Southern California - Couser Canyon Rd ride question

Any SD North County folks willing to share riding information regarding Couser Canyon Rd.?
I saw an interesting ride from San Marcos to Pechanga via Champagne (Old Hwy 395) then back down Pala Rd. to Couser Canyon Rd. then Lilac to Circle R, Champagne back to San Marcos. 4500 ft. of climbing, just shy of 60 miles....any information would be appreciated (difficulty, hazards, etc.).
Thanks in advance!

If you're going to Pechanga on 395, you have to cross 15 and go through Rainbow. On the return, I'd skip Pala Rd and come back through Rice Cyn. I think this will cut out about 4 miles of 76.

If you're going to Pechanga on 395, you have to cross 15 and go through Rainbow. On the return, I'd skip Pala Rd and come back through Rice Cyn. I think this will cut out about 4 miles of 76.

Thanks Frank...is that a safety/traffic concern?

http://www.calamarichris.com/images/021002-cousercyn150.jpg

Couser & Lilac/West Lilac are beautiful roads. About the only hazards are the sport bikes and sometimes the overripe avocados fall into the road and are slicker than owl poo. I heard an anecdote that the old Guacamole Grande was cancelled after a lady participant hit an avocado and fell into the path of an oncoming car.

Beautiful scenery, smooth asphalt, and twisties make this a favorite destination for our motorcycling friends. I've seen a few crashes on Lilac, so some guys must be tearing through there.

Also, stay off the 76--even with the new construction, it's full of SUVs and RVs rushing to lose their money at that darned new casino. (That used to be such a great stretch before the Pala Casino went up.)

Another vote for Rice Canyon over the Pala-Temecula Road. Rice may be rough, but at least it isn't narrow with high-speed traffic.

http://www.calamarichris.com/images/050313angelcouser2.jpg
http://www.calamarichris.com/images/050515-angelcouser.jpg

Couser & Lilac/West Lilac are beautiful roads. About the only hazards are the sport bikes and sometimes the overripe avocados fall into the road and are slicker than owl poo. I heard an anecdote that the old Guacamole Grande was cancelled after a lady participant hit an avocado and fell into the path of an oncoming car.

Beautiful scenery, smooth asphalt, and twisties make this a favorite destination for our motorcycling friends. I've seen a few crashes on Lilac, so some guys must be tearing through there.

Also, stay off the 76--even with the new construction, it's full of SUVs and RVs rushing to lose their money at that darned new casino. (That used to be such a great stretch before the Pala Casino went up.)

Another vote for Rice Canyon over the Pala-Temecula Road. Rice may be rough, but at least it isn't narrow with high-speed traffic.


Thanks calamarichris, GREAT info!

Thanks Frank...is that a safety/traffic concern?Yes.

If you're planning the route yourself, I would go:
395,
Rt on Old Castle or Circle R
Lilac
Couser Cyn
left on 76 and a quick rt on
Rice Cyn
make a right when you get to the weird t intersection in Rainbow
left at the school
break at the Rainbow Oaks store
double back and go left at the fire station
follow the road and veer right when it ends
go down a long hill into Temecula
right at the light.
I think this is Pechanga Parkway. If not, then Pechanga Pkwy is ahead at a light. I thik there's a Shell station at the intersection.
Break if needed at the Pechanga gas station.

To return either backtrack through Rice and Couser or go back to the Rainbow Oaks store, turn left on the frontage road and cross 15 to 395.

You're most welcome. :) It's a terrific ride, but there is a little bit of a climb (<1000 feet) going up Circle R drive. It's pretty narrow with a guard rail, but at least the only traffic there are locals, because there are so many more expedient roads than West Lilac.

Amendment to previous recommendation:
~I strongly recommend Circle-R over Old Castle. Much less traffic, despite the traffic calmed neighborhood.
~The climb up Circle R after you make a right off the 395 is >500 feet, not >1000
~There is another little ~400-foot bump up when you make the left on Couser Canyon Road.
~Watch for the seasonally-decorated horse statue on CCR, the isolated fruit & nut stand in front of the little house 'neath the shady grove of oaks on Lilac, and the idyllic bird pond at the end of CCR's twisty descent.

I just made the ride again last night after work--so awesome!

