are suffering to ingest, then it is too late. Salt up: Eat salty food the day before your climb, and research hyponatremia.

There are multiple cattle grates on the climb. Go over them quickly and straight ahead. They are uncomfortable, but your bike can handle it.

Weekends see many pocket rocket motorcycles racing the South Grade. They can easily avoid cyclists as they have to also watch for rocks strewn in the road, but they make a peaceful climb unpleasantly noisy.

The East Grade is much quieter. Weekdays and rainy days are much quieter. Returning to civilization, you may prefer climbing the quieter Cole Grade over the gambling rush to the casinos on Valley Center Rd.

The climb ends 20 minutes after your legs have turned to mush.