Newly built single track at Johnson Ranch is SLO.

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Johnson Ranch is a newly built trail in San Luis Obispo.  The outer loop is 2.3 miles long.  The park, recently built, is 243 acres in size.

This is  great trail for beginning bikers who are experimenting with riding single track.  It is also a great training ride if you’d like to loop it over and over again.

The short distance, combined with an abundance of runners and hikers, may persuade hard core riders to look elsewhere.    However, the beautiful scenery and local history associated with the ride makes it worth the while if only ridden once.

(Roller Coasters as seen near top of Shooters)

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Roller Coasters is basically a road with a fairly anti-climatic ending.  I like to ride this one once or twice a year just to mix things up a bit.  It is a fun ride, but not the best.

From the top of Shooters you’ll see a road bearing down to the south.  This is the beginning of Roller Coasters.  You’ll be viewing the west side of Poly Canyon as you ride.  Roller Coasters gets it’s name for obvious reasons…ups and downs. 

After a couple of miles, Roller Coasters ends with a 180 degree turn to the right.  From there, you’ll have to find the best path down to the railroad tracks.  There is a good single track that bears left through a spring.  You may have to walk the first forty feet due to the fact that initially it is pretty steep with loose dirt, but afterwards it is smooth down to the tracks. 

Hop on the tracks and continue riding.  Turning left will take you to Stage Coach Road, while turning right will take you to Poly Canyon, Shooters, or Stenner Creek.

(The view from the north end of West Cuesta Ridge in SLO)

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West Cuesta Ridge is the “main vein” for a series of rides that drop off to the west, but is also a great ride on broken pavement.  You can ride this ridge all the way to Cerro Alto if you’d like.  The out in back if you go to the base of Cerro Alto is approximately 20 miles.  This bike is a good “family ride” and can be done on road bikes, too.  Keep in mind that it is quite bumpy in places.

There are many places to start this ride, but I recommend parking in the lot at the top of the grade on highway 101 in San Luis Obispo.  If you want to spare yourself a brief climb, you can also continue onward by car to the upper lot.  Many people park at the bottom of Stage Coach Road, which can be accessed at the bottom of the grade, for an additional climb on fire road.

 From the lot, immediately start climbing.  You’ll soon come to a dirt road that spurs to the left just before the first overlook.  This spur will take you to both Shooters or Roller Coasters.  Keep climbing until you reach the top of the first major hill and veer to the right.  You’ll see the first set of TV towers to your right.  Keep moving.  Keep in mind that as long as you stay on the main road, you can’t get lost.

Approximately four miles out you come to a second set of TV towers.   Just past them and at the bottom of the hill you will arrive to a flat turnout.  To your left is the Morning Glory Trail (great trail) that will eventually hook you back up with Shooters or Poly Canyon.  Keep moving.

As you head south on TV Tower Road, you see great views of both the Pacific Ocean and the Seven Sisters.  To the east views of Atascadero, and to the north Cerro Alto.  Keep moving until you come to the base of the mountain called Cerro Alto.  This is a good place to turn around (about the ten mile mark), and a great place for lunch, too. 

Head back the way you came returning to your car at just over 20 miles.  Check out the other ride descriptions, and the book Fat Tire Fun for directions and trail descriptions.

(Cones off Hi Mountain Road) 

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If you like long climbs on fire road, this is a good one for you.  A side trip to the historic Pozo Saloon for lunch, and great views from the top are excellent rewards for your efforts.

From San Luis Obispo, take highway 101 south to Grand Avenue in Arroyo Grande.  Exit on Grand and turn left through the village of Arroyo Grande (cool town).  Pas through the village and continue until  you reach Lopez Lake Road.  Stay on Lopez Lake Road until you reach the lake.  Just before you reach the park entrance, turn right on Hi Mountain Road.  The road will turn to dirt.  Park here.

It is very difficult to get off course on this ride…just stay on the road.  At first the road rolls gently though oak covered hills.  After a brief climb, you will drop down to the creek level of the road.  You will make several crossings (dry in the summer and fall) throughout the ride.

At about the five mile mark the road will climb steeply.  The climb is short, but challenging.  You will eventually reach a four way intersection at the 7 mile mark. 

If you continue straight (downhill), you will be headed towards the town of Pozo.  You will find a great place to have lunch and a cold beer there.  It is only about a two mile ride from “The Cross”, and the climb back up is minor.  Just stay straight and head past the Ranger station.  When you hot pavement,cross the street and have fun.  Check out the link to the Pozo Saloon on the front page.

