The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range runs north-south for 400-miles parallel to the CA-NV border.
We locals (ie me) generally split the mountainous foothill regions up into three parts, North of I-80, Central Foothills due east, & southeast of Sacramento, and the rolling foothills regions from Central Cal down to Bakersfield we call the Southern Foothills.
The perfect time to ride this region of rolling grassy hills is right now. Plus, for a short window, just a couple of weeks, it's a glowing green color from our ample winter rains- but, that doesn't last long. Another month at best, then by May, our heat arrives and the green grass withers away to a golden brown (thus the golden state).
A few hours with the mapping program and I've got a wiggly route figured out to wander through the Sierra Foothills riding the base of the range.
One of the highlights is Ben Hur Rd out of Mariposa. This used to be an extremely goaty road, so many patches you could see them from space (well, sort of, let's call Google Satellite view 'space') that could rattle a few teeth loose. Then it was recently repaved. Delightful.
Escaping the flat Central Valley
Through miles and miles of orchards
About 10-15 miles later, we reach the foothills
