Reviewed by: Echopr ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Well, well, well. So no one has reviewed Shafter? Having decended it twice and ascended it once, I guess I can venture a fairly reasoned summary:

It rocks.

Shafter is just about everything you want in a fire road: it is fairly long, seriously steep, well-maintained yet studded with stupid bits and very isolated.

Did I mention steep? I was fortunate to clean this, mostly because my buddy and I were talking up a storm from having not ridden together for quite a while. When we came back down, it shocked the hell out of me that we hadn't had to get off and push.

The downhill version neccessitates a near-constant cranking of the brakes and the ungainly sight of your ass hanging well back off the saddle.


There just isn't much in the way of rest areas on this grinder. Just for comparison, Shafter is .3 miles shorter than Repack and almost the same elevation gain.

Also, there is something mystic about Shafter: there are continuing battles over its access. Coho salmon spawn right at the base; it can be closed arbitrarily and no one seems to know about it.

But is is a beautiful ride, and it presents all sorts of loop options, linking San Geronimo Ridge with Bolinas Ridge. Highly recommended.

Recommended Route:
See directions, then park at the small lot on the southwest side of Shafter Bridge. Go through the gate, roll along the pavement and just stay to your right to climb to Bolinas Ridge.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Randall Trail, a great uphill to Bolinas Ridge located between Olema and Bolinas.
Also: all of San Geronimo Ridge.