Fernandez Trail
(Gary Sletten rips down the Fernandez Trail)
This can be a long loop on single track with fire road / paved road, or a quick and fun out and back on single track only. This ride has some of the best single track in the county has to offer.
You will have to make your way out to Pozo to get to this ride. Take highway 101 to the highway 58/Santa Margarita exit. Roll through town and continue on Pozo Road. Highway 58 will bend left…don’t go there. Stay on Pozo Road and continue onward for approximately 17 miles. Pass the saloon and head through town (don’t blink…you’ll miss it) and turn on Parkhill Road (it will cut left). Drive for three miles and turn on Navajo Grade. Look for the Turkey Flat Parking lot and start your ride form here.
It is possible to start this ride in many other areas. Some people like to drive to the trailhead just off the top of Black Mountain Road and drop down (getting single track immediately and a good place to be for an out and back) and some like to park in the middle at Fris Camp. Check out a map and decide for yourself.
From Turkey Flat ride up Navajo Road until you hit an major intersection (3 miles) called 5 Points. Go left on pavement up Black Mountain Road until you reach the trailhead (at about the 5 mile mark). The trail sign will either say Fris Camp – 2 miles or Fernandez Trail.
Tighten your helmet and rip down some killer single track until you hit a dirt lot (another two miles or so). This is Fris Camp. Veer to your left and look for a single track that bumps over the creek bed. After a brief climb you’ll reach a summit.
Enjoy some brief downhill switchbacks and get ready for another short climb. This second climb starts just past the 8 mile marker from Turkey Flat, and reaches an elevation of almost 2,400 feet. Fly down the single track some more until you hit Fernandez Road. Ignore other ORV roads coming in from here and there. Fernandez Road will be obvious to you at just under 11 miles.
You can turn around here and ride the single track all the way back to the top, or grind the rest of the way on fore road. The weekends can be busy on the fire roads due to ORV riders. If you want to loop it, take Fernandez Road to the right and continue until you reach McGinnis Creek Road. Turn right here at the 12 mile mark.
Just another mile and you’re at Navajo Flat (parking area). Turn right and parallel the pipe fence. Pass Navajo Campground and climb back to 5 Points. Drop back in on Navajo Grade and back to your car at just under 19 miles.
