Blinn Ranch Road
(Santa Margarita Lake at dusk from Blinn Ranch Road)
This is a fun fire road ride which is best done in the spring or fall. You can ride a twelve mile out and back, and more if you want to if you ride past the gate. Rumor has it that the trail has been extended.
Take Pozo Road out of Santa Margarita off 101. You drive almost all the way to the small town of Pozo. Just before you hit town, you’ll cross a bridge (more of an overpass). River Road is on the other side. Take it left and follow it for about two miles until you see the large dirt parking lot on the left hand side. You can pick up the trail head at the end of the lot.
The trail-head will soon split and you’ll have a choice of taking Blinn Ranch or Sandstone Trail. Sandstone is a shorter out and back, and is only passable when the river is dry. Take the spur right and ride a brief single track until you reach another fire road. Turn left.
Follow the fire road as it rolls gently for a number of miles. Look for a single track on the left (it is marked) that will take you to one of two campgrounds. If you want to get to the waters edge, make this side trip. There is a boating campsite with a small dock. This is a great place to have lunch. Afterwards return to the main road and turn left. The road begins to climb steeply, and then drops, repeatedly for a number of miles. Views of the lake and some really cool rock formations to the right are in store for you.
Eventually you will come to a gate. This is the original turn around point, but now the trail has been extended. Call the rangers in Pozo (see link on main page) for more information. Turn around and ride back for about a twelve mile out and back.
Brand New – 2008 There is now a 6 mile single track that starts off the right side of the Blinn Ranch Road, and dumps you out on Blinn Ranch Road at about the 7 mile mark. It looks as if it takes you up into the rock formations. I haven’t ridden it as of 6-5-08, but as soon as I do I’ll write it up. It is well signed from the road and is described as moderate to strenuous.
