Review Date
April 20, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: bikerneil ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Absolutely beautiful and awesome single track trail. Parking at bottom and riding up is the way to go. 12 switchbacks at the start then it gets better. The grade up is very moderate - very easy to ride up as far as you want to go - the reward is the ride DOWN!

Recommended Route:
The directions to the trail are a little mis-leading: Take Ortega Highway 12 miles (not 8-10) until you come to the Ranger / Fire Station (there's also a sign to a campground at the turn). Follow that road about 1 mile to parking lot and bathroom at trailhead.
Heads up: take $5 for parking fee.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Whiting Ranch

Review Date
April 15, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Reviewed by: CMFICSR20 ,  Downhiller

Summary:
Really fun trail. I shuttle it but that's only cause I ride a 45+ lb downhill pig. And for anyone else riding a downhill, Be Careful!. If you are going fast enough to where you won't be able to stop for a xc riding coming up the hill then your going too fast. Other than that it's a real fun trail some good fast sections some cool little jumps on the way down. Don't slide evry turn it makes the trail all rutted and more difficult than it needs to be to ascend.

Recommended Route:
I chuttle. If you like uphill and have a a xc then pedal it.

Review Date
August 31, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Reviewed by: em_dee_aitch ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
I live in Austin but am lucky enough to have visited San Juan twice now. I just want to express dismay at all who advocate shuttling this course. You're totally missing the point. This trail is all about climbing -- there's nothing else to it. Though I dwell in the relatively flat "hill country," I suffered all the way to the top of this mother and thoroughly enjoyed the exhaustion and empty camelbak. My OC friends who are "locals" do find us out-of-towners amusing in that they take a mere 55 minutes to climb this beast whereas it takes me dang near 3 hours, but at least we're climbing. Shuttle?? I imagine the DH riders, who I got no grudge against, could find a much more interesting course with some sweet jumps (a la Napoleon Dynamite) or something. This one is totally non-technical, as I don't count erosion ruts in single track as a "technical" item. It's a non-technical climb with an amazing view (I give it a 2 for technicality only cuz of the switchbacks, which will throw flat-landers for a loop). Climb it, don't be a wuss. If you're all about DH, find something more extreme. To make this trail fun as a DH course, you'd have to go so fast as to kill the climbers... Overall a 5 for the sense of accomplishment you'll feel, and the view of course. And because the mountain lions didn't eat me.

Review Date
June 8, 2004

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: red5 ,  Downhiller

Summary:
Shuttle!!! That's the best way for me to ride this place. But I respect those who climb it, I've even done it myself a number of times. But I really enjoy hammering down the trail when I'm feeling fresh and not beat from the 2hr climb in the blistering 95* Cali heat. It's much more enjoyable. And I do my best to keep an eye out ahead for riders on the up and stop for them as I should. Though occassionally I'll admit to a slight mishap, though I've never hit anyone. More to the point I'd usually run myself into the bush if needed be. All in all, whatever you enjoy about riding it can be found here as long as it's not real technical. Most of the trail is pretty rolly and smooth, with a couple of short yet easy rock sections on the way down right after leaving cocktail rock. I'd say definitely on my top 5 fun shuttles in So.Cal. If you got the chance, I say giver a go.

Recommended Route:
Shuttle to BlueJay. Start down and at the Y go right for some good twisty tree strewn riding. At the 4 way go right again and after a bit of fast rutted trail, you'll come to a bit of a climb - start hiking. At the top head on down to Cocktail and make a right. Hand on from here cause it's pretty mcuch all downhill to the car park. Load up repeat!!

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Santiago, Aliso Woods (esp: Teleonics) & VC.

Review Date
December 10, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week