Southern California - Ridge Route

Anybody here have any info on riding the Ridge Route? I know somebody here has had to ride it in the recent years? Last I heard a few years ago they closed it down for pipeline maintenance and also most of it is in real bad shape...

Last time I was up there it was pretty beat up, but mostly rideable. You can get on it in Castaic right behind Castaic Brick. Where do you want to go?

Last time I was up there it was pretty beat up, but mostly rideable. You can get on it in Castaic right behind Castaic Brick. Where do you want to go?

As far up as possible before it turns into a lake I guess. If its in real bad shape I would ride the cross just want to make sure that it is passable. Don't want any Aliso Cny surprises if you know what I mean.

Oh ... from the title I was wondering why you were talking about a street in Lake Forest!

As far up as possible before it turns into a lake I guess. If its in real bad shape I would ride the cross just want to make sure that it is passable. Don't want any Aliso Cny surprises if you know what I mean.
In the past you could connect to Hwy 138 near Quail Lake or go on backroads all the way to Lake Hughes and take Lake Hughes Road back to Castaic. That would be epic. Just going up San Francisquito and down Lake Hughes Road is kinda hard. You could go try it, but there is no store or anything until you get to 3 points, and maybe nothing until you get to Lake Hughes, unless you went to Gorman. That is a tough section, from Quail Lake to Gorman, usually windy.
If you're reffering to the bridge on Aliso, it's been rebuilt and is very nice.

In the past you could connect to Hwy 138 near Quail Lake or go on backroads all the way to Lake Hughes and take Lake Hughes Road back to Castaic. That would be epic. Just going up San Francisquito and down Lake Hughes Road is kinda hard. You could go try it, but there is no store or anything until you get to 3 points, and maybe nothing until you get to Lake Hughes, unless you went to Gorman. That is a tough section, from Quail Lake to Gorman, usually windy.
If you're reffering to the bridge on Aliso, it's been rebuilt and is very nice.I rode the Ridge Route in 2004 and it was barely passable in spots, then we had the winter of 2005 and I can't imagine that there is much left. Went by there on Big Pines road out of Three Points on our ride from Castaic to Quail Lake this December. There is a reason that everything is named after the wind out there. Also I didn't see
any store at Three Points. Must go into Lake Hughes for food. I definitly wouldn't ride out there alone. We had sag on the Tour de Francis to Quail Lake, that helped.

I rode Maricopa Hwy solo last spring out to Frazier Park via Lockwood Valley and that was pretty darn remote but decent roads. Is Lake Hughes as remote???

I rode Maricopa Hwy solo last spring out to Frazier Park via Lockwood Valley and that was pretty darn remote but decent roads. Is Lake Hughes as remote???The town of Lake Hughes is at the top of Lake Hughes road, about 20 miles from Castaic in Leona Valley. There is a small store there and a Rock Store type cafe. I think Bob is right about the store in 3 points being closed. If you plan on descending Lake Hughes Road, there is a big climb on the way down followed by 3 small climbs. A great road, but a little rough near the top.

bump- thinking of riding here Thursday PM from near Castiac Brick. I am sure the 1st section to Templeton Highway is in good shape, yes? (Been 12 years or more since I’ve ridden this..

I did ride up the Ridge Route Thursday late afternoon. This is a fairly excellent ride. Minimal car traffic since the road goes nowhere fast (anybody going north travels on I-5). Parked near Castiac Lake. The meat of the ride is 7 ½ miles up/ 1700’ elevation gain. Most people turn around once atop this “main” summit, but I did not know this. I kept going a few miles - past Templeton Highway to the end of the maintained road. Sign at the gate says “Road damaged from ’05 storms. Closed to public access. Failure to comply can result in up to $5,000 fine and/ or 6 months in jail". I rode on, anyway. I am scofflaw. However, significant portions of the road are covered in deep gravel (presumably this is a quick fix to cover the cracks in the pavement and concrete). The gravel makes riding on a road bike no fun. Cross bike terrain.

Met some other riders. We all had a fun, fast descent- though portions of the road are a tad rough and funky at 40 mph.