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Snyder (Knapps Castle)
11 reviews
4.27 of 5
The trail is fast and fun. Yet it is one that has been surrounded in recent contraversy. Recent trail work cut out an illegal trail that cuts out many switchbacks. This was necessary, yet additional reroutes were made that cut out the funnest part of the trail,where it got steep and dove into deep saddle. These new sections are slower and really soft since they haven't been rained on. Overall the trail is still really fun with tons of switchbacks, but slower than before. The trail is under much scrutiny and may change alot over the coming year. I will update its status occasionally
from the 101 take the 154. Make a right at Paradise Canyon road. The trail head is on the right side of the road about 3 miles down. There is a large oak tree with a huge knob on it that looks like a butt. Its not signed well so look for the "butt tree". Park there and ride back toward the highway, at Paradise store make a left up Stage Coach road, It climbs gently for 7 or 8 miles. then cross the 154 to East Camino Ciello road. Follow East Camino for about 3.5 miles and the trail will be on the left side at a gate. Drop in and follow it down there is a branch about 500 feet down the fire road. Go to the right and there is a burnt out house with huge stone arches and fire places this is Knapps Castle, a good spot for lunch. To the left is the trail
Summary: This trail is pretty cool. I just rode it earlier today and the condition was ok. It's been really dry up here so the trail is really sandy and dusty. Up at the top and through the middle the trail is all washboard and bumpy.I rode it did fine on a hardtail though. The road to the trail head was closed off 3/4 of a mile away because of fire vehicles. Me and my friend would have done it a third time but fire officials kicked us out because of a nearby wildfire (ash raining down, flames a few miles away, brown sky: great riding)
The trail was really fun, lots of fast dirt roads, switchbacks, and a rockgarden if you take a left at a fork in the trail a ways down. The whole downhill is about 3 1/2 miles and there's almost no uphill sections. There are a few little jumps at the bottom but nothing special. This is really the first local trail I've ridden (I've been up at mammoth though).
This is a great trail that can be done with ease on a hardtail, although it would be a lot smoother at the top with a DS bike. Please be respectful of hikers on the trail. This is a pretty controversial trail but a lot of fun to ride.
If you live near Santa Barbara ride this trail.
Recommended Route: San Marcos Pass to East Camino Ciello at a metal gate 3/4 miles past Painted Cave Rd. Pick up on Paradise Rd. at Snyder trail sign
Other recommended trails in the same area: Tunnel, Cold Springs, San Ysidro
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Summary: Moved out here from Chicago for the summer, this was the first trail I rode out here, locals took me here as a warm up for tunnel. I must say this trail was FUN. Not too rocky, pretty smooth overall except for the chatter at the beginning. Nice and fast with gorgeous scenery. It's steep so you can take it as fast as you'd like. Overall lots of fun, the switchbacks are a good training spot for sure, I'm gonna ride this a ton to work on my conering.
Rode it on 6-10-07, really dry, some parts you sink in cause its so dry and sand-like. Makes the high speed turns a bit more "thrilling"
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Summary: Knapps is by far the best trail for all around (besides Whistler) I have ever encountered. It offers high speed turns, tech sections, rock gardens, off cambers and a few whoops. Anyone can do it on a hard tail, but full suspension is the best for speed and all around having your nuts in your stomach from top to bottom. A local rider and trail featured in 'Hypnosis' just kills it in and that is how it should be ridden..balls to the wall. The first part is mostly high speed fire road wit twisting turns, near the middle of the trail it thins out and get rocky and fun. There is a G-out that will bottom out your suspension if you go fast enough. Tons of switch backs, a few whoops, a cool rock garden near the end and then back to a fast fire road.
If you are preparing for a race...haaa,haaa, like Fontucky, then this is a good place to get your speed up before the race. The corners are like riding on rails.
Combine Knapps a few times with Tunnel for a good day. If you dont agree with my statements, then your going tooooooo slow.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Tunnel, Cold Springs, San Ysidro and 'Old Spring'.
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Summary: We rode the trail Saturday 8/12. It was in great shape, fast and fun. Only encountered a few hikers. All were pleasant and we had a blast. Did 4 runs!!!
Other recommended trails in the same area: Cold Springs
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Summary: This was a great trail, but now it's only good. The top 1/3 of the trail was been widened from singletrack to fireroad. The lower sections are nice reasonably technical singletrack. Can be ridden up if you're strong enough.
Recommended Route: Park at the bottom take paradise road past lower oso. Ride up the Arroyo Burro fireroad, across E. Camino Cielo and down the trail.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Camuesa Connector, Little Pine(Santa Cruz)
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4.27 of 5
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