Heading North on Monaco after parking brings you to a traffic circle
This intersection at the top of Capri is poorly marked. GO LEFT and DOWN.
Going left and down on Capri. This will shortly turn to dirt and back to pavement again.
The first signs of dirt on Capri
Nice views of Rustic Canyon to the West.
Gated Rustic Canyon Entrance to Topanga State Park
You can see a small bridge across the canyon from Sullivan Ridge.
Old "abandonded" mansion to the left in Rustic Canyon
Entrance to short and sweet singletrack just in front of chain-link fence
The views are nicer along this singletrack than the paved section above and to the right of us.
Funcky Ranch in Rustic Canyon
This single track is a little less than a mile long but is so much fun it seems even shorter. Take it! The rutted, rocky uphill towards the end is a
Singletrack rejoins paved road just before intersection with Camp Josepho (to left) and Sullivan Ridge Trail (to right).
Sullivan Ridge Trail gate approaching.
Entrance to Boy Scout's Camp Josepho
Entrance to Sullivan Ridge Fire Road around Gate
Sullivan Ridge Fire Road climbs at a comfortable grade. It looks pretty much like this for a little while.
Nice view north of a pinnacle along Sullivan Ridge.
A singletrack parallel to the main fire road offers a nice view of the Sullivan Canyon, Westridge, and Rustic Canyon.
A singletrack parallel to the main fire road offers a nice view of the Sullivan Canyon, Westridge, and Rustic
Some peaceful folks left a little sign on one of Sullivan's pinnacles.
This big shade tree is a landmark along Sullivan Ridge at around 4.7 - 5.0 miles and approaching 1400 feet of elevation gain.
View of water tank across the canyon.
View of Nike Missile Site across Sullivan Canyon, atop Westridge Road on San Vicente Mountain.
Wide, flat, gravel section is peculiar as we near the Sullivan Ridge Summit and intersection with Dirt Mulholland.
View of Eagle Rock from Sullivan Ridge.
Intersection with right, downward turnoff to Sullivan Canyon. DO NOT TAKE THIS.
Pretty parallel singletrack before last uphill to Sullivan Ridge Trail intersection with Dirt Mulholland
View of Gate at intersection of Sullivan Ridge Trail and Dirt Mulholland. We'll go left ( west ) at the intersection.
Looking back at Sullivan Ridge Trail gate from the Dirt Mulholland side.
Heading westward on Dirt Mulholland.
Heading westward on Dirt Mulholland.
Heading westward on Dirt Mulholland.
Heading westward on Dirt Mulholland.
Heading westward on Dirt Mulholland.
Nice view of Encino Reservoir from Dirt Mulholland
Heading westward on Dirt Mulholland.
Heading westward on Dirt Mulholland.
Intersection to right with Reseda Blvd. Keep going past this by staying on Dirt Mulholland.
Intersection with Temescal Ridge Trail #30 on left from Dirt Mulholland.
Intersection with Temescal Ridge Trail #30 on left from Dirt Mulholland.
Intersection with Temescal Ridge Trail #30 on left from Dirt Mulholland.
Around gate and onto Temescal Ridge Trail #30 towards The Hub.
Nice view of jagged rock outcropping southeast of The Hub.
Ealge Rock Trail intersecting at The Hub from the northwest.
The Hub is well signed as you can see.
View looking east / southeast from The Hub
Trail Kiosk that used to adorn The Hub, making it seem more "hublike," until it mysteriously disappeared not long ago.
View of nice rock outcropping from The Hub
Clear signage pointing us in the direction of the Holy Grail, or the Backbone Trail, to the southeast.
Intersection with Backbone Trail to the left.
Minor intersection shortly after getting on the Backbone trail.
Backbone trail heading down to Will Rogers State Historical Park
Backbone trail heading down to Will Rogers State Historical Park
Backbone trail heading down to Will Rogers State Historical Park
Backbone trail heading down to Will Rogers State Historical Park
Backbone trail heading down to Will Rogers State Historical Park
Backbone trail heading down to Will Rogers State Historical Park
Backbone trail heading down to Will Rogers State Historical Park
Backbone trail heading down to Will Rogers State Historical Park
Backbone trail heading down to Will Rogers State Historical Park
Backbone trail heading down to Will Rogers State Historical Park
Backbone trail heading down to Will Rogers State Historical Park
Backbone trail heading down to Will Rogers State Historical Park
Backbone trail heading down to Will Rogers State Historical Park
Backbone trail heading down to Will Rogers State Historical Park
Backbone trail heading down to Will Rogers State Historical Park
Backbone trail heading down to Will Rogers State Historical Park
My Santa Cruz Super Light waiting for me to finish resting at the "lone" California live oak landmark.
Backbone Trail descending towards Will Rogers Park
Backbone Trail descending towards Will Rogers Park
Backbone Trail descending towards Will Rogers Park
Backbone Trail descending towards Will Rogers Park
Backbone Trail descending towards Will Rogers Park
Backbone Trail descending towards Will Rogers Park
Backbone Trail descending towards Will Rogers Park
Backbone Trail descending towards Will Rogers Park
Backbone Trail descending towards Will Rogers Park
Backbone Trail descending towards Will Rogers Park
View of Bridge further along the ridge which we will soon be hiking our bikes over
Backbone Trail descending towards Will Rogers Park
Avoid the steep turnoff to the left here and bear right and uphilll to stay on the Backbone Trail
Backbone Trail descending towards Will Rogers Park
Backbone Trail descending towards Will Rogers Park
Backbone Trail descending towards Will Rogers Park
This switchback is rideable but what comes after it is really dangerous considering the cliffside looming to the left. That's why we have to walk.
