Santa Lucia Ranger District OHV Trails
General Information
The Santa Lucia Ranger District's Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) area offers 102 miles of system trails and roads through beautiful scenery and challenging terrain. The Ranger District is not an OHV park. OHV recreation is just one of the many uses allowed on National Forest lands. This guide is designed to provide the OHV enthusiast with information, regulations and travel tips while using National Forest system lands.
The Santa Lucia Ranger District encompasses portions of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. The 590,000 acre District includes several high elevation areas and a wide range of climatic and vegetation zones, from oak grass woodlands to pine covered mountaintops.
The riding area varies in elevation from 600 feet near the Rock Front area to 6,828 feet in the Pozo/La Panza area with trails ranging in degree of difficulty from novice to advanced. Vegetation in this region varies from annual grasses, mixed chaparral, oak-covered canyons to mixed conifer forests, primarily of Ponderosa pines.
The OHV opportunities on the Santa Lucia District are considered to be some of the best in San Luis and Santa Barbara counties. The Pozo/La Panza area is located on the north side of the District. This 18,867-acre area has approximately 44.5 miles of routes that vary from sandy washes to a ridgeline route including a section known to expert riders as the Stair Steps. It has 300-foot drop-off within a few feet of the steps.
The Rock Front area is located in the center of the Ranger District. This 15,328-acre area provides 41 miles of 4x4 trails that vary from rock-covered canyons to ridgeline trails with outstanding vistas of the Cuyama Valley.
Another 16.7 miles of OHV trails and routes are located in the northern part of Santa Barbara County on Buckhorn Ridge. This network of trails provides many opportunities to make loops of varying difficulty. The Catway OHV route located on Figueroa Mountain is 2.5 miles in length.
An OHV is a registered, non-street legal vehicle. The USDA Forest Service, in cooperation with the State of California Off-Highway Vehicle Fund, has developed trails, roads, and facilities for further enjoyment for the OHV user. Remember, these are your facilities and OHV funds are used to develop and maintain them. The OHV rider/ driver must assume responsibility for proper registration and vehicle use.
Springs, lakes, ponds and streams may look inviting and harmless, but the water they contain may not be safe for drinking. Treat all water for drinking and cooking by either processing through a portable water filter or by boiling for five minutes. Wide selections of water filters are available at sporting goods stores.
Name/ Miles below/ then DescriptionPozo/La Panza OHV Area Trails
1.
Powerline Road
2
Starting at the Turkey Flat Staging Area, this trail follows a sandy riverbed
for the first mile. The last section climbs gradually up to an intersection with
the Howard's Hill Bypass Trail.
2.
Howard's Bypass
3
Connects with the Powerline Road and Black Mountain. This trail is designed for
motorcycles only. It is narrow and steep and should be ridden by intermediate to
advanced riders. The trail dead-ends at the Black Mountain Road for all riders,
with the exception of street legal motorcycles. All OHV licensed motorcycles are
prohibited on Black Mountain Road.
3.
La Canada Trail
0.7
This creek-bottom trail is a pleasurable ride located in a small canyon and is
relatively flat. This trail is best suited for motorcycles.
4.
Tower Route
2
This trail begins at the Turkey Flat Staging Area, parallels the Navajo Road and
intersects with the Las Chiches Trail. The trail is suited for intermediate to
advanced riders and provides the rider with some challenging sections. Riders
must use this trail, since OHV green/red stickered licensed vehicles are
prohibited on Navajo Road.
5.
Las Chiches
6.5
From the intersection of Five Points, this trail has several steep sections that
are best suited for intermediate to advanced riders. This route mostly follows
ridge tops and provides the rider with some outstanding vistas of the valleys
below. This trail also ties in with Pine Mountain Route and the Burnout Trail.
6.
Las Chiches Cutoff
0.5
A connector route from Pozo Summit Road to Las Chiches Trail.
8.
Pine Mountain Road
7
This trail is open to all OHV riders, but is best suited for the intermediate
and advanced skill levels. The trail borders the Machesna Wilderness and
contains one black diamond section called the Stair Steps. This route offers
some outstanding vistas of the valleys below and distant Machesna Wilderness.
9.
Queen Bee
1.5
This trail begins and ends at Queen Bee Road and is best suited for intermediate
riders.
10.
Burnout
10
This lengthy trail offers a wide variety of trail experiences for the
intermediate and advanced rider. It traverses over ridge tops with nice vistas
as well as oak and grass covered valleys. It also connects with Mare Spring
Trail, La Panza Bypass, Red Hill Road and Navajo Road. Only street legal
motorcycles are allowed on the Red Hill and Navajo Roads.