+1 Circle-R is much nicer than Old Castle. Plus the ~2 mile section at the top when you turn right onto W. Lilac is possibly my favorite stretch of road in the county. It's something about the pavement, the view and the sweep of the road that I absolutely love, especially coming from the other direction. It might be slightly irrational but I think its just a perfect stretch of road.

Yes.

If you're planning the route yourself, I would go:
395,
Rt on Old Castle or Circle R
Lilac
Couser Cyn
left on 76 and a quick rt on
Rice Cyn
make a right when you get to the weird t intersection in Rainbow
left at the school
break at the Rainbow Oaks store
double back and go left at the fire station
follow the road and veer right when it ends
go down a long hill into Temecula
right at the light.
I think this is Pechanga Parkway. If not, then Pechanga Pkwy is ahead at a light. I thik there's a Shell station at the intersection.
Break if needed at the Pechanga gas station.

To return either backtrack through Rice and Couser or go back to the Rainbow Oaks store, turn left on the frontage road and cross 15 to 395.


Amendment to previous recommendation:
~I strongly recommend Circle-R over Old Castle. Much less traffic, despite the traffic calmed neighborhood.
~The climb up Circle R after you make a right off the 395 is >500 feet, not >1000
~There is another little ~400-foot bump up when you make the left on Couser Canyon Road.
~Watch for the seasonally-decorated horse statue on CCR, the isolated fruit & nut stand in front of the little house 'neath the shady grove of oaks on Lilac, and the idyllic bird pond at the end of CCR's twisty descent.

I just made the ride again last night after work--so awesome!


+1 Circle-R is much nicer than Old Castle. Plus the ~2 mile section at the top when you turn right onto W. Lilac is possibly my favorite stretch of road in the county. It's something about the pavement, the view and the sweep of the road that I absolutely love, especially coming from the other direction. It might be slightly irrational but I think its just a perfect stretch of road.

Thanks guys! I'm familiar with Circle R and ride it several time a year. I think I'll worm my way through San Marcos, Country Club Ln., Jesmond Dene, Champagne to Circle R. Lilac to Couser Canyon. Rice Canyon to Rainbow and back.....woohoo!

Well if you're coming from San Marcos, another good option would be Twin Oaks Parkway all the way through to Gopher Canyon. Gopher Canyon is one nasty uphill mile during rush-hour, but it's nicer on weekend mornings, and well worth enduring to get the terrific ride on Twin Oaks, especially running South-to-North when you're going uphill (slower) on the few rough spots. I hit 49mph going down that sucker last night.
There's cute little gate there, but the little opening at the left practically winks at us bicyclists, and half the time the entire gate is open (presumably to prevent it from becoming a major thoroughfare) and about half of the time the residents I've waved to while riding through there have waved back.
http://www.calamarichris.com/junk/091004-twinoaksgate.jpg

Thanks for the reminder of a memorable ride.. Courser.. Must be a relief map. Has to be over 1000 ft of climbing. Last mile to the top has to be over a 8 percent grade. If not more.. What made it uncomfortable. The group stopped for a beer and burrito before the climb. Don't do that..
The only ride with a steeper grade- other than Palomar; would likely be DeLuz road north of Fallbrook..

OK, can I get some more advice about this area from you experts. I want to ride from San Marcos to Palmoar Mountain and back, previously I did it through Escondido, I am looking for a different route. How about

Twin Oaks Valley Rd to
Gopher Canyon Rd to
Circle R Dr to
Lilac Rd to
Valley Center Rd to Palomar Mountain.

Any alternatives I should be considering?

Lilac between Circle R & Valley Center Road is a little narrow, trafficky and fast. It'll be a piece of cake on the way back down the hill (returning West), but a little hairy on the way up. At least you'll be doing that part earlier on.

And then Valley Center Drive between Lake Wohlford Road and the 76 (aka Casino Alley) is pretty ugly--rough asphalt, a narrow/trash-strewn shoulder, and these double-wide casino buses ferrying old folks between the gaming shrines. It's tolerable on the way down (going North), but is murder when you're returning. A better option (but a stiff climb after Palomar) is Cole Grade Road. It's narrow too, but at least the traffic's lighter & the asphalt's MUCH smoother & cleaner.

