What to Know
The Start: The start and finish is at the Julian Pie Company in Julian. The address is 2225 Main Street, Julian, CA 92036 Try to park away from the front of businesses if you are going to leave your car. Either park on
the back streets or away from businesses.
The Trail:
The beach loop takes in the Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve, then scenic back roads over to the San Pasqual Valley where you will be treated to some great singletrack as you work your way over to Lake Hodges. You will then ride more singletrack before hitting the pavement, taking the back way over to the coast through Rancho Sante Fe. You will travel up the coast through the beach cities of Leucadia, Encinitas and to our turnaround point in Carlsbad. Heading bac down the coast through Del Mar, you then travel inland again through more great singletrack all the way back to Lake Hodges. Then onto Ramona via the back roads. From Ramona you head into the Estates before beginning a singletrack descent to Cedar Creek, and then an uphill dirt finish back to Julian.
The mountain loop begins with a descent from Julian to Banner, where you will start a climb over to Cuyamaca Park for some great singletrack. The singletrack will have you working your way over to Mount Laguna via Indian Creek Trail, which is sure to test your climbing ability. Then the incredible singletrack playground of Mount Laguna awaits you before you are sent down to Pine Valley on one of the most epic singletrack runs in the country named Noble Canyon. From Pine Valley we take in the Lake Morena dirt and singletrack for a 50 mile loop that ends back in Pine Valley. From Pine Valley it’s back to Julian with a sweet mix of chipseal, dirt road, singletrack and the the final paved cruise back to town.
Camping:
For the beach loop there is camping along the coast at the two state parks named Carlsbad and San Elijo. If they are full ask for their dedicated bike camping spots.
For the mountain loop there is camping available in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and the Laguna recreation area. There is also open camping in the Cleveland National Forest.
Weather:
Spring and fall are probably your best times but weather permitting you can ride both loops year-round.
Resupply:
Beach loop: Escondido, all along the coast and in Ramona.
Mountain loop: Cuyamaca Lake Store, Laguna Store, and the Pine Valley stores.
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