Review Date
June 26, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: 62kona ,  Downhiller

Summary:
I had a good time on this trail. It was fast, and had some steep parts to it. Not any drops or jumps on it though. I def don't think dh bike and pads are needed. I rode it for my first time by myself without pads, and thought it was fine.

Recommended Route:
Other's routes work fine

Review Date
August 19, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: me109 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
This is a great trail but not at all what I was expecting. I went in expecting treacherous rock gardens and drops and who knows what other technical stuff. It is all pretty much a rolling single track along the spine of some ridges all the way to the bottom with some steep chutes along the way. I wouldnt say this is technical in the traditional sense, its just that you have to be pretty good at carving out and down some rutted chutes, 1 of which is very steep! Some major endo/slideout opportunites here, I would suggest some armor if nothing more than just to give you confidence. I did it with only a helmet so I took the chutes pretty slow.

In fact I dont think a DH bike is really necessary at all, you just have to be good at carving downhill through some modest ruts and controlling your balance.

As for the climb up, dont do it when it is 103 degrees outside like I did. 4 miles of constant uphill, no breaks, but it's all over in about 45 minutes.

Recommended Route:
Take CA 5 exit at San Fernando, cant miss the Park N Ride. From here take the FR that points S/SE up and winds for 4 miles. Just make sure you stick to the obvious main FR and you wont get off track. Then, at a plateau, grab the viper trail which points N/NE. Follow this speed machine all the way (? miles) to a short FR/2track section that ends at the oil rigs. from here stay left and head SW down the truck roads back to the parking lot. Then drink a coors light.

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Review Date
May 23, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: biking-viking ,  Downhiller

Summary:
I live in the SCV and have heard about this trail for years. I have been up the fireroad more times than I can count but I always was told not to ride Viper alone. After 9 years of mountain biking I happened to be at Newhall Bicycle Company (Roger Rules!!!!) and they were heading up. I followed and I am glad that I did. This trail is truly epic. My Quest for the Holy Trail is complete. There are 2 downhill sections that had I seen from the bottom I would have sworn that you would have to walk..... I rode them all :)

I am now a follower of the true faith... The Church of the Viper..

If you think you can ride, then bring it. You will be humbled and if not you will at least respect it.

So Cal Riders RULE!!!

Recommended Route:
The directions already posted are spot on.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Towsley, 5 Deer, Castaic Lake XC Track (1400ft. of gain in about 2 miles)

A Little Farther Away:
Red Box / Switzers, El Prieto, La Tuna, Mt. Hillayer / Silver Moccasin, Ken Burton Trail, Sam Merrill Trail.

Again... So Cal Rules.

Review Date
March 19, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 5 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: bigdaddyof4 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Rode this trail on Saturday on my full suspension bike with my experienced So Cal native companion on a hard tail specialized. Definitely a full suspension trail regardless of the myth that hard tails climb better and there does seem to be a bit more climbing than down. This was my first run on a trail of this caliber, being fairly new to the area, and I was thoroughly impressed. I would recommend this to anyone that wants to take a shot at an amazing downhill trail but caution to monitor your own fitness level. The climb up is very strenuous and relentless. If you are not ready to climb for 4 straight miles then DO NOT ride this trail. There now that my conscious is clear this ride is awesome!! The fire road is in great shape and the single track will challenge any ability level. This is for sure one trail that SO Cal mountain bikers should have on their resume.

Recommended Route:
everyone else gave better directions than I could.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
I'm still looking myself!! Any suggestions???

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Review Date
August 17, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Reviewed by: SS Barby ,  Racer

Summary:
Rode the San Fernando Canyon fireroad yesterday. Rode it on my SS with a 32:16 ratio, very difficult ascent. The fireroad is in great shape. Just wishing I had a different gear ratio. Rode to Los Pinetos went down to the nature center and back up to the fire road. Then proceed to the Viper trail and bombed down that. A little step for my SS set-up, wish I had my trail bike. Started getting late and was hard to see trail because sun was right in my line of vision. Viper trail was a little soft and sandy probably from the rains not rutted all that bad though. To help with confusion the Viper trailhead is about 4 miles up the fireroad from the park and ride. The trail is off to the left, right next to a big oak tree, just before the fireroad starts to descend down to the saddle about a 1/2 mile down the road. Starts out with a little rolling and then you descend down a chute with a pretty steep climb back out. Rest of the trail continues all the way down like this until you get back down to the 14 freeway. Go enjoy!

Recommended Route:
5 freeway north to highway 14 north. Get off on San Fernadno Canyon Rd. park in the park and ride just off to the right of the off-ramp. Climb the fireroad for about 4 miles. Trailhead is just off to the left next to big oak tree, just before fireroad starts to descend. At oil rigs keep making lefts to get back to your car.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Los Pinetos, Vasquez Rocks trail, Drop In Motorcycle trail