107 miles with 9,300 feet of elevation gain*
Locate ride on interactive map.
[Interactive Course | enlarge]
[Route Profile]
Spooktacular Century - Counties Visited:
Kern County
Spooktacular Century - Cities/Towns Visited:
Twin Oaks and Caliente
Spooktacular Century - Climbs:
Mile 9 (cat. 1), 42 (cat. 3), and 51 (cat. 3)
Spooktacular Century - Stops:
Mile 19 (Cow Flat), 33 (Breckenridge Road), 51 (Cemetery), and 81 (Caliente)
Spooktacular Century - Description:
The Spooktacular Century is a difficult mountain-rural ride (with a Halloween theme), starting just east of Bakersfield and leading into the Southern Sierras and Sequoia National Forest.
After a few miles of rolling hills on Comanche Drive, the route turns onto Breckenridge Road, the major climb of the day. While the average grade for the next 20 plus miles is less than five percent, there are several sections towards the top with double digit grades. On the other side of the mountain, a long descent with a nice view of Lake Isabella in the distance is awaiting.
A shorter climb leads up Caliente-Bodfish Road and eventually down into Walker Basin. After several flat miles, Walker Basin Road slowly ascends towards Twin Oaks, followed by a long gradual descent on Caliente Creek Road into Caliente.
The course then continues on Caliente-Bodfish Road and Bena Road, which features some short climbs followed by a downhill and flat section, before turning into Edison Highway. Comanche Drive eventually leads back to the starting point.
Spooktacular Century - Pictures:
[Breckenridge Road - View]
[Twin Oaks]
Spooktacular Century - Personal Notes:
We saw more cows than cars on the course, sometimes all over the road. We also experienced noticeable headwinds, especially on Caliente Creek Road, turning the descent into a real workout.
Spooktacular Century - Current Weather:
