Southern California - Cycling Heaven -- does a location like this exist in SoCal?

My apologies to the great folks at Rivendell, but "borrowing" their images seems like the best way to illustrate my questions.

http://www.rivbike.com/assets/payloads/136/original_DaveBolinasgo.jpg

http://www.rivbike.com/assets/payloads/151/original_GJFORSITE.jpg

http://www.rivbike.com/assets/payloads/172/original_site_pink_shirt.jpg

http://www.rivbike.com/assets/payloads/80/original_hp9-3-1.jpg

The pics listed above are places/rides that I think are absolutely lovely....but I think they're all in NorCal. Does anyone know if there are places like this in SoCal? I like the idea of dirt roads, no cars, and little to no civilization.

So I've got the steel frame, fat tires, and low gearing. All I need now is a place to really take advantage of these great things. I'd be most appreciative if people could chime in and give suggestions. Going in any direction of LA (up to an hours drive) is perfectly acceptable. Thanks so much!

Chino Hills, Carbon Canyon...

The fire roads behind Descanso Gardens.

Malibu, Topanga Canyon...:D

For off-roading, no. Years ago, I was seduced by Googlemaps satellite view into buying a dual-purpose dirt bike to explore the apparent wealth of trails & fire roads down here. What the satellite photos didn't show were all the barbed wire, and "Trespassers will be Prosecuted" signs.
After four months of fruitless searches for legal places to explore, I got rid of the dirt bike and pretty much gave up on ever getting a mountain bike.
Also, it's pretty much a coastal desert here, so our hills might be green for a month or two in winter if we get a few days rain. But the terrain is generally rougher, rockier, and snakier than NorCal.

The one with the 3 pushing their bikes up a hill definitely looks like the central coast, particularly Santa Ynez valley. The cycling up there is legendary. The Discovery Team use to train there and now you see Columbia/HTC sometimes.

http://www.geocities.com/alicestrong@sbcglobal.net/bikes.jpg

Thanks to all for the responses.

Due to the lack of suspension, I'm opting out of huge rocky climbs.....besides, I'm a bit of a flounder when it comes to riding switchbacks (I guess I can thank youtube, and the numerous videos of cyclists falling off the mountain, for that). I figure fire-roadish places like this will be good to start venturing outward.

Alice, is the pic from Carbon Canyon?? It looks perfect!



For off-roading, no. Years ago, I was seduced by Googlemaps satellite view into buying a dual-purpose dirt bike to explore the apparent wealth of trails & fire roads down here. What the satellite photos didn't show were all the barbed wire, and "Trespassers will be Prosecuted" signs.
After four months of fruitless searches for legal places to explore, I got rid of the dirt bike and pretty much gave up on ever getting a mountain bike.
Also, it's pretty much a coastal desert here, so our hills might be green for a month or two in winter if we get a few days rain. But the terrain is generally rougher, rockier, and snakier than NorCal.

I've seen tons of cyclists on the hiking trails I've been on, doing some serious off-roading. There are some pretty good spots all around the Angelas Forest (when it's open), in Pasadena, and Altadena. Sorry to hear that you sold the bike.

The one with the 3 pushing their bikes up a hill definitely looks like the central coast, particularly Santa Ynez valley. The cycling up there is legendary. The Discovery Team use to train there and now you see Columbia/HTC sometimes.

Come to think of it, I think I may have seen cyclists this past spring when I did some wine tasting in Santa Barbara. Good idea!

Buck the pix is from Chino Hills, but Carbon has a similar feel to it.

You should do it. It's probably very dry right now.

I've seen tons of cyclists on the hiking trails I've been on, doing some serious off-roading. There are some pretty good spots all around the Angelas Forest (when it's open), in Pasadena, and Altadena. Sorry to hear that you sold the bike.

Don't be! I still have three other street motorbikes and a living-room full of road bikes. Part of my dissatisfaction with the trail situation in SoCal is my own fault. I lived in Santa Barbara before moving down here, and before that, Colorado.
(But I've also lived in Kentucky, Georgia, Oklahoma and Texas, so I'm familar will Earth's armpits and enema-hole as well.)

Dirt Mulholland would be a great road-ish trail. Malibu Creek and Sycamore Canyon as well.

La Tijera Creek Trail
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o288/bcipam/TijeraCreekPostsize.jpg

O'Neill Park
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o288/bcipam/NewYearsDayRide.jpg

Limestone Canyon near the Sinks
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o288/bcipam/NeartheSinks.jpg

Wood Canyon - Coyote Singletrack
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o288/bcipam/AlisoWoods007.jpg

Limestone Canyon
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o288/bcipam/Limestone121505021.jpg

I'll add this one from the East side of Chino - Green River - yea it is very dry out there right now but still beautiful!

