This region is characterized by rolling oak woodland and large vernal pools. The soils are generally firm sand except where erosion has loosened up the surface structure of the sand. This is a good region for the novice cyclist to hone skills. Park off Reservation Rd and enter at the East Garrison Gate or park at the BLM Office and come down Watkins Gate Rd. This area picks up foot traffic from the various Military and CSUMB housing areas.
East Garrison Gate to Barloy Canyon Road via Chapel Hill Rd and Watkins Gate Rd: Paved road access to Fort Ord Public Lands, specifically Watkins Gate Rd.
Length 0.51 miles Green Square Multiuse Road Bi-directional use: almost exclusively Road and Mountain Bicycles with some foot but little horse traffic due to poor parking for horse trailers.
Barloy Canyon Rd: Officially a connector road between East Garrison Area to Laguna Seca. It is paved and hilly and provides good access to the center of all Public Land areas. Used by road bicyclists as a loop with Eucalyptus and Watkins Gate Rd. Little horse or foot traffic due to its isolation for hikers and better and not a route to anywhere horse riders are currently accessing. Bicycle speeds in excess of 40 mph descending to Eucalyptus Rd intersection.
Length 2.20 miles Green Square Multiuse Road Bi-directional use: Road Bicycles>Mountain Bicycles
Hennekin's Ranch Rd: This paved road is a link between Eucalyptus Road and Watkins Gate Road. Bicycles surpass 30 mph descending and it is used both as an access road to the Hennekin's Ranch Area and as part of a loop by Road Bicycle riders.
Length 1.82 miles Green Square Multiuse road Bi-directional Road Bicycle>Mountain Bicycle but little horse or foot traffic because of more appealing alternatives for equestrians and hikers.
Watkins Gate Road: It begins near the BLM Office as a rolling gravel road, transitions to pavement at Hennekin's Ranch Rd and circles the northern perimeter of the Fort Ord Public lands before it ends on an intersection with Barloy Canyon Rd. (A short segment of Watkins Gate Rd. actually descends below Barloy Canyon Rd and ends at the fence marking the perimeter of Fort Ord. There was once a gate onto Reservation Rd at this point but it is now closed and overgrown.) It is best to think of Watkins Gate Rd as two different roads. The section which is gravel receives sparse use: Bicycle>Horse>Foot. The paved section us used by Road bicycles>Mountain bicycles>Foot>Horse. "Lost" civilian automobiles frequent this road and it is used as access to the DCA Flying Club and the Police Academy at East Garrison. Signs are needed at Gigling Rd and Hennekin's Ranch Rd intersections.
Length 3.53 miles Green Square Multiuse road Bi-directional use: Road Bicycle>Mountain Bicycle>Foot>Horse
"Comanche Trail": This single track trail passes Comanche's Grave. Moderate grade. This is a connector trail between Trail 14 and the central part of Hennekin's Ranch Rd Area. Bicycles climb at 6 mph and descend at 15 to 20 mph. Old Bill with his horse "Comanche". Bill and Comanche were a part of most military parades and functions for 23 years until Comanche's death in 1994. Photo and history supplied by Roberto Maceira from Bureau of Land Management
Length 0.34 miles Blue Circle Multiuse trail Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Horse>Foot
Trail 14: Rolling sand road, soft in spots which traverses the the low ridge above Watkins Gate Road. A couple of unmarked trails cross 14 making route finding a challenge until you become familiar with the terrain. It is a bicycle access trail to the central areas of Hennekin's Ranch Road Area It is used by runners from the CSUMB Housing area and the POM Military Housing areas who run loops which often then cross over Watkins Gate Road and into the Army Lands to the north where they run along the "water pipeline" road back toward their respective housing areas. Bicycles average around 15 mph.
Length 1.64 miles Green Square Multiuse road. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse.
Trail 15: Sand road rising from Barloy Canyon Road at an altitude of 200 feet to the hill overlooking Machine Gun Flats at an altitude of 400. Best used downhill by cyclists because of the slope and soft sand. A number of "unofficial" trails branch out to the west. Used primarily as an egress trail by bicycles using the Hennekin's Ranch Rd Area. Descending bicycles approach 20 mph. Ascending bicycles will average 6 to 10 mph.
Length 0.79 miles Blue Circle Multiuse road Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Horse>Foot
Trail 16: High traverse from Barloy Canyon Road to the large vernal pool next to Machine Gun Flats. Be careful not to get lost onto two unmarked trails at the Trail 16/15 intersection. This is a good alternative to trails 14 and 15 for those interested in entering this sector from Barloy Canyon Rd. Descending bicycles approach 20 mph. Ascending bicycles will average 6 to 10 mph.
Length 0.79 miles Blue Circle Multiuse road. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Horse>Foot
Trail 17: Firm sand road which forms a middle traverse of area down slope from 16 & 56. This route generally follows the hill contour and is used as an access to and from trails 19 and 16. Bicycles will average 12 mph.
Length 0.60 miles Blue Circle Multiuse road. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Trail 18: Old weathered paved road which is badly eroded in spots where roadbed became a water channel. Bicycles will average 15 mph.
Length 0.45 miles Green Square Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Trail 19: Very wide sand road now maintained also as a fuel break. Stretches of soft sand in the low spots. Used more as an egress trail from the area. Descending bicycles approach 20 mph. Ascending bicycles will average 6 to 10 mph.
Length 1.25 miles Blue Circle Multiuse road. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Trail 20: Nice firm sand trail which crosses the slope more gently than 19 does. A good alternative to 19 for cyclists. Bicycles will average 15 mph.
Length 0.79 miles Green Square Multiuse road. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Trail 52: Sand road connecting Watkins Gate Rd with trail 20. Note there is a parallel trail to the north east which bypasses the soft sand between Watkins Gate Rd and Trail 14. Though 52 was a sand road during Army use now becoming more "single track" in spots especially as soft sand dips are bypassed. like between Watkins Gate Rd and 14. Bicycles will average 12 mph.
Length 0.61 miles Blue Circle Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Trail 54: Moderate rise as it leaves 14, intersects the "Comanche Trail". It then meets a fork the north of which connects with 52 and 54 continues on as the south fork to meet an unnumbered trail running along the north side of a large vernal pool before 54 crosses 55 and ends on 18. (Note narrative for trail 55.) Bi-directional single track suitable for horse and bicycle. Bicycles will average 15 mph.
Length 0.32 miles Blue Circle Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Trail 55 - Hen: Gently sloped trail along hill contour. Passes south of a large vernal pool. An unnumbered trail passes along the north side of this pool and it links Trail 54 with both 20 and 52 via a fork found midway down the shore of the vernal pool. Bicycles will average 15 mph.
Length 0.39 miles Green Square Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Trail 56 - Hen: Gentle contour trail providing access to central part of area since entrance by vernal pool to the south is still closed by Army. Bicycles will average 15 mph.
Length 0.39 miles Green Square Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Trail 57: Gentle contour single track Good connector between 15 and 16. Bicycles will average 12 mph.
Length 0.34 miles Green Square Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
© Nick Mackenzie 2001-2002
Updated 10/30/06 12:16:18