 If you turn right you’ll wish you hadn’t.  This is the Garcia Ridge Trail, which is basically a ORV road.  You will find this ride in the guide books, but I don’t recommend it. 

Turning left you will climb another two miles to the Condor Lookout.  This used to be the old fire lookout, but since then it is used to monitor the condors that were introduced to this are a few years back.  On the way up you will pass a great place for lunch.  There is shaded campground with tables, fire pits, and a restroom just off to your right.  Continue straight up for an extra mile until you reach a Y.  You’ll see a gate to the left.  Pass through and ride up to t he lookout at the nine mile mark.

You can keep going from here if you’d like.  Refer to the Rinconada Trail for the description of the ride from this point on.  You can also access this ride from Pozo, which is described in the Rinconada Trail description as well.  If you want to head back to the car, just turn your bike around and coast most of the way back, give or take a hill or two.  This out and back ends at 18.5 miles.

(Andy Marinello finds some downhill on the Adobe Trail)

This ride is for climbers…period.  If you like big climbs and big views then the 18.5 mile loop Adobe Trail is the one for you.  Most of the ride is cleanable, but there are sections that will challenge the best of riders.  Look out for Off Road Vehicles at the bottom, bring plenty of water and food, and watch the weather.  This is not a ride to be done in the rain or heat.  This is a fall or spring ride, and not ride-able in the mud.

Take highway 166 east towards Bakersfield out of Santa Maria.  Make sure to zero your car odometer as soon as you get on 166.  At the 22 mile mark, you will pass a small gated lot on the left hand side.  This is where you will eventually pick up the Adobe Trail after you drop off your car.  Continue driving until you reach the Rock Front Ranch at 26 miles.  Turn left onto the dirt road and find a place to park.  There is a great spot just inside the turn off, but if you drive farther, you will find plenty of places to park.

Park your car and set your bike odometer to zero.  You should definitely get a map for this one (Fat Tire Fun has a good one, although a bit outdated) and should check mileage with trail descriptions often as there are many different places to make a wrong turn.  A wrong turn on this trail would not be good…unfortunately I know this from a previous ride here.

Hop back on 166 west and ride almost all downhill to the first lot you saw on your way in.  You will reach the gate at the 4 mile mark.  Enter the gate and begin your long, steep, climb up a cliff hanging single track.  Once you gain some elevation, look down and you’ll be able to see the old adobe just off the right hand side of a lot not too far to the east of the gate.  Keep climbing.

You will reach your first top at just past the 5 mile mark.  A well earned downhill to the creek bottom rewards you for your efforts.  The trail is pretty tight here with a soft shoulder, and somewhat overgrown, so ride with care.  At 5.5 miles you’ll reach a cattle trough and some much needed shade.  This is a good place to break for lunch.

Keep climbing while you parallel the creek.  The single track gets steep here, and you may need to walk a bit as you near the top at just past 6 miles.  You are now on a long spine that rolls to the left.  Take the steep single track upward, and duck under a gate until you reach a single track that drops to the right at the 6.5 mile mark.

Finally, some downhill.  Drop down the single track and you’ll soon reach the first of a handful of cattle ponds.  Hoof it across the mini damn and proceed upward again just off to the right.  At just past the 7 mile mark you will reach a fire road that has a single track that parallels the road. 

Turn right at the fire road and enjoy the short lived rolling terrain.  You’ll reach a green gate at 7.5 miles.  When you hop the gate, you will officially be on Twin Rocks Road.  Twin Rocks Road is a shortcut if you’d like to cut some miles of your ride.  This road will take you all the way to the tail end of Branch Creek Road, which you will read a lot about soon.

 Climb steeply up Twin Rocks Road for a short stint until you arrive at a Y.  Left is Shaw Ridge Road, you want to stay right and proceed to the next Y, Logan Ridge ORV Road. 

There is a small cattle pond that is hard to see if you aren’t looking.  Take this second Y left and begin dropping.  If you continue right at the fork, you’ll find that short cut to the end of the ride, but you’ll pay for the shorter distance with some really big climbs.

After turning left at the second Y (Logan Ridge) you’ll drop for miles until you reach a well defined cattle pen at about 11 miles.  You have at long last reached Branch Creek Road.

