Backcountry trails in Los Padres NF

evdog

evdog

iMTB Rockstah
I'm a map geek and spend a fair bit of time looking for new places to ride. On my Los Padres NF map I see a ton of trails in the backcountry north of Ojai and over toward Frazier Park. Seems like pretty much everything outside of Wilderness there is motorized, but sometimes you can hit the jackpot and find ones that are great for MTB. I'd be interested for any beta on trails in that area that might make good point to point or loop rides. Climbing/steeps/techy/hike-a-bike are all no problem.

In the area I've ridden a lot of the front country trails in Ojai/Santa Barbara as well as some of the nearer backcountry trails like Santa Cruz and Chorro grande. Have not done Mt Pinos but will get to it at some point.

A few on the map I've seen that look interesting:
- Tinta Trail
- Piru Creek Trail
- there is an OHV route (Toad Springs Trail) through Apache Canyon that is listed as closed due to landslide. The route is cherry-stemmed through Chumash Wilderness. Supposedly when they find an alternate route for the trail it will become part of Wilderness. Anyone ridden or hiked it? I can't find any reports.

- tons of trails leaving Hungry Valley SRVA to the west. I've seen a couple of Mikie's RR's and they look like steep climbs out of there. Is it possible to ride in the SRVA? In San diego we often ride Corral Canyon OHV area, some of the singletracks are tons of fun.

Thanks for looking.
 
evdog said:
- tons of trails leaving Hungry Valley SRVA to the west. I've seen a couple of Mikie's RR's and they look like steep climbs out of there. Is it possible to ride in the SRVA? In San diego we often ride Corral Canyon OHV area, some of the singletracks are tons of fun.

Thanks for looking.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't advise riding in Hungry Valley. I don't even like riding my dirt bike there. Lots of spodes not paying attention flying around corners. The LPNF trails that leave from near the entry of Hungry Valley are a possibility. There's some single track and lots of fire roads. Loose and rocky in spots.
 
I do the same thing evdog.
I pour over Google Earth looking for singletrack. Then make a .gpx file, upload it to my Garmin and follow it to see what I get. Some have turned out to be cow trails and I was totally screwed! But some have turned out pretty cool!
But mostly, I don't particularly like doing them on my own. I mean sometimes you are out there!

If you are interested in exploring, I'm totally in. I do have some stuff we can do off the beaten path that is pretty good.
I have revised the "I hate me Epic" that is now doable... :lol: Still has some serious climbing in it though.
I Hate Me Epic: <a class="postlink" href="http://imtbtrails.com/magazine/?p=172" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://imtbtrails.com/magazine/?p=172</a>
It ties in with the Cherry Creek thing I did with UPSed and Jennifer a few months back.
Cherry Creek Epic: <a class="postlink" href="http://imtbtrails.com/magazine/?p=1122" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://imtbtrails.com/magazine/?p=1122</a>

Most of the stuff out here is 4 Wheel Drive chunky no fun to climb stuff. But if you do like Fire Roads there are hundreds of miles of that.
Always up for an adventure...let me know! 8-)
Mikie
 
The entire route for the Tour De Los Padres is open snd free to download and ride it whenever you want. It think it covers a lot of the grounds you're talking about.
 
Thanks guys! I know the TLDP route. Aside from Mt Pinos in this area it mostly follows roads over to Carrizo Plain.

Got it on Hungry Valley. Thanks for the info. Some areas are better than others for MTB.

Mikie, I've read those RR's. Those are some big rides that take balls and luck to pull off when so much is unknown! I will let you know when I am thinking of heading up there. Hoping to get in a weekend or two before it gets too hot. I don't mind fire road if it connects trails together or closes a loop.
 
Evan,
I'm sure you have goggled each trail on its own thus probably duplicate info here.
here are motos riding Tinta (looks fun from vid, but can't tell elevation without map) <a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyduAfilOLw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyduAfilOLw</a>
piru creek trail seems not good for biking? <a class="postlink" href="http://www.adventure16.com/category.asp?itemid=1561" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.adventure16.com/category.asp?itemid=1561</a>
 
dft said:
piru creek trail seems not good for biking? <a class="postlink" href="http://www.adventure16.com/category.asp?itemid=1561" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.adventure16.com/category.asp?itemid=1561</a>
Click to expand...
This section of trail you have linked is definitely not bike-able but I will gladly go watch if someone here wants to try it.
 
I saw some vids and hiker reports of that Piru Creek trail, the creek flows out of Pyramid Lake and down to Piru Lake. The trail follows right along the creek for 18 miles or so.

But there is another moto trail called Piru Creek Trail nearby. Definitely a different trail that looks like it could be good for MTB. <a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=piru+creek+moto" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... creek+moto</a>

I haven't had time to research many others. Need to look at the elevation profiles for them too.

That hiker Piru Creek trail looks interesting. Would be a great one to do if there were trout in the stream. Pretty wild looking hike!
 
Thinking of heading up there next weekend 30th-31st.

I usually do these explorations solo but if anyone is interested in joining me for one day or both post up!

Can't promise the riding will be great. Some trails may be great, some will probably suck. Some amount of hike a bike is a certainty!
 
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