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THE CONDOR COUNTRY TOUR
Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties
Six to seven days, 300-460 miles
 This is called the Condor Country Tour because it travels back and forth across the Los Padres National Forest, the last refuge of the great California Condor. You may not see any of these rarest of raptors while riding here, but you will enjoy a scenic feast at nearly every turn, from high, dry chaparral to lush, green canyons...from ridge-running panoramas high above the ocean to rolling, vineyard-covered hills.
The tour begins west of the Grapevine on Interstate-5, climbs through remote, beautiful canyons in the Los Angeles National Forest, before climbing over Tejon Pass and descending into beautiful Lockwood Valley.
After crossing Pine Mountain summit, the tour follows scenic Hwy 33 down Wheeler Gorge to the town of Ojai and Lake Casitas. It visits the posh enclave of Montecito and then climbs Rattlesnake Canyon to the well-named Camino Cielo on the way to an overnight in Paradise on the wild Santa Ynez River, in the hills below San Marcos Pass. (This day features some of the most spectacular panoramas you can imagine...as good as anything on any tour we offer.)
From Paradise, the route descends past Lake Cachuma into the peaceful
Santa Ynez Valley, a region justly famed as a great cycling destination.
This valley will be the staging area for the final three days
of the tour, offering either easy, rolling rides among the vineyards
and ranches on the valley floor, or alternatively, presenting
more ambitious riders with some really challenging and extremely
remote and scenic mountain routes. In addition to the cycling,
there will be opportunities for sightseeing on foot in the quaint
Danish village of Solvang, as well as hiking to waterfalls and
swimming holes.
Although it is not designed as a loop route, it can be made into one with some modification to the beginning and end of the tour. This will result in a route that is slightly less enjoyable (in my opinion). But if you need to plan for leaving cars at the start for your return, it can be done. Details for how to do this are discussed in the information packet.
• Tour Packet: 45 pages; 51 photos; 9 maps
• Where does it go?
Day 1: Canyons Loop #1
66 miles, 4800' up, 4800' down
41 miles, 3000' up, 3000' down
A loop exploring San Francisquito Canyon, Bouquet Canyon, and Spunky Canyon, with a shorter option that explores Leona Valley. A good ride, but not a great ride, and as it is a loop from camp, it could be skipped if you’re pressed for time. But it does have its charms and is worth doing.
Day 2: Lake Hughes to Reyes Creek
68 miles, 6000' up, 5050' down
Begins east of I-5 in the Sawmill and Liebre Mountains. Climbs gently along the valley made by the San Andreas Fault and then climbs more steeply in a gorgeous, remote canyon before descending to a rolling run up through Gorman, crossing I-5 near the top of the Grapevine at Tejon summit. Climbs steadily to Lake of the Woods and then explores Lockwood Valley. Beautiful, wide open spaces, tall forests, and long, sinuous downhills, including descending well-known Heartbreak Hill. Home to eagles, condors, bobcats, and cougars. Camp at either Reyes Creek or Camp Scheideck, side-by-side camps (one a forest service camp, the other an old, private resort). Showers, creek access.
Day 3: Reyes Creek to Lake Casitas
58 miles, 4000' up, 6100' down
49 miles, 3300' up, 5400' down
Up and over Pine Mountain summit and down the canyon of Sespe
Creek along scenic Hwy 33..mile after mile of gentle downhill
and glorious scenery. Then a brief climb and more downhill through
ruggedly spectacular Wheeler Gorge. A brief visit to the charming
town of Ojai and an overnight on the shore of the lake. Showers,
lake access.
Day 4: Lake Casitas to Paradise
60 miles, 6700' up, 6400' down
One of the more incredible bike rides you’ll ever do. Start with
climbs over the twin summits of East and West Casitas Passes,
then work your way through the town of Carpenteria and the exclusive,
luxurious retreat of Montecito. Then climb Gibraltor Road to Camino
Cielo: a cliff-hanging, switch-backing, ridge-running adventure
of the highest order. After miles and miles of eye-popping panoramas
over Santa Barbara and the Pacific, you drop down the inland side
of the mountains to the headwaters of the Santa Ynez River. No
showers in camp, but easy access to several wonderful swimming
holes.
Day 5: Paradise to Buellton
44 miles, 1700' up, 2200' down
70 miles, 6000' up, 6500' down
Bonus miles: 12 miles, 500'
The short route is a very simple, very pleasant cruise down out of the mountains, past Lake Cachuma, and around the vineyards and horse ranches of the Santa Ynez Valley. Miles can–and should–be bulked up with the optional out-&-back in Happy Canyon. The long route is a real walk on the wild side: a very steep climb to Figueroa Mtn and then a hair-raising, highly technical descent back into the valley. Riders on both routes can spend some time exploring the faux-Danish village of Solvang before moving on to the overnight at a private resort in Buellton. Showers, swimming pool, spas, and all conveniences.
Day 6: Jalama Beach
73 miles, 1700' up and down
A ride in two parts (or four, if you consider the return trip): a long, nearly level run along the length of the valley of the Santa Ynez River and then an up-and-down hill-fest along Jalama Road, leading out to Jalama Beach, one of the more remote and unvisited spots on the California coast. Expect headwinds and tailwinds in equal measure and some really enjoyable downhills on the far sides of the many moderate climbs in the coastal hills.
Day 7: Canyons Loop #2
59 miles, 3000' up and down
The essential Santa Ynez Valley ride. An exploration of Drum Canyon, Cat Canyon, Foxen Canyon, and Ballard Canyon. Each is special in its own way, and together they make for one of the nicest days of cycling on this or any other tour. A few challenging climbs, but mostly just rolling hills through peaceful, oak studded meadows. Camp again in Buellton or head for home after the ride.
• How hard is it?
This is a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde tour: some of the days are
quite easy and some are very challenging. There are only two days
with longer and shorter options, but they do come at critical
points, with the shortcuts avoiding some serious hill work. Only
the day from Lake Casitas to Paradise presents the moderate rider
with unavoidably steep, difficult climbing.
The tour averages 65 miles and 3900' of climb per day for seven
days (including all optional days and bonus miles). There are
two days of 73 miles. One has a shorter option and the other is
an optional out-&-back, which can of course be shortened as needed
by turning around at any point..or it can be skipped entirely.
Doing the long option over Mt Figueroa and the bonus miles to
Nojoqui Falls will result in a Day 5 of 76 miles, with some really
tough climbs.
• When should you do this tour?
This is a tour that would be wonderful in the Spring, when the
grasses are green and the wildflowers are at their best. But the
mild climate of the region makes it possible to do it almost any
time of the year.
• Accommodations
Campgrounds are generally pleasant, and most have showers and
other amenities. Paradise Camp and Sage Hill Group Camp do not
provide showers, but the swimming holes are great and it’s beautiful.
The modern resort in Buellton is expensive but provides all possible
conveniences.
There is only one overnight on the tour where there is not a motel
near the campground, but that one exception will make it hard
to entirely modify the vacation to lodging overnights.
• Travel..to and from
The Tour begins west of Interstate-5 in the far northwest corner
of Los Angeles County...about five hours south of the Bay Area
on 1-5. It could be reached from Los Angeles via I-5...a drive
of one to three hours, depending on where you start in the metroplex.
The tour ends in Buellton, which is four to five hours south of
the Bay Area on Hwy 101 or two to three hours north of LA on 101.
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