Warning: The ranchers out there have built fences and gates with NO Trespassing signs.  So far as I know, the roads are public, but you should contact the Ranger Station  before riding.  Currently there is a fence with a No Trespassing sign posted by the Tranquillity Ranch.  It is nearly at the bottom of Logan Ridge.  We had to hop it and ride about a half mile until we cleared the so called private property line.  Stay on the main road until you hit that cattle pen.  Do not drop of to the left or right.  You’ll reach a pipe fence at the bottom of the hill, too.  Hop over it and turn right on Branch Creek Road.

Stay on Branch Creek Road for the next 7 miles.  Some of the road is the creek, so be prepared to ride on baby heads and in sand.  You’ll reach the Big Rocks area (you’ll know it when you do…they’re really big) at the 16 mile mark.  The road steepens again, but fortunately on pavement, to the top of your last climb.  Enjoy the last 1.5 miles as you can  coast to your car, ending at 18.5 miles (Miller Time).

(S. Millich rides the fire road of Kiler Canyon in Paso Robles)

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 For fifteen miles you will enjoy rolling through farms, vineyards, and ranches.  This is mostly a road ride, with approximately five miles on fire road.  This is a very scenic ride and a fun loop.

 Take highway 101 North to Paso Robles and take the Spring Street Exit.  Quickly take the 1st Ave. exit and drive to Vine Street.  Turn left on Vine and park in the Marriot Hotel parking lot.  Kiler Canyon Road is across the street.  There are a few dirt turn outs on Kiler Canyon Road, but they were narrow.

Clear your odometer and head out on Kiler Canyon Road.  You will ride a paved road (slightly rolling) to the two mile mark where the pavement ends and the fir road begins.  As you ride the fire road you will pass through a small number of private residences, but the road is public.

At the three mile mark you will pass a sign indicating that the road is no longer maintained by the county, and it will begin to narrow into a double track.  There will be private roads coming in from the perimeter at times, but stay on the double-track for the duration of the dirt section. 

At the five mile marker you will come to a fork in the road.  The left is towards a private residence.  Turn right here and parallel a vineyard on your right.  You climb somewhat steeply until you come to yet another Y intersection.  Turn right at the cairn and continue on.

Just a bit farther and you’ll soon arrive at the paved Peachy Canyon Road.  If you are a wine taster you are in luck.  There are MANY wineries to visit as you descend seven miles on Peachy Canyon Road.  Look out for the drunks as you coast down a sometimes steep descent.  There is one section of uphill on Peachy Canyon Road that lasts about a mile.  It is not difficult, and just gives you  more time to spend on your bike.

You’ll soon find yourself passing the Paso Robles City limit sign at a good clip.  Just past the sigh is Olive Steer.  Turn right and take it back to Vine.  Turn right on Vine and ride the last half mile back to the car, ending at 15 miles round trip.

(A tough but scenic climb up Pine Mountain Road).

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Great ride! This ride is 100% fire road, but don’t think it’s a slam dunk due to the lack of single track. This is a great cross country ride, with terrific views, and can be ridden as a loop ride (actually more of a tear drop), finishing at 22 miles…hard earned.

Get to Pozo. Pass the Pozo Saloon and and continue on Pozo Road. When you come to the junction of Park Hill Road and Pozo Road, turn right staying on Pozo Road. After about a mile, you reach San Jose Avenales Road and Pozo Road. Stay left on Pozo Road. You’ll soon come to a dirt parking lot on your right. Park here, if the road turned to dirt and crossed a bridge, you went too far. Make sure to read the sign about parking restrictions. You may need a wilderness pass. You could always park at the Pozo Saloon and pound pavement to the dirt adding an extra three miles.

After packing your bag with plenty of water and calories (you’ll need them) ride across the bridge and begin a four mile climb to Pozo Summit. You ride the canyon the whole way. This is a mellow, gradual climb, and can be done in your middle chain ring. You’ll soon reach the top and have a great view of the valley to the south east.

Drop down the road to your right (you’ll see an ORV road to you’re left that goes straight up…ignore it) and enjoy a three mile downhill to a three way junction. There is a single track that splits the canyon off to the left about 100 yards off the top if you prefer single track. You arrive at the three way junction. The left turn goes to Fris Camp and Navajo Flat (Fernandez Trail). Turn right here and head towards the La Pansa Summit. You’ll pass a campground on the left called the Queen Bee Campground, keep moving forward.

The climb through the campground is gradual, but it will soon start to get steeper. Soon you will come to a major fork in the road. The left turn looks like it drops you off in the middle of nowhere, turn right and begin climbing Pine Mountain Road. You’ll see the gate.