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o288/bcipam/PaulaandPambravingthethistle.jpg

as a roadie. My favorite is from Lake Henshaw to Julian

as a roadie. My favorite is from Lake Henshaw to Julian

Mmm--Mesa Grande is a nice one, but it's only green about two months out of the year. We just rode through that way on the Pie Ride yesterday and the oak-tree canopy came in handy.

Also, don't leave the road, because the ranchers up there are nasty buggers, even on the trails that are displayed as public trails on Gmaps.

Great suggestions and photos!! Thanks all! :D

Mmm--Mesa Grande is a nice one, but it's only green about two months out of the year. We just rode through that way on the Pie Ride yesterday and the oak-tree canopy came in handy.

Also, don't leave the road, because the ranchers up there are nasty buggers, even on the trails that are displayed as public trails on Gmaps.Isn't part of that a reservation? I think it's shoot on site rules.

Plenty of places like that exist in SoCal. You need an exploratory attitude, and good map, and preparation.

Here are examples in the San Gabriel Mountains:
http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/ride-reports/27901-crossing-gabe.html
http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/ride-reports/25769-forgotten-epic.html
http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/ride-reports/25810-forgotten-epic-part-2-a.html

An example in the Santa Rosa Mountains:
http://dirttreaders.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=3405

There's also the Santa Monica Mountains national rec area. Wildwood park in Thousand Oaks (it is a bit on the smallish side but is cool for short day rides). ANY of the fire roads in the Los Padres National Forest. (Hint, the fire roads in north Santa Barbara county are longer than those in Ventura County and are more like the 3rd pic you posted.)

There are literally miles and miles of fire roads and single track trails out there to ride on.

One of these days I'm gonna get to Limestone canyon.

Idyllwild-Hurkey Creek :D



Oh my garsh! The most beautiful place I've ever ridden was Herkey Creek. We mtb'd up a dry waterfall, thn across some open fields behind the mtns up near Idlewyld (sp?). I swear, it was like I could see Indians running from rock to rock spying on me up from the mtn side. It was so quiet that Icould hear my heartbeat! every once in a while, I could hear the gentle whisper of the wind! I've never seen or heard anything like that anywhere else.

It was near Hemet/ Romona Idlewyld area. No way in HECK does Chino Hills even begin to compare to it!;)....and I'm not a scenery guy!

It looked something like your first picture but PURTIER!:thumb:

http://www.geocities.com/alicestrong@sbcglobal.net/bikes.jpg

Turnbull Canyon?

Turnbull looks like that in places too, doesn't it??

But it's Chino Hills...

Turnbull is another good place, but more strenuous than Carbon/Telegraph.

There are a lot of open fire roads in the San Bernardino Mtns on the north side of Big bear Lake and westward towards Running Springs and Lake Arrowhead. Some places have pretty dense stands of pine trees, making for quite beautiful riding on the dirt roads. Cars, motorcycles, and a few kamakazie MTBr's can be a problem in the Holcomb Valley area (directly north of Big Bear), but you'll have the rest of it pretty much to yourself. Only problem with backcountry touring up there is the lack of water sources (typical 'dry' Southern California).

There are a lot of open fire roads in the San Bernardino Mtns on the north side of Big bear Lake and westward towards Running Springs and Lake Arrowhead. Some places have pretty dense stands of pine trees, making for quite beautiful riding on the dirt roads. Cars, motorcycles, and a few kamakazie MTBr's can be a problem in the Holcomb Valley area (directly north of Big Bear), but you'll have the rest of it pretty much to yourself. Only problem with backcountry touring up there is the lack of water sources (typical 'dry' Southern California).

Ya, I was actually thinking about that for expeditions over 3 hours. A couple of water bottles and a filled camelback probably wont cut it.

How big is your Camelback? I've done rides in the 6 hour range on two water bottles and 100oz Camelback.

After four months of fruitless searches for legal places to explore, I got rid of the dirt bike and pretty much gave up on ever getting a mountain bike.


Why would that make you give on getting a mountain bike? There are tons and tons of places you can ride one that you can't take a dual sport bike.
I think you're depriving yourself of some pretty good riding if you really think there aren't any places to take a mountain bike in southern California.
Heck, just for the purpose of getting a good workout, Calavera Hills is a great place to ride with tons of options for someone just getting into that part of the sport. Some of the technical stuff out there will keep the beginning rider busy for a long time.

How big is your Camelback? I've done rides in the 6 hour range on two water bottles and 100oz Camelback.

Guess I've got one of the small Camelbacks....looks like 1 or 1.5 liters (30-50ish oz)