This ride visits the beautiful Los Padres National Forest. The high elevation means in winter this area is heavily snowed in, but during hot summer months this location offers a welcome relief to the incessant heat found in the LA valleys. While the Mount Pinos area offers some excellent mount biking trails (mostly single track), this ride takes the paved road for a steady 8.5 mile climb. The gradient is moderate, but the relatively high elevation can make this quite a challenging climb.
Getting there
From the I-5 take the Frazier Park exit and head West. There are limited opportunities for stocking up on supplies so consider stopping at the service area near the I-5 exit if you need to buy stuff. Continue for 8 miles passing Frazier Park (another option for stocking up or getting an meal). After passing Lockwood Valley Road on the left continue another 4 miles and bear left as the road veers to the right. Park in the large parking area. Google directions to start
The Ride
The directions for this ride are elementary - join the Mount Pinos road and climb to the top! Along the way you will pass McGill campground at 5 miles, and Mount Pinos campground at 6.57 miles, reaching the end of the road after approximately 1 hour 14 minutes of climbing and 8.5 miles. At the top there is a large parking area (starting point for numerous trails), and the Mount Pinos Nordic Base building. There are some lovely views along the way - unfortunately my camera broke on the day of this trip and all the pictures I took are nothing more than a blur.
Ride log
Last Ridden
Condition
Pedal Time
Elapsed Time
Jun 22, ‘08
Excellent - road was generally in good condition. Temperatures in the San Gabriel valley were forecast to be in triple digits the day of this ride, yet climbing this road midday presented no heat problems - just a very pleasant mid 70s and gentle breeze - perfect. We also did a short hike after the ride.