Review Date
March 1, 2008

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: capt.scurvy ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Warning to x-country riders: the descent is an advanced mountain/DH trail! The main descent is actually a tree covered, boulder-strewn creek bed which will require a long travel fork (80mm= Endo), lowered seat, lots of clearance, and experience dropping down the face of 1 to 7 ft dia. river rocks. A fun challenge for the skilled DH rider, but a prob to those for whom tree roots are the biggest bump. Also-the popularity of this trail requires one have the skillz to get out 'o the way. Get in a good stretch before the ride too 'cause those endos can tear ya up! The trail IS beautiful, the ocean air-- so fresh . . . so clean. (go Lakers!)

Review Date
October 13, 2007

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 1 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: kdenny8 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
We went out to ride this trail October 5th 2007 and found that the Forest Service or whatever gov. agency is responsible for creating fireroads has plowed this trail out. All the sweet technical single track is gone, replace by a loose fire road all the way to the top of the ridge. A great acess trail is gone, to b replaced by a dull fireroad climb.

Recommended Route:
Up Romero & down any other trail along the ridge.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Cold Springs, San Yisidro

Review Date
March 31, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: Foxy ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Great ride today. Fire road for approx. the first thrid of the ride, reasonably steep. Strail switches to single track for the rest of the way up the mtn. Fair amount of loose rock on the trail. Look out for hikers on the trail. They provide bells for Mtn. Bikers at the base of the trail. They are really loud on the way down, which is a bit annoying, but I would rather suffer through the sound of a bell for the 20 min decent instead of loosing the use of the trail.

Recommended Route:
See above

Other recommended trails in the same area:
I haven't ridden any others in the area.

Review Date
October 31, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: whorida002000 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Man, visited a friend down in Santa Barbara. He told me about this trail Romero Rd. It was one of the best climbs I have done. The trick is to not put yourself on the limit. The first part of the climb is pretty steep. About half way up you hit these technical sections that will have you walking if you were on your redline all the way up. But if you take it easy on the climb up you can speed up where you need to and enjoy the challenge of staying on and clearing these sections. There were a few of them all the way to the about 2 miles from the top. They kind of sneak up on you. you think you are riding a flat section then all the sudden you see the trail just go up at a steep angle. A small sprint will give you enough momentum to get over these sections. Makes the climb less about pain and more about concentration and finesse.

On the way down my hands and fingers were killing me (not too many rough trails in NorCal), but it was a blast none the less. Even though you have to look out for hikers and equastrians, the tight sections before the lower 1/3 of the moutain can be taken at a good speed that you can come to a full stop from without much effort. When it opens back up to full singletrack the turns and speed are intoxicating. You can see where hikers are far ahead of where you are. So that gives you room to open it up then slow down way before the hikers are paying attention to you, (most of the hikers were very friendly.)

Highly recommend this trail. One of the best up and backs that I have done in years.

Recommended Route:
Don't live there do not know.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Don't live there do not know.

Review Date
May 22, 2005

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: mtbgrl ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I rode this trail yesterday (5/21/05)and it was in great condition. Lots of trail work after the rains as all of the 'avalanche' sections were rideable. Great views. A gradual uphill after the first relatively steep mile. Not too technical but you have to pay attention. The singletrack down the middle of the canyon is steep with lots of hike-a-bike sections near the creek crossings - about six of them. If you don't feel like getting off of your bike, go back the way you came.

Recommended Route:
Romero Road to Camino Cielo road (end at the watertower. You'll pass a saddle on the way up where you have three choices. Keep going straight to get to the watertower. On the way back down, you can take a right at the saddle to go straight down the canyon or continue straight on if you don't want to hike-a-bike.