Super Century – combines both Metric Centuries for 132 miles and 8,800 feet of elevation gain. There is just enough climbing to make this challenging, but the rewards are immense.
Full Century – This route combines the Mountain Metric and Half Metric Rides for roughly 97 miles and 8,500 feet of elevation gain.
Mountain Metric Century – This route consists of the Castle Crags Century Loop, which is 62 miles and approximately 6,300 feet of climbing.
Valley Metric Century – This route consists of the extended Shasta Valley Loop and offers 70 miles and approximately 2,500 feet of elevation gain.
Half Metric Century – This route consists of the original Shasta Valley Loop, which is 37 miles and about 2,200 feet of elevation gain.
Ride Descriptions:
The rides will follow one or both of two loops – one to the south of Mt. Shasta and one to the north. All rides begin and end at Shastice Park in Mt. Shasta.
Castle Crags Loop
The Super Century, Full Century, and Mountain Metric will all include the Castle Crags Loop. There are a few very short sections of gravel (10-50 feet or so) and some well-marked potholes on this loop, so beware -- but all in all mostly beautiful, quiet one lane paved roads... a cyclist’s dream!
This loop begins with a beautiful cruise along pristine Lake Siskiyou then tests your mettle with a challenging climb up a scenic one lane winding mountain pass to Mumbo Summit along the Sacramento River. The river will be rushing and wildflowers blooming along the way! Enjoy a refreshing rest stop at the top of Mumbo Summit, with fabulous views of Mount Shasta. This is a climb worthy of accolades and you can count on some enthusiastic volunteers to give you just what you deserve at the top of this climb! Take a few minutes to soak in the beauty and enjoy some ice cold refreshments before the first fantastic downhill segment of the day.
The Pacific Crest Trail traverses this area, and you'll understand why they chose this beautiful area when mapping that epic trail. The Eddy Mountains are little known and remote, but you'll enjoy the distant views of Trinity Lake, the Trinity Alps and the mountains as you traverse the back side of the range toward the next rest stop at the top of Ramshorn Summit where you'll again catch your breath at the stunning views of the majestic Castle Crags, Mount Lassen and Mount Burney in the distance.
Next, prepare for what may be the longest and steepest descent you've ever encountered on a century ride. This 10-mile segment definitely qualifies as an E-Ticket Ride! (This is where we advise you not to ride carbon rims due to the possibility of overheating issues with continued braking.)
The route circles around the sky-scraping 6000 ft. spires of polished granite called the Castle Crags. The Castle Crags were formed in much the same manner as nearby Mt. Shasta and the other peaks of the Cascade Range—by volcanic activity some 200 million years ago. For the last million years, the Crags have been subjected to the forces of wind, rain, ice and even some small glaciers, which have shaped the granite into its distinctive shapes. Rising beside the spiky peaks is a round one, Castle Dome, which many mountaineers liken to Yosemite’s Half Dome.
Once at the bottom you'll cruise along Castle Creek through the State Park and Castella, then cross the mighty Sacramento River and ride along a beautiful forested one lane road. Many have noted that this section is not to be discounted as it is one of the most scenic areas on the entire ride...several miles of gently rolling hills alongside the rushing Sacramento River to cross the Pacific Crest Trail once again only to find yourself riding on Interstate 5 (short segment).
Next we'll take you to Railroad Park, an amazing oasis nestled at the foot of the Castle Crags where we have another beautiful rest stop along the river in South Dunsmuir. Relax here and enjoy the shaded riverside rest stop and magnificent views of the back side of the Castle Crags before the final grade back into Mount Shasta.
Super Century and Full Century riders will enjoy a fantastic lunch on the grass outside the registration building before heading off to the second leg of their rides.
Shasta Valley Loop
The Half-Metric and the second leg of the Full Century will follow the original Shasta Valley Loop. The Super Century and the Valley Metric will follow an extended version of this loop, which includes Grenada and Lake Shastina.
This loop heads north out of Mt. Shasta and tours through the Shasta Valley, crossing creeks and pasture lands and, all the while, Mt. Shasta looms overhead. You’ll sail through the towns of Edgewood and W**d to the rest stop at Bel Air Park next to the College of the Siskiyous, which was voted the most scenic college campus in California. All this beauty is now yours to behold from the seat of your beloved bicycle -- the best place in the world to see the world!
All riders will enjoy a delicious post-ride meal at Shastice Park!