When are you thinking of doing it? I've been kicking this route around for a while too. With Cole Grade, Palomar and Twin Oaks Parkway, it should be more than 10K of climbage.

OK, can I get some more advice about this area from you experts. I want to ride from San Marcos to Palmoar Mountain and back, previously I did it through Escondido, I am looking for a different route. How about

Twin Oaks Valley Rd to
Gopher Canyon Rd to
Circle R Dr to
Lilac Rd to
Valley Center Rd to Palomar Mountain.

Any alternatives I should be considering?

Sounds like an EPIC ride....I don't know about VCR from a safety standpoint. I do know that the TOVR to GCR is nice (TOVR is really ROUGH until you get to GCR).
Here's the original ride through Crouser Canyon I took and the Twin Oaks to Gopher Canyon Rd.:

Last time, I went out on Valley Center , up and down SGR, and back Cole Grade Road. I did not make it up Cole Grade without stopping, so I want revenge.

Good to know about Lilac, and yes, early morning shouldn't be too bad. I'm thinking about coming back Cole Grade, Lake Wolhford to Valley Center, back through Escondido. That way when I am tired and the traffic is heavier, I am at least in a dedicated bike lane.

I am thinking about Saturday. I live in San Marcos, so I won't be climbing Twin Oaks by CSUSM. I live north of the Freeway and would start out on TOV at Borden.

My entire proposed route is
TOV, Gopher Canyon, Circle R, Lilac, Valley Center, 76, SGR, down EGR, 76, Cole Grade Rd, Valley Center, Lake Wohlford, Valley Center, El Norte, Broadway, Country Club, Woodland Parkway, Mission to home.

TOV, Gopher Canyon, Circle R, Lilac, Valley Center, 76, SGR, down EGR, 76, Cole Grade Rd, Valley Center, Lake Wohlford, Valley Center, El Norte, Broadway, Country Club, Woodland Parkway, Mission to home.

Any estimated distance??

Sounds like an EPIC ride....I don't know about VCR from a safety standpoint. I do know that the TOVR to GCR is nice (TOVR is really ROUGH until you get to GCR).
Here's the original ride through Crouser Canyon I took and the Twin Oaks to Gopher Canyon Rd.:

VCR, I'm not worried about that. I have come to accept the fact if I want to ride to Palomar from my house, VCR is the only way to go that last bit. On the way out before 9AM it is not that bad, because the narrow part you are going pretty much as fast as traffic.

And yes, this would be an epic ride for me. Hopefull it isn't an epic 1/2 ride with a cell phone call to my wife to come rescue me! :innocent:

Any estimated distance??

105 from my house.

And yes, this would be an epic ride for me. Hopefull it isn't an epic 1/2 ride with a cell phone call to my wife to come rescue me! :innocent:

You won't have to worry about not making it........no cell phone service in the back country, so you'll HAVE to make it!

TOV, Gopher Canyon, Circle R, Lilac, Valley Center, 76, SGR, down EGR, 76, Cole Grade Rd, Valley Center, Lake Wohlford, Valley Center, El Norte, Broadway, Country Club, Woodland Parkway, Mission to home.To avoid some of VC Rd, after you turn left onto VC Rd from Lilac, go about 1/2 mile and turn left on Miller. Follow Miller to Cole Gr Rd and turn right. Then turn left at Fruitvale (first light). Turn right on Mac Tan Rd, left on Vesper then right on Sunset. Follow this road to VC Rd. You'll end up about 2 blocks west of Lake Wohlford Rd.

here is the stone tour we did few yrs back, pretty nice route and turn out.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Stone-Brewery-Metric-Tour

That ride was awesome.

http://www.epictrain.com/images/2004_San_Diego_200km_Brevet_El_Chart_with_callouts.JPG

RIDE REPORT (http://www.epictrain.com/2006_200km_Brevet.html)



http://www.epictrain.com/images/2006_San_Diego_200km_Route_Sheet.JPG

I went on my ride on Saturday. Details and pics here in the clyde forum.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604759-My-Saturday-ride-a-climbfest-with-pics

Route suggestions here were spot on. Gopher Canyon Rd between TOV and the freeway is a little busy, and the last part of Lilac to Valley Center Rd was a little busy.