This is where the climbing gets tougher. Although there is some downhill in this stage, it is short lived. Prepare to climb…a lot. You’ll soon find yourself climbing steeply past the Castle Crags to your left (the picture at top is the the climb I speak of, Crags not pictured).

As you reach the top of the first spine, you’ll see a turn out to the left. Ride up it and you’ll find a much needed picnic table to rest on. This is a great place for lunch, and has the best view of the ride. Not to mention…you are about to climb…and climb…and climb…so a break is in order.

After your rest, keep moving up. You’ll reach the summit and think you’re done, but your’re not. Keep climbing up a series of three “S” shaped inclines. They are clear-able, so don’t give up. OK…so you’re done climbing now…WRONG! Keep moving along the spine. After a series of more steep climbs (and some walking) you’ll find that the road cuts steeply down to the right.

Finally…you are moving downhill. Enjoy the descent (it’s a rocky and loose one) until you reach a sign that warn you that you are about to kill yourself if you proceed any farther. You have now reach the infamous “Stair Steps.” The sign is actually a warning for four wheel drivers, but mountain bikers should get the same message.

Rumor has it that people have ridden the stairs, but I don’t see how. They are difficult to walk. After passing through the stairs, continue on the road as it mostly rolls downhill to the top of Pozo Summit (your first rest rest stop of the ride). Make a sharp left and cruise downhill four miles to your car. At 22 miles you are done.

The views and scenery are worth the climbs. I highly recommend this ride.

(Zaca Peak – description coming soon)

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(S. Millich climbs the Huasna fire road)

This is a long one, but a good one.  If you’re looking for twenty nine (could be thirty depending on where you park) miles of fire road, this is one of the few places where you can get it in SLO County and still be on public land.

From Arroyo Grande and 101 take Grand Avenue through the village (downtown).  Continue towards Lopez Lake on Lopez Lake Road.  Soon you will see a sign that directs you to the small township of Huasna.  Follow the signs towards Huasna.  From the Lopez Lake Road / Huasna turnoff it is about ten miles.  Enjoy the drive…very scenic.

Soon you will see a sign that inform you that you are entering private land, and that you are not stray to the left or the right of the road.  The road itself is public, so no worries about riding illegally.  Parking, however, may be another story.  Park just outside the sign in the dirt turnout to be safe.

Make sure you have food and plenty of water and head down the paved road for one mile.  You will soon cross a wooden bridge.  On the other side fire road awaits.  It is very difficult to get lost on this fire road.  There are roads that drop left or right, but most have pipe fences indicating private property. 

Stay on the fire road for twelve miles.  You will climb very gradually through ranch land, finally climbing steeply at about the ten mile mark.  Once on top, the road starts to flatten.  Enjoy views of the Huasna Valley, rock formations, and old abandoned ranch homes. 

At the twelve mile mark, you will arrive at a large pipe gate.  Welded on the gate are the words No Trespassing, but the road is actually legal to ride.  Hop the fence and continue onward.  There will be a couple of miles of gradual downhill to ride.  Stop at the 13.2 mile marker. 

On your right you will see twelve steel fence post (you can’t miss them).  Stop here.  This is a great place to turn around, or you can ride another mile on the fire road to a campground.  Supposedly, the fire road continues to Garcia Ridge, but is closed at the 14 mile marker.

From the fence posts you can take a brief and worthwhile hike-a-bike excursion to Garcia Portrero.  According to guidebooks, petroglyphs are to be found in the abundant rock formations.  Cut directly across the field to the left of the fence posts and cross the creek (you can still ride this part). 

You will be inclined to follow the cattle trails left, but you’re actually looking for an old double track that cuts straight up from the other side of the creek.  It’s a bit tough to spot at first, but a little poking around just opposite the creek will do the trick. 

You can ditch your bike at the double track and walk in.  The hike-a-bike section of this walk is very brief, and most of this is rideable, so don’t feel like you need to walk in if you don’t feel comfortable ditching your bikes.  Once on top you can ride all t he way to the rocks.

Take the double track up and over a short hill and soon you are in the middle of a beautiful and spanning meadow.  Rock formations are everywhere for your exploration.  Walk the path to the end, past the rocks.  You will find a beautiful overlook of the Huasna Valley.  On a clear day you can see the ocean far to the west.  This is a great spot to spend a few hours exploring. 

 Hoof it back to you bikes and ride the 13.2 miles back to your car.  The ride back is mostly downhill; big chain ring stuff.  At 29.5 miles your are back to your ice chest.  Cheers!

(Santa Margarita Lake at dusk from Blinn Ranch Road)

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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.