• IF YOU GET 404 ERROR: This may be due to using a link in a post from prior to the web migration. Content was brought over from the old forum as is, but the links may be in error. If the link contains "cog-online.org" it is an old link and will not work.
  • Can't post after logging to the forum for the first time... Try Again - If you can't post in the forum, sign out of both the membership site and the forum and log in again. Make sure your COG membership is active and your browser allow cookies. If you still can't post, contact the COG IT guy at IT@Concours.org.

Sierra Sidewinder 2026 headed to El Dorado

santacruzrider

santacruzrider

Member
Member
COG#
8702
Sierra Sidewinder 2026 – Ride to Eldorado

Friday, Aug. 28
Meet up Mariposa, then north on 49 through Little Dragon, to 108 at Sonora and east on 108 to overnight at Wildwood Inn in Twain Harte. All 21 rooms at the Inn are currently being held for COG. Call them at 209-586-2900 to book your room and be sure to tell them you’re with COG - quoted rates of $140. They will hold the rooms for COG until late July, then any unbooked rooms will be opened for other travelers. Dinner at El Jardin (Mexican) a short walk away. Gas is available about 5 miles either side of the inn on Hwy 108.

1773524303407.jpeg
Ice House Reservoir

1773524303436.jpeg
Union Valley Reservoir

Saturday, Aug. 29
Breakfast at Sportsman Coffee Shop adjacent to the inn, then KSU and NE on 108 over Sonora Pass to north on 395 through Walker, west on 89 over Monitor Pass and SW on 4 over Ebbetts Pass. Turn north at Avery on Sheep Ranch Road to Railroad Flat Road to West Point and Hwy 88. Lunch will be at Gibson’s Roadhouse Cafe in Pioneer. From there we’re looking at some narrow-road options. We’ll do some pre-ride scouting of Forest Roads, all paved but promising a bit more adventure than the major routes. Either way, there will be some tight corners and epic views before we join Hwy 50 at Pollock Pines. Overnight at Westhaven Inn in Pollock Pines. The inn is holding all their rooms for COG, with room rates of $110. If you call to book your room at 530-644-7800, tell them you’re with COG. Also, shoot Dan Breeden a note at danbreeden@icloud.com so he has a record of your room reservation. The inn is prioritizing Dan’s reservation list over calls to the inn (inn’s preference, not ours). Dinner nearby at The Forester – German fare – which is 4 miles down the road. Several gas stations are near the inn.

1773524303478.jpeg

Sunday, Aug. 30
Breakfast at Sportman’s Hall, then more forest roads today as we head west on 50 to Riverton, then north on Forest Roads potentially past Ice House and Union Valley Reservoirs. Details will be worked out ahead of the ride, but the preliminary route will take us past Stumpy Meadows Lake to Georgetown, then south to Placerville and civilization. Lunch at Poor Red’s BBQ in El Dorado. Homeward from there.

1773524582297.jpeg
Watch the Events Calendar for registration info.
 
santacruzrider said:
Sierra Sidewinder 2026 – Ride to Eldorado

Friday, Aug. 28
Meet up Mariposa, then north on 49 through Little Dragon, to 108 at Sonora and east on 108 to overnight at Wildwood Inn in Twain Harte. All 21 rooms at the Inn are currently being held for COG. Call them at 209-586-2900 to book your room and be sure to tell them you’re with COG - quoted rates of $140. They will hold the rooms for COG until late July, then any unbooked rooms will be opened for other travelers. Dinner at El Jardin (Mexican) a short walk away. Gas is available about 5 miles either side of the inn on Hwy 108.

