I am taking my daughter up to pepperdine tomorrow. Any suggestions for a good 2 to 3 hour MTB ride near there?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Don't mind climbing. Scenery is a nice plus. Any links to maps?endo verendo said:The closest trails are a short way up the cyn at Malibu Creek State Park. You can do a couple nice loops depending on if you want a leisurely stroll or a lot of hard climbing. It's probably the most scenic area to ride.
If you drive up PCH a bit more and go up Kannan Rd you can access the Backbone Trail and ride as long as you wish.
Breezes and views... Try Zuma and add some Backbone to it. Sycamore is a bit far up the coast for you.richwolf said:I looked at geoladders and came up with 3 possibilities:
1.Big Sycamore
2.Zuma Ridge
3.Bulldog Mesa
Best views and riding? Kind of want pacific ocean views and breezes
Thanks!
Thanks!endo verendo said:Breezes and views... Try Zuma and add some Backbone to it. Sycamore is a bit far up the coast for you.
Big Sycamore is too far away - lots of good riding closer. Zuma Ridge would have good views (if it's not too foggy; we've had a heavy marine layer most mornings lately) and sea breezes, and it's a good climb. But it's probably not 2-3 hours, and not the best climb around. My personal preference would be to start at the corner of Malibu Canyon Rd and Mulholland Highway, ride through the Malibu Creek State Park up the Bulldog Motorway. That's one of toughest climbs around - about a 4 mile fairly relentless fire road with a few tough spots. At the top, turn right and go towards the peak with lots of antennas. Take the first fire road on the left to get down to the Backbone trail (you'll have to pass your bike over a fence at one point). At the Backbone, go left (east) for a very sweet singletrack that ends at the Corral Canyon parking lot. From there you can go up the fire road to the left, which will take you back to the top of Bulldog. That's the easiest way back. I think that would be about 2 hours.richwolf said:I looked at geoladders and came up with 3 possibilities:
1.Big Sycamore
2.Zuma Ridge
3.Bulldog Mesa
Best views and riding? Kind of want pacific ocean views and breezes
I thought only the Boney Mountain trails out there were closed to bikes? Anything west of Big Sycamore itself was fair game?pacman said:Ooops, you were on a trail closed to bikes. That would be hard to talk your way out of.
Even though I recommended the Bulldog route, I have to agree that this is a nicer ride - one of the best in the whole Santa Monica Mountains, I think. Great canyon singletrack, some tough climbs that aren't too long, some nice technical sections and some nice swoopy singletrack. It's about 13 miles round trip as described and takes me about 2 hours. If you want more, you can go west of Kanan for another few miles of out-and-back singletrack. Highly recommended!0gravity said:If you're up in the area again, the best trail out in that area--in my opinion--is the backbone trail between Kannan Road and Corral Cyn road. If you've got a full day, I'd suggest an out and back starting at the first tunnel off Kannan road (you go up the obvious trail that goes over the tunnel). Ride that out till you have to cross Latigo Road. Keep going until you cross a fire road, keep going down the single-track, enjoy a long fun downhill, until you climb out to a dirt parking lot (that's not far from the where the top of Bulldog comes out. I don't recommend Bulldog) at Coral Cyn. Then go back. It's a long ride but it showcases the best of what's out there. Do this on your next trip out.
Ya I figured that out without any help from the Rangers! I tried to follow the geoladders description and I eventually ended up on poor excuse for a foot path which I had to push my bike on. I finally found my way and had a great ride. I didn't see any no bike signs along the way.pacman said:Ooops, you were on a trail closed to bikes. That would be hard to talk your way out of.
He was far-far West into La Jolla Valley Natural Preserve. Many trails in Sycamore are closed to bikes too, time to check one of the maps you can pick up.Kyoseki said:I thought only the Boney Mountain trails out there were closed to bikes? Anything west of Big Sycamore itself was fair game?
... and I've parked in the campsite parking before when the day use lot was full, I didn't know you could get a ticket for that
I forgot to mention that! Since it's all singletrack, there's lots of opportunity to brush against an errant branch hanging over the trail. I usually half to do some careful zig-zags to avoid some places - but have been luck lately, so you can ride this without getting poison oak. Technu is miraculous, though, if you do touch any.fatbottomedgurl said:If you do that ride be forewarned that you will encounter poison oak in the shady creek areas- look out for those red leaves. It's a good idea to scrub down with some Dawn or Technu when you get back to the car- just in case.
I had a friend who went out hiking. Nature called, he grabbed a handful of leaves. It was poison ivy leaves. He ended up in the hospital it got so bad. He also got it all over his face because later on he decided he didn't want a sunburn and in so putting on the suntan lotion it got all over his face and arms.agoura_biker said:I forgot to mention that! Since it's all singletrack, there's lots of opportunity to brush against an errant branch hanging over the trail. I usually half to do some careful zig-zags to avoid some places - but have been luck lately, so you can ride this without getting poison oak. Technu is miraculous, though, if you do touch any.
No,she is at a youth conference at Pepperdine, so it will only be self feeding to the dog.jeffj said:You're going to feed your daughter to the Bulldog?
If she's not too much into climbing, that's not going to be her idea of a good time.
So, did you go out today? Where, and how was it?richwolf said:I am taking my daughter up to pepperdine tomorrow. Any suggestions for a good 2 to 3 hour MTB ride near there?
Well the second trip up was not good. Sig alert on the 60 was the first problem. It seemed to take forever to get there today. Finally got up to Malibu Creek state park and was ready to rock and roll. Trails closed due to fire danger. What a drag!agoura_biker said:So, did you go out today? Where, and how was it?
I would think that if they are going to close trails yesterday, are they going to be closed all summer? Things are only going to get drier.Mordy said:They closed the trails? Damn. Guess i'll have to ride cheseboro, again.
Somebody at MCSP goofed up. Online the NWS Red Flag does not cover the Santa Monicas. If you call the hot-line (sic) 805-488-8147 you get "currently there are no closures due to fire danger."richwolf said:Well the second trip up was not good. Sig alert on the 60 was the first problem. It seemed to take forever to get there today. Finally got up to Malibu Creek state park and was ready to rock and roll. Trails closed due to fire danger. What a drag!
Needless to say a frustrating day.:madman:
I didn't see the difference between Monday's weather and Friday's weather concerning trail closure. Down the road a piece at a trail head I noticed cars parked and no trail closure sign. What gives?