Description: This ride
also came
out of the desire to find a cool place to ride on a hot summer day. Temps
on this ride will generally be about 10 to 20 degrees (F) cooler than
Sacramento. Great views are present almost the entire route, so definitely
bring a camera. The climb is a long continuous one, but not steep (about
7% grade the first 7 miles). While the climb is not difficult, it is
exposed (due to the Cleveland fire about a decade ago), so bring plenty of
water. After the climb, the ride pulls away from the American River canyon for
the cooler forests near Ice House Reservoir. There is a small general
store at Ice House Resort (about 9 miles from the start), this is the only place
to get supplies.
There are areas to explore in and around Ice House Reservoir. A two
mile detour from the turn-off to Ice House Reservoir will take you up to Big
Hill Lookout. The road is now paved, though I haven't tried it yet
(hopefully soon!). Also, the road from Ice House Reservoir now continues
onto Wrights Lake, and it was paved for the first time recently. This
would be a 10 mile detour with about 2,000' climbing. Again, I haven't
tried it yet, but hope to soon. Wrights Lake is beautiful, so it
could be a welcome addition to this ride.
The ride back from Ice House to Highway 50 is a spectacular one. The
impression of going through the gap, and seeing all the mountains (and the
canyon) in front of you will leave you feeling like you're at the top of the
world. That primes you for the descent back down - a terrific one with the
views, and not so steep that you have to constantly ride your brakes.
Ride Note: This ride can be combined with the Ice House
Reservoir to Loon Lake Ride to create a full day's ride (63 miles with total of
6,800' climbing!).
Traffic
notes: The traffic on Summer weekends can be moderate. I rode
this on a Saturday in July (the day after the 4th of July), and was told that traffic can be pretty heavy on late
Sunday afternoons when campers return back home. The climb section
has a small shoulder most of the way, though there's little or no shoulder after
that. The traffic is generally slow, though often you'll find a line of
cars after a truck or trailer (or other slow vehicles). Most people I met
were very surprised to encounter a bicyclist up here, but were very kind and
considerate when passing.
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0.0
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Start at intersection of Ice House Rd and Highway 50.
Some parking available here. (If
area is full, there is another area to park 0.4 miles up Ice House Rd.)
Start riding up Ice House Rd (away from Hwy 50).
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0.2
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Cattle Guard. Strongly
recommended to walk your bike across this, gaps in guard are wider than
normal.
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0.6
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Intersection with White Meadow Rd.
Continue on Ice House Rd.
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2.9
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Cleveland Information Station (bathrooms available)
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4.0
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Climb stiffens a little here.
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6.4
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Intersection with Peavine Ridge Rd.
Continue on Ice House Rd. Road
goes through gap as it heads away from the American River Canyon.
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7.1
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Road levels out.
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9.0
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Ice House Resort (limited groceries, restaurant).
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10.3
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Turn Right on Road to Ice House Reservoir.
Follow signs to Boat Launch Ramp.
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11.4
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Intersection. Road
to left continues to Wrights Lake. Continue
straight.
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11.6
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Ice House Reservoir (elevation 5450’).
At this point, the ride returns the same way you came.
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11.8
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Intersection. Continue
Straight
Possible Detour: Road to Left goes to Ice House Dam (about 0.8 mile detour
with last 0.2 mile unpaved). Picnic
area at end near dam.
Alternate ride: Road
to Right continues to Wrights Lake (10 miles further, 2,000 feet climbing.
This road is now paved.)
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12.9
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Turn Left on Ice House Rd.
Alternate Ride: You can
continue to Union Valley Reservoir (about 5-8 miles further depending on
which road you exit on) or Loon Lake (19 miles further) at this point.
See Loon
Lake Ride Map for details
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14.2
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Ice House Resort (limited groceries, restaurant).
Short climb follows.
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16.8
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Road goes through gap.
Spectacular descent to American River follows.
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20.5
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Cleveland Information Station (bathrooms available)
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22.9
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Cattle Guard. Going
downhill across guard is not as big of a problem as when crossing this
going uphill. Still you may
want to walk across it.
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23.1
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Ride ends at Highway 50.
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