View attachment 43195
Ice House Reservoir

View attachment 43196
Union Valley Reservoir

Saturday, Aug. 29
Breakfast at Sportsman Coffee Shop adjacent to the inn, then KSU and NE on 108 over Sonora Pass to north on 395 through Walker, west on 89 over Monitor Pass and SW on 4 over Ebbetts Pass. Turn north at Avery on Sheep Ranch Road to Railroad Flat Road to West Point and Hwy 88. Lunch will be at Gibson’s Roadhouse Cafe in Pioneer. From there we’re looking at some narrow-road options. We’ll do some pre-ride scouting of Forest Roads, all paved but promising a bit more adventure than the major routes. Either way, there will be some tight corners and epic views before we join Hwy 50 at Pollock Pines. Overnight at Westhaven Inn in Pollock Pines. The inn is holding all their rooms for COG, with room rates of $110. If you call to book your room at 530-644-7800, tell them you’re with COG. Also, shoot Dan Breeden a note at danbreeden@icloud.com so he has a record of your room reservation. The inn is prioritizing Dan’s reservation list over calls to the inn (inn’s preference, not ours). Dinner nearby at The Forester – German fare – which is 4 miles down the road. Several gas stations are near the inn.

View attachment 43198

Sunday, Aug. 30
Breakfast at Sportman’s Hall, then more forest roads today as we head west on 50 to Riverton, then north on Forest Roads potentially past Ice House and Union Valley Reservoirs. Details will be worked out ahead of the ride, but the preliminary route will take us past Stumpy Meadows Lake to Georgetown, then south to Placerville and civilization. Lunch at Poor Red’s BBQ in El Dorado. Homeward from there.

View attachment 43199
Watch the Events Calendar for registration info.
Click to expand...
Looks awesome once again Dan!!
 
Hey everyone—

The Sierra Sidewinder 2026 – Ride to El Dorado is now on the COG Event Calendar and open for registration!

There’s no registration fee, but if you’re planning to attend, please sign up so Dan can get a headcount. And don’t forget to book your hotel room early.

For more details and to register online, check out the link below.

https://concours.org/event-6624901

TCARS!

Mark
 
Hey All,
Three more weeks until I need to release all unreserved or unclaimed rooms at both motels — so don’t forget to register on the Events’ page and shoot me a note so I can be sure the motels have your rooms. Also, ping me if one of the motels quotes a higher rate and I will give them a call and have them correct it.
I’ll send out a planning email to all registrants in another week or so, and also see if folks coming up early want to get together.
July 9 Update: Only 6 open rooms remaining for our Saturday night motel. End of July any open rooms will see the rate bump from $110 to $145 for the night, so let’s lock these in!
Cheers!
 
Last edited:
dgold said:
Registered and booked both hotels.
I'm thinking about spending Thursday night at the Fairfield Thursday night. Anyone else or at another location?
Click to expand...
Same. Registered and booked. The ride looks awesome!

Which Fairfield Inn?

Chris
 
Sorry boys but I just came back from the Doctor and he scheduled a procedure earlier in the week of the Sierra Sidewinder. He said not only does he forbid me riding but he says it will be two weeks before I feel like riding.
It appears my next overnight trip will be Devils Cut.
David G.
 
dgold said:
Sorry boys but I just came back from the Doctor and he scheduled a procedure earlier in the week of the Sierra Sidewinder. He said not only does he forbid me riding but he says it will be two weeks before I feel like riding.
It appears my next overnight trip will be Devils Cut.
David G.
Click to expand...
Wishing you best of luck on the procedure and a speedy recovery David!

Wayne, Carol & Blue
 
dgold said:
Sorry boys but I just came back from the Doctor and he scheduled a procedure earlier in the week of the Sierra Sidewinder. He said not only does he forbid me riding but he says it will be two weeks before I feel like riding.
It appears my next overnight trip will be Devils Cut.
David G.
Click to expand...
Good luck with the procedure David. They will miss you up in the Sierras.
 
Sounds like the SW crew has put together another amazing weekend of rides! I wish I could make it this year, too much going on at home. Have a blast and please post up some pics of what I missed.

