Review Date
September 26, 2007

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: wagbarney ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Mixed use so keep your eyes open for hikers and horses. Bobcat and Crest are fun singletrack sections. The northern part of Englemann Oak from Hidden Spring to Cougar ridge (doubletrack) is fun to air it out for a couple miles through beautiful surroundings. Weekdays are pretty quiet here, especially the northern half of the property where I seldom see anyone.

Review Date
June 4, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: sladnas ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Finally managed to get out and check this place out. All I can say: get out there and ride it! Very fun, a TON of different tracks representing a cross-section of skill levels/aerobic levels. Bobcat trail was the funnest part of the ride. It was hooooot out there today, so bring a lot of water and fillup at the Ranch house!

Review Date
January 9, 2006

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: fabio ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Very nice cross country area with a few technical sections on the single tracks. A little something for everyone.

Recommended Route:
I will typically do a 8 to 9 mile loop. Out of the parking lot take a right on the dirt fire road. after about 1/2 mile you come to a downhil section (you can see the fire road at the bottom of the hill. turn left up hill, this will take you to the ranch house with one steep hill. Go north on the left side of Jack Creek and take the loop all the way around. Just before you reach the ranch house, turn left and up the hill to the pond. Stay on the fire road till you take a right on diamondback or side winder or some type of poisonous snake trail. This will meet Coyote Run at a "Y", stay to the right for the rocky/rutty downhill section (watch out for riders coming up, hikers and horses. This will end at the fire road you came in on. Turn left, then after a 1/4 mile go right back the way you came in. For a longer ride take hidden spring (cardiac) to burnt mountain then left to bobcat, left up to the main fire road. turn right, then right again at the boulder loop, turn left on rock ridge, left on boulder loop to the road and right back to the parking lot. This is about 12 or so miles. Have fun.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Ted Williams, Noble, Big Laguna, Hodges, Sycamore Creek

Review Date
December 26, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: Lawrence ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Mix of fireroad (about 60%) and singletrack (about 40%). Central valley is relatively flat, with hills to the east and steeper hills to the west. Great place for beginners (central valley) or for intermediates/experts (west side and singletrack, especially Crest and Bobcat singletracks).

Recommended Route:
Here's a route that covers all of the legal singletrack in the park - grab a map at the La Honda parking lot and follow along: Creek Crossing (rolling R: East Ridge (rolling) L: Sage (climb) L: Coyote Run (singletrack; rolling) R: Diamondback (singletrack; climb) R: Sage (climb - didn't think you'd get away with not doing the top of Sage, did you?) R: Coyote Run (rolling; downhill past Diamondback; some technical spots) R: East Ridge L: Middle Pond (singletrack, according to the map, but more like a narrow fireroad) R: Ranch House Straight past the Ranch House onto Jack Creek Meadow Loop Rd. L: Hidden Spring (CLIMB) L: Englemann Oak (down) R: Burnt Mountain (singletrack; up, then a technical descent) L: Englemann Oak (rocky downhill) L: Bobcat (singletrack, downhill) L: Cougar Ridge (brutal uphill to intersection with Englemann Oak, then rolling) R: Boulder Loop L: Rock Ridge (singletrack; downhill; under construction) R: Boulder Loop (climb) L: Cougar Ridge (rolling) R: Crest (funfunfun downhill) L: Boulder Loop (short) R: Ranch House, to La Honda parking lot More info at http://sdmountainbiking.blogspot.com

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Lake Hodges, Elfin Forest, Sycamore Canyon, Cuyamaca Rancho, Noble

Review Date
October 23, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: aword4you ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Daley was awesome yesterday following the rains last weekend. Sand was still pretty packed down, and there was no dust kicked up at all while riding. Trails weren't muddy or really wet at all either, and it had been misting most of the day. There were a few other cyclists and hikers out, but not super crowded.

Recommended Route:
We always head right from the paved trail in the parking lot and start climbing. Yesterday we didn't even head down to the Ranch House, turned off on the side trail from the downhill right before hitting the ranch and did the loop over to Cardiac Hill and the other climbs on the west side. Had a nice 12 mile loop. We've done Engelmann Oak and the downhill singletrack twice now, and it gets better every time. Loved the Crest Trail downhill yesterday as there was little loose sand.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Hodges for beginners is good. I love Hurkey in Idyllwild, but is a bit of a drive north east.