Mountain Biking Cheeseboro Simi Peak / China Flat Options in Southern California

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Cheeseboro / Palo Comado Canyons with China Flats & Simi Peak Options
Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles County, Agora Hills / Simi Hills, CA

The China Flats and Simi Peak Trail options upgrade the Cheeseboro / Palo Comado Canyon areas from a merely great mountain bike ride to a truly epic adventure. You might want to view the main Cheeseboro / Palo Comado Canyon trail section before viewing this option.

By heading west along the Palo Comado Canyon Trail (Fire road) at the Sheep Corral Trail intersection, a biking area is reached which combines transcendent beauty with gnarly uphill and downhill singletracks - the recipe for an epic trail. This is a MUST RIDE for anyone who can beg, borrow, or steal a ride to this trailhead. The meanderings of this particular ride take one from the Cheeseboro Canyon Trail start, up Canyon View Trail and along the Ridge Trail and back down to the Cheeseboro Canyon Trail (CCT). CCT is then followed to the spectacular singletrack Sulphur Springs Trail (SST), along to the singletrack Sheep Corral Trail (known as Upper Palo Comado Trail on some maps), up the fire-road-like Palo Comado Canyon Trail (PCCT), up to the Albertson Motorway, down a singletrack connector to the Simi Peak Trail, up the rocky singletrack to Simi Peak, back down through the rolling China Flats, back up along the fire road towards Albertson Motorway to pick up an eastbound singletrack which dumps you back on the PCCT for a return trip to the unnamed "Parallel Singletrack" down to a merging with Palo Comado Canyon Trail heading south. This epic adventure then continues by taking a staggering steep fire road offshoot from the already cruel Ranch Center Connector (RCC), and then riding an unmarked singletrack along a high ridge down to an intersection with the Modelo Trail and a return to the parking lot. More...
( Click here for directions to trailhead )

After checking out sign at intersection of Sheep Corral Trail and Palo Comado Trail, turn around and ascent the singletrack at left.

Shortly after the Palo Comado Canyon Trail overlook, take the unmarked singletrack to the right.

Now known as the "Parallel Singletrack," this trail is outrageously fun

Parallel Singletrack in one of its tamer sections

Parallel singletrack in a more technically challenging rutty downhill

Parallel singletrack overlooking Palo Comado Canyon Trail just before the intersection

Parallel singletrack intersections with Palo Comado Canyon Trail.

Smooth rolling along Palo Comado Canyon Trail just before Doubletree Road intersection at right

Doubletree Road intersection with Palo Comado Canyon Trail

Intersection with Ranch Center Connector Trail approaching at left

Ranch Center Connector turnoff to left

Nice view looking back at Palo Comado Canyon and Doubletree Road from Ranch Center Connector Trail.

Climbing Ranch Center Connector Trail

Reach summit of stubbornly cruel Ranch Center Connector Trail

View downhill section of Ranch Center Connector Trail from trail midsection summit

Birds-eye view of Ranch Center Connector Trail uniting with Cheeseboro Canyon Trail

End of this Photo Series...Why not ride another trail?

Heading back up Sheep Corral Trail to take gnarly singletrack which parallels Palo Comado Trail as we head back towards the start/end of the ride.

The parallel singletrack merges with Palo Comado Canyon Trail a couple of miles downhill where we then proceed to Ranch Center Connector Trail

Go left and head downhill towards Ranch Center Connector Trail.

We'll bypass the Doubletree road intersection, staying on Palo Comado Canyon Trail just a hundred or so yards further to pick up the Ranch Center Connector Trail to the left.

We'll make a left turn and begin climbing Ranch Center Connector Trail.

Just keep pumpin.'

This relatively flat section allows your granny gear to cool off as you can shift into your middle ring.

This steep climb located this far into an already challenging ridge can only be described as CRUEL. Remember, Pain is merely the feeling of weakness leaving your body...

You won't get this view from Ranch Center Connector Trail. This view requires one to make a sharp right at the 4-way intersection at the Ranch Center Connector Trail midsection summit and climb the IMPOSSIBLY steep unposted fireroad featured in the Simi Peak / China Flat trail expose.

Photo of Santa Cruz Superlight resting atop Simi Peak, elevation 2403', a little over 10 miles from the trailhead at Cheeseboro / Palo Comado Canyon Recreation Area, Simi Hills, Northern Santa Monica Mountains, CA.

Additional Information about Cheeseboro and its Trails	Map of one recommended loop for Cheeseboro Canyon	Topographical view of Cheeseboro Canyon Area	Download Official Park Map in PDF Format
Download Garmin^® MapSource^® mps file - for Cheeseboro Region	Download National Geographic^® TOPO!^®region file for Cheeseboro Region	View Cheeseboro / Palo Comado Option for Cheeseboro Region