10a.
La Panza Bypass
1.5
This trail is an easy trail for intermediate and advanced riders and goes from
Queen Bee Summit to the Burnout Trail.
11.
Benchmark Road
1
This trail is a level easygoing route. It dead-ends for 4x4s where it intersects
with the Mare Springs trail.
12.
Quail
1
Quail Road can only be accessed from Fernandez Rod. Only street legal vehicles
can access this route. This short route leaves Fernandez Road and dead-ends on
the ridge top.
15.
Navajo Bypass
1.5
Navajo Bypass starts on the Friis Road and ends at the Navajo Road. This trail
is best suited for intermediate riders due to two steep sections in the middle
of the trail. Since this trail ends on the Navajo Road, the section of the road
that connects to the McGinnis Creek is legal for all motorcycles and quad
runners. The remainder of the Navajo Road is for street legal vehicles only.
17.
McGinnis Creek
1.2
This trail runs parallel to the creek and is level with no steep sections making
it ideal for beginners. Since this trail ends on Navajo Road, the section of the
road that connects to the Navajo Bypass is legal for all motorcycles and quad
runners. The remainder of the Navajo Road is for street legal vehicles only.
18.
Garcia Ridge
4
This ridge top route starts at the Hi Mountain and Pozo/Arroyo Grande Road and
dead ends at the Garcia Wilderness boundary. This intermediate route is open to
all OHV riders.
36.
Mare Spring
3.5
This is an excellent trail for the intermediate to advanced rider. The trail
connects to the Burnout Trail on both ends and provides for a challenging and
scenic ride.
Rock Front OHV Trails
19.
Escondido
Currently closed due to private property issues.
19a.
Escondido
Currently closed due to private property issues.
20.
Chamise
Currently closed due to private property issues.
21.
Alamo
Currently closed due to private property issues.
22.
Shaw Ridge
4
This route leaves the Twin Rocks Route on a spur ridge that drops into the Alamo
Creek drainage. It is a dead-end trail. A very steep section of trail exists at
the end of this route and specialized equipment is recommended. This section is
recommended for advanced riders.
25.
Los Machos
2
This route is a good route for beginning riders. It is located on the main ridge
top of the Los Machos Hills. The route dead-ends at a locked gate.
26.
Paradise
2
This route provides access to Paradise Campground and Los Machos Route. It is
best suited for intermediate riders due to a steep section along the route. The
route des-ends at a locked gate. Turn around and go back to the starting point.
27.
Branch Creek
4
This route provides access to Buck Spring Campground parallels the Big Rock
route and offers a loop ride.
28.
Big Rocks Road
4
This trail is primarily used by 4x4s and ATVs. It is located on a main ridge top
and intersects with both the Jack Spring and Branch Creek routes.
Jack Spring
1
This trail is accessible from the Big Rocks and Branch Creek routes and is well
suited for intermediate riders. Some steep sections exist along this route
making it a challenge for the best intermediate riders.
Twin Rocks
5
This route intersects Shaw Ridge and dead-ends at a locked gate. The first
half-mile of this trail is steep. Once on top of the ridge you have an excellent
view of the Cuyama Valley and the Santa Lucia Range.
31.
Kerry Canyon
6
This trail must be accessed through Colson Canyon or Sierra Madre. The trail is
highly technical and is recommended for advanced motorcycle riders only.
Buckhorn Ridge OHV Trails
32.
Buckhorn Ridge
4
This route stays mostly on a ridge top; it is narrow and has rock in some spots.
this route intersects both Horseshoe Spring Spur and Bear Canyon Loop trail.
33.
Horseshoe Spring Spur
1.5
This trail begins at Horseshoe Campground and intersects the Buckhorn Ridge
route. This is a good trail for intermediate motorcycle riders.
34.
Bear Canyon Loop
6.5
This steep narrow trail leaves the Buckhorn Ridge route and drops down into Bear
Camp where it connects to the Bear Canyon trail, connecting back to Buckhorn
Ridge route. This trail is for the most advanced motorcycle riders.
37.
Madre
1
This is a short, easy to moderate 4x4 route that leaves Sierra Madre Ridge Road
and dead-ends on the ridge top.
Figueroa Mountain OHV Trail
35.
Catway
2.5
This old road drops from the Catway Road to Davey Brown Campground.
