Snaking through several shades of green

If you are traveling between the cities of Tracy and Livermore in California, chances are you will take I-580 to your destination. 580 takes you through the hills of...
Patterson Pass Road, CA
Patterson Pass Road, CA

If you are traveling between the cities of Tracy and Livermore in California, chances are you will take I-580 to your destination. 580 takes you through the hills of the Diablo Range and shows you many of the windmills that dot the landscape.  Say you want more: like roads that go up one hill and down another and with lots of twists and turns; and there are rolling hills as far as your eyes can see. Then, you should pick Patterson Pass over the interstate highway the next time you are in the area.

We drove through scenic Patterson Pass a few weeks ago and thoroughly enjoyed the leisurely drive on this less-traveled mountain road through Diablo’s hills. Unlike the highway, this is a small single-lane road that hugs the curves of the hills that make up the range east of the Silicon Valley. Just when you think you are almost at the top of one hill the road snakes through the next hill and takes you to the other side and shows you more of the mountain chain.

Patterson Pass Road

Diablo Range in Winter

Our drive started at the end of Mountain House Parkway and the half-hour drive showed us yet another part of this mountain range in Northern California. Patterson Pass led us through a side of the Altamont Pass Wind Farm Substation and meandered around many hills pointing out scores of tranquil slopes, dozens of wind turbines and large stretches of uninhabited California. Some 20 minutes into the drive, we found ourselves at a beautiful vista point that serves us with views of the valley, more windmills and a part of Patterson Pass Road itself working its way up the hills.

NOW, is a great time for a drive through Patterson Pass thanks to the winter showers that have turned all those dry hills into green dollops of land. Go on a cloudy day –like we did — and you’ll be treated to a greater spread of shades of green because of the shadows the clouds cast on those rolling hills.

Patterson Pass Rd

Drive safe. 

There may not be a whole lot of cars you’ll pass on the Patterson Pass but the road is narrow and sometimes steep. And for the most part, there is no yellow line to keep vehicles coming from the other side, from getting too close to you. Drive with caution. And please be aware of bikers who are here to enjoy the ride and take in the beauty of the Diablo Range.

More: Sights from the Diablo Range in California

Linking to the meme–

Our World

For pictures from the road, Like/Follow Tipsy From The TRIP on  Facebook. Come, Trip with us. 😉 

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Dee (Divya) Blogger, Freelance Content Writer & Content Strategist. 📸 Loves tripping.🛣 Tipsy from every TRIP!😬🫣 🏞Follow > for intoxicating virtual trips!🥂😉
75 Comments on this post.
  • Nora
    2 February 2016 at 4:06 am
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    I love all he shades of green and the rolling hills. Nice.

    • dNambiar
      2 February 2016 at 9:51 am
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      This place looked totally different in the summer months. The rolling hills were a lovely sight but it was quite dry and yellow. The green does add a whole lot of charm to it.

  • Prasad Np
    2 February 2016 at 6:21 am
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    A dreamy true Bollywood type location.. and I once worked out of Livermore for few weeks so this took me back many years … 🙂

    • dNambiar
      2 February 2016 at 9:53 am
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      Nice to know that, DesiTraveler. 🙂
      Have you seen these parts in Summer, it really looks different. The winter showers seem to have waved its magic wand over these hills.

  • jaish_vats
    2 February 2016 at 7:16 am
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    I love road trips and such long winding roads are a sight I always enjoy immensely…

    • dNambiar
      2 February 2016 at 9:55 am
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      There's nothing like road trips, really. 🙂

      This was a short drive, for a change. 😀
      I usually find myself doing long drives when I'm in the mood for a scenic drive, and I seem to be in that mood almost always.

      I hope you are doing well, Jaish. 🙂

  • Fun60
    2 February 2016 at 9:02 am
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    An interesting series of photos. I was surprised it was California as a number of those shots are reminiscent of the green, rolling UK landscapes.

    • dNambiar
      2 February 2016 at 9:59 am
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      California has been hit by drought for around 4 years now. This winter however, the state seems to have gotten some much-need rains and maybe that dry spell will be broken this time.
      Thanks to El Nino, these hills are nice and green now.

      Thank you for stopping by. 🙂

  • rupam sarma
    2 February 2016 at 9:47 am
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    wow amazing. Awesome photos.

    • dNambiar
      2 February 2016 at 9:59 am
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      Thank you, Rupam. 🙂

  • Lea
    2 February 2016 at 2:31 pm
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    Wow! Beautiful scenes! Love them!

    • dNambiar
      3 February 2016 at 1:46 am
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      The area looks great, now.
      Thank you for stopping by, Lea.

  • Halcyon
    2 February 2016 at 4:57 pm
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    Love these landscapes!

    • dNambiar
      3 February 2016 at 1:46 am
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      Aren't they lovely! 🙂

  • Ranjana’s craft blog
    2 February 2016 at 6:56 pm
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    Beautiful Dee.

    • dNambiar
      3 February 2016 at 1:47 am
      Leave a Reply

      I agree.
      But its not this green, throughout the year. 😐

  • Rajesh
    3 February 2016 at 2:03 am
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    Fantastic road to drive through.

