47th Annual Tierra Bella Bicycle Tour April 12th - Christmas Hill Park Gilroy!

Organized by the Almaden Cycle Touring Club (ACTC), this iconic tour marks the 47th time in the club’s 50-year history that it has launched riders into the scenic Gilroy countryside. What sets the Tierra Bella apart is its "curated" feel; over 200 ACTC volunteers plan the day, providing marked routes, mechanical support, and fully staffed rest stations. Riders begin their morning with homemade bread and cross the finish line into a 50th-anniversary festival complete with food, music, ice cream, and celebratory cupcakes.

Gilroy is a Cycling Destination

ACTC alone lists nearly 1,000 rides a year, many of which pass through Morgan Hill and Gilroy. On any given day, the local roads are a sea of club-branded kits: San Jose Bike Club, Western Wheelers, Pen Velo, Cores Tech, and the Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club, to name a few. Even the daily lunch rides from the global headquarters of Specialized Bicycles point south toward Gilroy’s quiet country roads.

Town Bike Trails, Flat Valley Floors and Two Mountain Ranges

Inside the city limits, Gilroy residents commute to school and work on two wheels. Local recreational riders enjoy relaxed rides around Christmas Hill Park’s miles of dirt trails and paved bike paths that take them past Gilroy’s parks and rich agricultural land. Heading out of town, road riders appreciate the varied terrain ranging from flat valley roads to rolling hills to epic climbs up to Mt. Madona or into Henry Coe State Park, separated by a mere six miles of flat valley floor. Others come to ride their mountain and gravel bikes inside Henry Coe State Park’s 500 miles of dirt roads and trails. The Santa Cruz mountains offer both paved and dirt roads to the west. Only 3 miles from the Uvas bike trail, riders can access the local favorite Redwood Retreat Road. It’s a quiet 8-mile out and back paved road with rolling hills, an oak tree canopy section, creeks and vineyards along with easy access to Mt. Madonna. These many ride options, low traffic volume, scenery and varied terrain make Gilroy region among the best destinations for bay area cycling enthusiasts.

Year-Round Riding Weather

Weather in Gilroy is another reason to ride here. Moderate temperatures prevail and colors vary with the seasons. On a warm day you might notice the cooling effect of an oak canopy. The redwoods of the Santa Cruz mountains provide all day shade and shelter from coastal breezes. Fall brings the fall colors; spring brings the wildflowers. Winter and spring are green, summers are golden. Wildlife crops up in rural locations year-round. One day it’s the bald eagles on the road to Gilroy Hot Springs, another day it’s a sounder of wild bore in a meadow.

Come Ride Here April 12^th!

If you are reading this and enjoy spinning the pedals, come to Gilroy April 12^th and ride the 47^th annual Tierra Bella Bike Tour. It’s a fully curated way to see the best the region has to offer. Agricultural barn filled flatlands, rolling hills around Uvas and Chesbro Reservoirs, a scenic mid ride rest stop at the Willow Springs Mansion, and two opportunities to ride into Henry Coe State Park, arguably California’s finest state park for riding a bike.

Make it a Weekend of Fun!

Turn your visit into a family weekend. There is so much to do after an invigorating day on the bike. Take the family to Gilroy Gardens , sample a few of the wines from the dozens of vineyards in the area and do some shopping in downtown Gilroy and the Outlets!