MtbREVIEW.com supports IMBA and responsible riding. Please submit only legal
trails to our list. If you discover a trail posted on this site that is not
open for public mountain biking, please email our IMBA friends at
info@imba.com with detailed info.
They'll help us remove the unauthorized trail from the site.
Click here for info about keeping our trails open.
If this is the correct location, click "Save Point" below or type the nearest location (country, city, Zip, or land mark) and the map will pan over to the location if the location is found.
Save Point
Go to Nearest Location:
Lat:
Lng:
Gridley Trail
12 reviews
4.5 of 5
Trail begins with a difficult singletrack climb loaded with rocks. Briefly trail intersects fireroad. Continuing moderate grade singletrack climb to a spring 3mi. up. Beautiful narrow trails continue to the ridge road. upon reaching the road continue for another 3/4mi. that gains 500' to the peak. The altitude at Nordhoff peak is 4,500' An amazing view of Santa Cruz island 60miles away on a clear day. Now turn around and head the way you came. The trail is very fast yet watch out for surprises (1 unmakable switchback, snakes, hikers near the base of the trail, etc.). One area on the trail widens to 8' and is a maze of medium and large sandstone nuggets embedded in the trail. Fun for the fully suspended, a pinch flat trap for hard tails. It is a great trail yet Ojai's summer heat can be a factor, bring more water than normal on warm days.
From 101 freeway in Ventura take highway 33 to Ojai, @15min. Highway 33 and 150divide at a Y intersection, take 150 through downtown Ojai. Gridley road is on the left of the road about 2 miles out of the downtown area. The trailhead is at the end of this 3 mile road at a culdesac with a gate.
Summary: Today was the first time I've ridden Griddly, not sure why I waited so long. It is a medium to hard climb over all. It has a fair amount of rocks and shale in a few areas. Don't let the first half mile scare you, that is the hardest part, once you get by the rock garden it not to bad. The climb its self will get your heart pounding, but nothing that isn't rideable, for the most part your on a graded road. I would say overall it's like riding up the Overlook trail at Sycamore Canyon with more rock/shale and some single track climbing too.
Recommended Route: Start at the bottom of Griddly, at the top go left on the graded road for 2 miles+/- till your right under the forestry lookout platform, from their you will start to enjoy the downhill if you've made it that far. The graded road you are riding will cross the Pratt trail, take that. Pratt trail is alittle over grown and is a off camber single track. Pratt meets up with another graded road and you will take a left at the bottom of Pratt. Only bummer with this look is that you end up a couple miles to the west of the Griddly trail head. It's fun loop, 16 mile roughly.
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Recommended Route: Actually a boring ride. The terrain is very uniform- coastal chaparral. No trees, no streams. Just slogging up the same hillside for 2 hours
If you live in Ojai, it’s what you got. But if you are from elsewhere, there are 100+ better trails in So Cal. Visit all the others first….
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Review Date October 28, 2001
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a week
Reviewed by: scooter
, from ventura
Summary: This is Ojai's best no qusestion about it! 6 miles (1 way) of scenic single track with a variety of terrain. It's intermediate with some technical sections. Lots of shade in the afternoon. Recently had "trail work" which I think was'nt needed. The "work" was done on 10/21/01 and in my opinion was a good job in most areas but who ever did it left a shit load of losse big sharp rocks that were not there before; especially on the upper half - real dangerous comming down! I'm sure the rocks will be gone after enough people ride it. They also left some sections over grown (width of trail) in the last 4-5 miles up and instead topped the shrubs ???? It still rocks! A loop of Gridley Pratt and Fuelbreak is also great if you ant to climb more.
Recommended Route: to the ridge and back, loop of gridley to pratt down fuel break to gridley trailhead
Other recommended trails in the same area: Sisar/White Ledge, Foothill, Cozy Dell and many others I have'nt ridden yet
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Review Date January 2, 2001
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Ridden Once
Reviewed by: Jimm
, from SGV
Summary: Sisar to Gridley: This is not a ride for faint of heart or lung. The grind up Sisar is looooong (9+ miles). Once you reached the peak, you'll be rewarded with huge vistas! Bee-u-ta-full!! The ride down Gridley is great! This is NOT a beginner or even intermediate trail. Survival depends on skill and brains. The advanced/expert rider will be pleased to find a wide variety of trail conditions -- fast, slow, soft, rock, exposure (in many places...stay awake!!).
Recommended Route: Sisar Road UP; Gridley Trail DOWN
Other recommended trails in the same area: I am not familiar with this area.
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Review Date November 19, 2000
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Every few months
Reviewed by: H-Bar
, from Ventura CA
Summary: Gridley is well described here so I don't need to repeat the description up to Nordhoff Ridge. Once at ridge you turn left and climb. Lately, the surface has been kinda loose shale and you might have to get off the bike. Maybe some rain will help tighten it up soon. Reaching Pratt is easy but there are some steep downhill sections on the way. Pratt is a lot of soft sidehill singletrack and horses make holes in the dirt, some secions require care. There are about four really tight switchbacks that I get off for and I'd rate at least two as Expert. Pratt is four miles down to intersect with Cozy Dell, turn left and go down fireroad east about two miles and follow white signs that indicate "trail" (single track and rock garden) and soon you come out at a tree area with a half mile to Gridley parking area. This ride really sucked at the bottom due to grading that left the final fireroad section to soft. Wait a few months before doing this challenging ride
Recommended Route: Begin at Gridley trailhead, climb 5-6 miles to ridge, turn west, climb to lookout tower except don't make final right turn up to tower and continue west about a mile down steep firebreak/road to Pratt trailhead.
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
4.5 of 5
5 of 5
5 of 5
3 of 5
4 of 5
2 of 5
4 of 5