    • dNambiar
      4 February 2016 at 8:21 am
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      It did seem to be. 🙂

  • Indrani
    3 February 2016 at 2:07 am
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    I can imagine the thrill of ride through these beautiful roads.

    • dNambiar
      4 February 2016 at 8:24 am
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      I WAS so thrilled to finally go that way.
      My hubby had taken that route once and then it seemed to be closed for some months after that. So it took me a while to take this route, after I had heard of it.
      I believe that was good. It just got greener by then. 😉

  • umashankar
    3 February 2016 at 2:31 am
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    Thank you for sharing this dreamscape. I don't believe in bucket lists but I am sure I have a tryst with California somewhere down the line.

    • dNambiar
      4 February 2016 at 8:49 am
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      My pleasure, USP.
      I'm sure you have too. I wish you'd be able to see San Francisco and Yosemite and all, soon. (And I'll get to meet you. :))

  • magiceye
    3 February 2016 at 2:35 am
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    Would love to ride there!! 😀

    • dNambiar
      4 February 2016 at 8:50 am
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      This would be a great place for the Bisons to ride hard. 😉

  • Tomichan Matheikal
    3 February 2016 at 3:28 am
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    Lovely. Wish I could drive through this fairyworld

    • dNambiar
      4 February 2016 at 8:50 am
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      Lovely indeed.
      I wish your wish for you. 🙂

  • Maitreni Mishra
    3 February 2016 at 3:45 am
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    Mesmerizing landscapes! The shades of green are icing on the rolling hills. <3

    • dNambiar
      4 February 2016 at 8:51 am
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      Oh yeah! Sadly it doesn't look like this, all year round.

  • Arun Prasadh
    3 February 2016 at 3:59 am
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    Wow a beautiful road to drive.

    • dNambiar
      4 February 2016 at 8:52 am
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      You said it!! 🙂

  • ArchanaC Kapoor
    3 February 2016 at 5:18 am
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    the last pic really takes the cake Dee… lovely drive 🙂 hope we can do it someday… hugs!

    Cheers, Archana – http://www.drishti.co

    • dNambiar
      4 February 2016 at 8:54 am
      Leave a Reply

      Actually, it does, that one quite sums up the drive.
      I'm glad you noticed that one, Archana.

      You should, if it's in the winter. I hear in Spring, you see wild flowers, so maybe Spring, too. 🙂

      Come by, soon. Let's catch up!

  • Arun
    3 February 2016 at 5:42 am
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    The title is apt! So many shades of green. Not sure if I will be able to drive when I have such a wonderful landscape around me 🙂
    Brilliant pictures!

    • dNambiar
      4 February 2016 at 8:55 am
      Leave a Reply

      Thanks, Arun.
      I know what you mean. 😉
      Thank you so much, Arun.

  • Rahul Bhatia
    3 February 2016 at 6:18 am
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    Awesome pictures, specially the winding roads and windmills!

    • dNambiar
      4 February 2016 at 8:56 am
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      Thank you so much, Mr. Bhatia. 🙂

  • Amit Agarwal
    3 February 2016 at 7:17 am
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    Lovely captures, Divya, as always! Loved the windmills:)

    • dNambiar
      4 February 2016 at 8:57 am
      Leave a Reply

      Thanks a ton, Amit. I'm sure you'll love scenes such as this.
      How have you been?

    • Amit Agarwal
      5 February 2016 at 8:26 am
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      I'm good, Divya, and hope the same for you too:) God bless..

    • dNambiar
      7 February 2016 at 9:41 am
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you so much, Amit. 🙂
      Have a fab week. 🙂

  • Nisha
    3 February 2016 at 11:32 am
    Leave a Reply

    Oh Oh Oh!

    Such lovely greens and the rolling hills with winding roads! Who would not want to take a roadtrip? I think I would just stop the car and admire the beauty. 🙂

    • dNambiar
      4 February 2016 at 8:58 am
      Leave a Reply

      It is lovely. But there aren't a whole lot of places on this route, where you can stop and take in the landscape.

      Thank you for coming by, Nisha.

  • Tales of Travelling Sisters
    3 February 2016 at 1:12 pm
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    Absolutely stunning landscape!! Must have been one crazy experience to drive around these mountains.

    • dNambiar
      4 February 2016 at 8:59 am
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      Isn't it!
      This drive made me so, so happy.

  • Ravish Mani
    3 February 2016 at 3:33 pm
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    Amaaazing view! Brilliant photography, Divya 🙂

    • dNambiar
      4 February 2016 at 8:59 am
      Leave a Reply

      Thank you so, so much, Ravish. 🙂

  • Saru Singhal
    3 February 2016 at 4:34 pm
    Leave a Reply

    I so want to go there. One hell of a drive! Awesome picture, Dee 🙂

    • dNambiar
      4 February 2016 at 9:00 am
      Leave a Reply

      Saru, come over — you guys!