Obey the signs and walk you bike down this rugged section of trail and over the bridge.
Obey the signs and walk you bike down this rugged section of trail and over the bridge.
Obey the signs and walk you bike down this rugged section of trail and over the bridge.
Obey the signs and walk you bike down this rugged section of trail and over the bridge.
Obey the signs and walk you bike down this rugged section of trail and over the bridge.
Stop for a moment to enjoy the views of Santa Monica and the entire LA Basin from The Bridge.
Nice, relatively smooth, descent from The Bridge includes great switchback and waterbars
Nice, relatively smooth, descent from The Bridge includes great switchback and waterbars, and a few uphills to keep one honest.
Nice, relatively smooth, descent from The Bridge includes great switchback and waterbars
Upcoming intersection with Will Rogers Parking Lot trail (and Inspiration point as an out-and-back to right)
Intersection with Will Rogers Parking Lot trail (and Inspiration point as an out-and-back to right)
Heading into Will Rogers State Historical Park.
Heading into Will Rogers State Historical Park.
Heading into Will Rogers State Historical Park.
Heading into Will Rogers State Historical Park.
Heading out of Will Rogers State Historical Park.
Heading out of Will Rogers State Historical Park.
Gate at Sunset Blvd. GO LEFT
Going left ( eastbound ) on Sunset Blvd. from the gate.
A view from the flight deck after the ride
Santa Cruz SuperLight waiting for a rider.
Go around the circle and take the left route which is Capri Drive.
This is a bridge that we will be returning on towards the end of the Backbone Trail. Bikers are required to walk their bikes down to and over the bridge and the descent leading up the bridge is a place where a small mistake could cost one his or her life. To make the bridge easier to see I enlarged it and included the enlargement as an insert on the photo.
About 2 miles and 510 feet of elevation gain
This single track is a little less than a mile long but is so much fun it seems even shorter. Take it! The rutted, rocky uphill towards the end is a great challenge for beginners.
This single track is a little less than a mile long but is so much fun it seems even shorter. Take it! The rutted, rocky uphill towards the end is a great challenge for beginners.
This single track is a little less than a mile long but is so much fun it seems even shorter. Take it! The rutted, rocky uphill towards the end is a great challenge for beginners.
This single track is a little less than a mile long but is so much fun it seems even shorter. Take it! The rutted, rocky uphill towards the end is a great challenge for beginners.
About 3.1 miles and 754 feet of elevation gain.
About 3.5 miles and 905 feet of elevation gain. I typically do a bit of poking around when scouting a trail so my odometer may read just a little higher than someone who stays on the main trails.
This is a fascinating site to visit which we do in detail on the Westridge Trail. Read all about one of Southern California's anti-Soviet hotspots developed during the chilliest days of the Cold War.
You can see Eagle Rock close up on the Paseo Miramar Topanga Trail ride.
Comes around 6.3 - 6.5 miles. There will come a time when we want to visit beautiful Sullivan Canyon. Typically, this is done as a return trip from the Westridge ride you can see all about when we're done with this ride. For now, continue UP as the trail snakes to the left around the steep pinnacle straight ahead.
We reach the gate at about 6.8 - 7.0 miles.
We'lll pass several signed and unsigned trails off to the left before we reach a major intersection to the left at Temescal Ridge Trail #30.
Over 8.0 miles and 1700 feet of elevation gain.
Dirt Mulholland is well signed and you'd have a hard time getting lost along this heavily traveled road.
This occurs at about 9.5 - 9.8 miles and around 1900 feet of elevation gain.
This occurs at about 9.5 - 9.8 miles and around 1900 feet of elevation gain.
This occurs at about 9.5 - 9.8 miles and around 1900 feet of elevation gain.
Over 11 miles and 2000 feet of elevation gain.
"The Hub," for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of being there yet, is a "major" intersection which connects 3 or 4 popular trails / fire roads in the eastern Santa Monica Mountains. It usually has a functioning port-a-potty and until a few months ago had a small kiosk with trail information.
You'll want to check out Paseo Miramar Topanga trail to see and read more about Eagle Rock.
The Hub arrives at about 11.6 - 11.8 miles into the ride.
The Hub arrives at about 11.6 - 11.8 miles into the ride.
The Hub arrives at about 11.6 - 11.8 miles into the ride.
The Hub arrives at about 11.6 - 11.8 miles into the ride.
The Hub arrives at about 11.6 - 11.8 miles into the ride.
This is well signed but if you get caught up sightseeing to the right (Quarry Canyon) you can miss this trail which occurs at about 12.3 - 12.5 mile and 2400 feet of elevation gain. If you've gone more than about 12.5 miles you'll want to make sure you haven't passed it.
Go straight through (don't make a hard left) and follow the trail up a short uphill stretch.
This landmark live oak occurs at a tight downhill right turn on a rocky, sandy section of the trail.
We saw this bridge earlier from the Parallel singletrack along the Sullivan Ridge side of the Canyon.
This is always a bittersweet part of the ride. Nice to have experienced a great trail and a great workout but sorry that it had to end so soon.
Apparently the road is closed to vehicles but open to bikes. We'll take this road out to Sunset Blvd., make a left and head eastward back to our vehicles.
Apparently the road is closed to vehicles but open to bikes. We'll take this road out to Sunset Blvd., make a left and head eastward back to our vehicles.
