Bay Area to Santa Barbara dualsport

[John Macdonald]

I'm trying to find as many dirt trails between the SF bay area and Santa Barbara as possible. The nearer 101 or Hwy 1 the better.
Not coming up with much, someone here's gotta know of something. Couldjya post what you know of here please?
It'd be extra cool if you could show it on a map too.
I really want to do dualsport runs between here and there, either on the KTM 400 or the GS.

[R-dubb]

There are some fantastic trails between here and Santa Barbara. That ride is on my list. I think you can make it a 450 mile ride with half of it on dirt; most of the other half on tight little back roads. I'll do a bit of work and post a route for ya.


R-dubb

[John Macdonald]

That's exactly what I wanted to hear!

Can't wait.
The little 400 is chomping at the bit for a long day of dualsport.
Wonder how a round trip, sunrise to sunset would be like...

Said R-dubb:I think you can make it a 450 mile ride with half of it on dirt; most of the other half on tight little back roads. I'll do a bit of work and post a route for ya.

[fish]

Said R-dubb:
I'll do a bit of work and post a route for ya.

Yeah! Post it, dubb!

[R-dubb]

OK, OK don't get too excited. The ride down to Holester and then SR25 to SR198 east of Coalinga, is of course, all paved for nearly 150 out of Oaktown.

then it gets interesting...

Parkfield Grade - a well know 10-15 mile hoot up and over Summit Pass on a fairly easy gravel road.

Then comes more pavement about 25 miles on Cholame Valley Rd. then east on SR41 to Shandon.

From there to Santa Barbara is dirt. Some of it very rough, some of it probably closed.

San Juan Creek Rd. is a single track trail running from Shandon all the way to the source of the creek at Branch Mt. Never been on it. Looks like a cool road. Runs about 25 miles.

Then comes the Big One: Sierra Madre Rd. runs about 60 miles along the mountain ridge. Only problem is, I know parts of it have been closed due to wilderness dedications. There may be by-passes that will keep you in dirt and get down to Santa Barbara which is at least another 50 miles of dirt.

Two things. You need a Los Padres NF map. That's what I'm looking at right now. Red gates are bad! Then you need to contact the rangers to find out what's still open and how you might get through. They will tell you it's impossible.

Here is the ideal route through Sierra Madre and down. But, I'm sure much of it is closed.

if all of this is truely impossible then there are still alternatives further east, just not as rough. Carrizo Plain, Soda Lake or Elkhorn Rd. And then come down into SB on 33.


R-dubb

[John Macdonald]

So RDubb-
When you say rough, just how rough do you think it is?
Too rough for the GS?
Who do I contact to ask about trail closures or alternate routes?

Sounds cool. Kinda looks like it'd be a good day or riding on the KTM.
I wonder how many opportunities to fuel there'd be on the latter potrion of the ride.

[fish]

say dubb, how about scouting it and giving us the real scoop on open/closed and conditions? After the 49er would be fine, cuz we all know you've got your hands full now....and you're doing a fine job

[John Macdonald]

I was just looking at the forest service website.
Pretty restrictive, the permitting process for some of it will be quite the pain.
Gonna call them tomorrow and see what they can suggest for this kind of route.
Thanks again for your input here Rdubb

[R-dubb]

Said John Macdonald:
So RDubb-
When you say rough, just how rough do you think it is?
Too rough for the GS?
Who do I contact to ask about trail closures or alternate routes?

Sounds cool. Kinda looks like it'd be a good day or riding on the KTM.
I wonder how many opportunities to fuel there'd be on the latter potrion of the ride.

Well too rough for the GS is relative. If your Jimmy Lewis...

seriously, I think a good rider on the GS can get through. The closures are the main problem, cause if the Sierra Madre is closed, then you back track and take a trail down to the east. That could be tough.

There is no gas directly on the route from Shandon on. And that's 175 miles without closures. There's gas at California Valley, which is the Carrizzo Plain N.M., and more importantly at New Cuyama, for when the road closes and you get forced down to the east.

Tricky to say the least. The place to start on the closures is the USNF Rangers. All of the closed stuff is in Los Padres N.F. The odd thing is that the maps show a bunch of camp grounds within the area that appears to be behind gates.

Anyone else know the story getting through the south section of Los Padres?


R-dubb

[John Macdonald]

I posted this same request at the KTM site and on the list rico posted here a couple of days ago. Both for up here and down around san louis obispo.
Hopefully someone in the know pipes up and spills the beans.
This could be the coolest run.
Especially on the KTM

[R-dubb]

Said fish:
say dubb, how about scouting it and giving us the real scoop on open/closed and conditions?

I just might need to do that.

Really, I'm hoping for someone with some insight into crossing the Sierra Madre. You know, like maybe someone who has done it before. This would be an amazing ride. 200 miles of continuous dirt in a generally straight direction over a pretty amazing coastal range. Just imagine the views on a nice day!:lol1

The peaks rise over 5000 feet straight up from the ocean.


R-dubb

[John Macdonald]

I called around today.
Should be getting some maps in the mail next week, I've been invited out riding too with a couple of rangers from southern california.
Some of this actually looks like it's gonna be possible. Next time I'm down in SB county (possibly in a couple of weeks) I'm going to meet with some of the rangers and do a little feild trip.

[John Macdonald]

John..
San Juan Creek road still shows up on maps, but the stretch from Shandon to hwy
58
is mainly through private property that is clearly fenced and posted. From Hwy
58 it
passes into gated Nat'l Forest and is no longer passable by the public.

There just isn't much continuous dirt on the route you suggest. Your best be
would
be to get to Hollister, come down the little traveled "Airline" highway 25.
Where it
intersects Hwy 198 near San Lucas, you can pick up Peach Tree Valley road (so
bad
it's almost like dirt, but fun anyway) to Indian Valley road and in to San
Miguel. You'll
be nearly out of gas by then anyway. From San Miguel you can pick up River Road
over to Paso Robles and Creston road over to Creston then either Huerhuero or
Parkhill roads out to Pozo. Those are all surfaced roads, but definitely better
than
coming down 101. From Pozo you can pick up the dirt Hi Mountain Road that comes
out at Lopez Lake near Arroyo Grande. From Arroyo Grande you cut over to Hwy 1
through Guadalupe until it connects to Hwy 135 to Los Alamos. From there, short
hop
on 101 gets you to Aliso Canyon road to Foxen Canyon road that ties into Hwy
154
(aka San Marcos Pass). Near the top of San Marcos Pass is East Camino Cielo
that goes
along the ridge behind Santa Barbara and ultimately brings you down into the
Mission
area of Santa Barbara

[R-dubb]

Said John Macdonald:
John..
San Juan Creek road still shows up on maps, but the stretch from Shandon to hwy
58
is mainly through private property that is clearly fenced and posted. From Hwy
58 it
passes into gated Nat'l Forest and is no longer passable by the public.

that's some pretty good intel you got there. I did notice that the road is missing from the newest Los Padres NF map.

I'm begining to think that there are many side trip opportunities either from the east of west side, but that a serious dirt expedition is not possible without breaking the law. The one decribed by your contact sounds pretty good. I do think you can get onto Sierra Madre Rd at the north end. You just can't go all the way through. It's those damn condors! I'd like to take a trip down there in August or September. No time till then.


R-dubb

[fish]

Said John Macdonald:
it's almost like dirt, but fun anyway) to Indian Valley road and in to San
Miguel.

tastes just like chicken.

hey r-dubb...take a bolt cutter with you