      Thank you so much.:)

  • SelfDrive Trips
    4 February 2016 at 7:59 am
    Leave a Reply

    Wow what amazing road and beautiful picture……

    • dNambiar
      4 February 2016 at 9:00 am
      Leave a Reply

      🙂
      Thank you.

  • R Niranjan Das
    4 February 2016 at 6:04 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Such a gorgeous landscape. Lovely frames, Nambiare!

    • dNambiar
      7 February 2016 at 9:37 am
      Leave a Reply

      It is.
      Now I'd like to go see it when it's covered in wildflowers. 😉
      Thank you, Nomad. 🙂

  • Bikram
    5 February 2016 at 10:34 am
    Leave a Reply

    beautifulllllllllll that looks just like Scotland here .. 🙂

    Bikram's

    • dNambiar
      7 February 2016 at 9:39 am
      Leave a Reply

      It does? 😉
      So it may not be wrong to call it a mini – Scotland, I guess. But then again, I think we can say that only around this time of the year.

      Thank you, Bikram. 🙂

  • Somali K Chakrabarti
    6 February 2016 at 3:53 pm
    Leave a Reply

    Windmills on the rolling hills look so picturesque. You have beautifully captured wonderful landscape D.

    • dNambiar
      7 February 2016 at 9:40 am
      Leave a Reply

      Thanks a whole ton, Somali.
      I hope you are doing well. 🙂

  • joshi daniel
    6 February 2016 at 6:53 pm
    Leave a Reply

    beautiful 🙂

    • dNambiar
      7 February 2016 at 9:40 am
      Leave a Reply

      It is, isn't it?

      Thank you for swinging by, Joshi. 🙂

  • Rat
    9 February 2016 at 3:42 am
    Leave a Reply

    Fascinating landscape. Can see how much you enjoyed the drive. 🙂

    • dNambiar
      13 February 2017 at 10:04 pm
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      🙂

      It was lovely. I seem to enjoy all my drives. 🙂

  • The Untourists
    9 February 2016 at 4:50 am
    Leave a Reply

    Looks nice! I wonder why the hills are devoid of a single tree!

    • dNambiar
      13 February 2017 at 10:03 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Good question, Param.
      These hills are actually very, very dry during the rest of the year. It’s the winter rains that make it look nice and green and lovely around this time of the year. 🙂

  • Raj
    10 February 2016 at 3:18 am
    Leave a Reply

    So serene and surreal. Exquisite landscape and am sure it would be one beautiful ride on a rainy/cloudy day. 🙂 Am jealous of you. Keep travelling.

    • dNambiar
      13 February 2017 at 10:02 pm
      Leave a Reply

      Don’t be. I’ll bring back some sights for you — always. 😀

      Thank you for coming this way, Raj. 🙂

  • shweta
    12 February 2017 at 8:00 pm
    Leave a Reply

    you have captured the best of greens Dee 🙂 loved them all 🙂

    • dNambiar
      13 February 2017 at 10:00 pm
      Leave a Reply

      It’s winter again. And the rains have made those hills nice and green again. 🙂

      Thank you, Shweta.

  • Alok Singhal
    14 February 2017 at 12:36 pm
    Leave a Reply

    I think I saw those windmills while driving through California, don’t remember the highway I took though. Anyway, I felt the experience there to be much better than I got in the entire East Coast!

    • dNambiar
      16 February 2017 at 8:38 am
      Leave a Reply

      Yeah, you cross this mountain range when you drive from the Bay area to Yosemite. I’m pretty sure you saw the windmills when you were on I-580.

      These pictures are from a mountain pass that doesn’t see a whole lot of traffic except on those days when there’s too much office-going/returning traffic on 580 and the other highways in the area.

  • Al
    16 February 2017 at 12:51 am
    Leave a Reply

    It does look like a beautiful drive through those rolling hills.

    • dNambiar
      16 February 2017 at 8:39 am
      Leave a Reply

      It sure is. 🙂
      Welcome here, Al.

  • Diablo Range: The hills are alive again | Tipsy from the TRIP
    6 March 2017 at 11:10 pm
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    […] Those who have been following this blog for some time might remember my first drive through this mountain pass through green graceful hills that play home to a few ranches and large numbers of turbines that tap the wind energy that this area is known for. That was last year and the pictures are up in a post called Snaking through several shades of green. […]

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    16 April 2018 at 5:19 pm
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    […] Patterson Pass Road […]

  • Our World: Altamont Pass and its windmills | Tipsy from the TRIP
    16 April 2018 at 5:50 pm
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    […] Patterson Pass Road […]

  • Found in San Jose: Diablo mural | Tipsy from the TRIP
    27 January 2020 at 12:22 am
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    […] The Diablo range is made up of pretty-low lying rolling hills that are dry for the most part of the year. The post — Vistas from California’s Devil Mountain will show you what the mountain range looks like when it is in it’s dry stage.  Come winter and the hills come alive and makes a landscape of green rolling hills. See that here — Snaking through several shaded of green.  […]

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    23 February 2020 at 7:43 pm
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    […] You might also want to see:Mt. Shasta Vista Point on I-5Diablo Range in Winter —The Hills are Alive AgainPatterson Pass snaking thru shades of Green […]

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