Rocky Canyon
(Some single track at Rocky Canyon)
If you’re looking for a fun out and back after work…here’s a good one!
Rocky Canyon is a 12 mile out and back on mostly fire road. There is a total of two miles of single track (practically double track) with just enough rocks to make it interesting. This is a good training ride, and a good transition ride for getting off the fire roads and onto single track. I took my wife on this ride as her first introduction to single track. The fire roads are very mellow, easy to ride, and scenic.
Take highway 101 to Atascadero and take the San Diego exit. Take San Diego east to El Camino and turn right. Drive a short distance and turn left on Viejo Camino. Drive a bit to Halcon Road. Take this up to the gate and park in one of the many turn outs.
The ride starts on pavement just past the gate. Take the pavement into the rock quarry. No worries…there are trail markers in the quarry. Look out for heavy equipment. The Rocky Canyon trail will be on your right towards the end of the quarry.
You’ll easily find the single track on your right. Climb the single track for approximately one mile until you reach the top. It’s uphill, but it is not very steep. Just before the top at 2 miles you will see a road that breaks right. Stay left here.
The single track soon turn to a very well groomed fire road. This is Rocky Canyon Road. It is actually a public road that the residents use to and from their homes, so watch or cars.
For 3 miles you can ride the road through ranch land and pastures. In the spring the landscape is as green as can be…very nice on the eyes. You’ll soon hit highway 299/Creston Road at the 5.8 mile marker. Turn around and head back the way you came for a quick and fun 12 miler.
Enjoy that short single track on the way down!!