Aaron
 
Okay, I'm pumped. Dan sent the first afternoon's route to us, and it looks like this:

PZzmPhR.png


This and the hospitality of the SW COG is why I'll travel 1000 miles to ride with them. :)

The only downside...I have to wait a couple weeks. Ugh!

Chris
 
FYi - Weather may not cooperate. Plan accordingly.


1787351249698.png
1787351316251.png
 

Attachments

  • 1787351208687.png
    1787351208687.png
    39.2 KB · Views: 0
A couple weeks ago, they were forecasting mid-80s. Oh well. But on the bright side (no pun intended), I won't need my heated gear on this trip. :)

Forecast for Lynnwood while I'm there:

1787355131773.png

Edit: We are riding at night, right?

Chris
 
I ordered some cloud cover, so the current forecast high for Mariposa on Friday is 86 according to Apple Weather and 88 according to The Weather Channel. I make no guarantees for the Central Valley temps — but recommend you keep moving!
 
Weather guesses
(based on WUnderground projections as of 10am Thursday):

All in all, pretty darn nice for August - from start in Mariposa to finish in El Dorado you should never see 95.
And the top of passes (4, 108 and 89) might even be a tiny bit chilly - 60s

Friday - mostly cloudy - riding time HI 85 : Low 72
Mariposa: High:83 Noon:83 for lunch
Half or more of the route from Mariposa to Twain Harte is at a higher elevation and slightly cooler temps can be expected
Twain Harte at 6PM: 72

Saturday - Sunny (all) - riding time HI 85 : Low 64
Twain Harte at 8AM: 64
108 over the pass should be very pleasant from 60 to mid 80s,
395 Junction to Walker 10:30AM: 73 to Topaz 11AM: 75
Markleville Lunch: 73
Over Hwy 4, just like the 108 but 5 degrees warmer
On the west slope, close to HWY 49 - you can expect it to be warmer, mid 80s (Murphys: 85 - Jackson: 86)
Then we'll gain some elevation and probably cool back down a bit on the way to Pollock Pines
Westhaven Inn in Pollock Pines at 6PM: 75

Sunday - Sunny (all) - riding time HI 85 : Low 63
Westhaven Inn in Pollock Pines at 8AM: 63
The morning route should be relatively cool through the entire route - 63 to 80
Lunch at Poor Red’s BBQ in El Dorado - Noon: 80

and after that, well ... depends on where you are going and what route you take.
 
Amazing! Dan does it again. Great roads. Perfect "cooler than the hot we expected" weather. Always delectable food choices. And the very pinnacle of good company and conversation.

Even Sheep Dip Rd was an adventure as opposed to just bad - but we won't be doing it again. Ever.
 
More pics from the Sierra Sidewinder.

Technically not from the rally, but I treat the ride to and from as part of the "destination". Black Rock off the southern Oregon Coast.

1788221715055.jpeg


1788221296989.png

1788221322427.png

1788221580983.png

Chris
 
Kudos to Dan (and Keith) for organizing an outstanding ride this year. Good routes, roads (mostly), motels, food and awesome riders.
 

Attachments

  • 20260830_102648.jpg
    20260830_102648.jpg
    172.8 KB · Views: 4
  • 20260829_184508.jpg
    20260829_184508.jpg
    196.2 KB · Views: 4
  • 20260829_095053.jpg
    20260829_095053.jpg
    230.8 KB · Views: 4
Thanks to all the riders who came out for a weekend riding through the woods. Would not have been half as fun without everyone there! And big shout out to Keith for keeping us all on the right path (even when that path was paved oh SO WRONG) and for bringing the swag!
IMG_0859.jpeg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0866.jpeg
    IMG_0866.jpeg
    220.9 KB · Views: 2
  • IMG_0864.jpeg
    IMG_0864.jpeg
    211.3 KB · Views: 2
  • IMG_0840.jpeg
    IMG_0840.jpeg
    265.2 KB · Views: 2
  • IMG_0845.jpeg
    IMG_0845.jpeg
    269.3 KB · Views: 2
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top