This is the third most used area of Fort Ord Public Lands. It also hosts some of the special mountain bicycle events which are staged out of Laguna Seca through out the year such as the Sea Otter Classic and 24 Hours of Adrenalin. It is also hosts the sheep during the spring and early summer months. Runners and cyclists climb Guidotti or enter from Laguna Seca to access Trail 47, the most famous segment of the bicycle races mentioned. This area is the entry point for most equestrian use because of the excellent trail system and parking.
Guidotti Rd - "Barnett's": Climbs from 190 to 800 feet with two dips so that the total vertical ascent is about 630 feet. Two steep pitches which some riders may walk. Rutted in some spots during winter and two sections of soft sand in summer. Cyclists on descent approach the small trail crests with caution because they can mask horses ascending the trail. Cyclists can attain speeds in excess of 30 mph descending the clear portions of this trail. Ascending cyclists will average 4 to 5 mph. Use is still sparse and you will meet another user less than 20% of the time.
Length 1.91 miles Black Diamond Multiuse road. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Oil Well Rd - "The White Road": (See notes for Skyline): The road presents a gentle grade with a couple of moderate sections rising from an altitude of 80 feet to 670 feet. Cyclists on descent watch your speed on the turn down slope from the Trail 10 intersection to avoid drifting over the edge and off the road. Cyclists can attain speeds in excess of 30 mph on the straight sections. Ascending bicycles average 6 mph. This road is used as the principal access to Skyline Rd from Toro Creek Rd and as such receives over twice the use as Guidotti for this purpose.
Length 3.36 miles Green Square Multiuse road. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Skyline Rd -"The White Road": This road also presents a gentle grade with a couple of moderate sections. It rises from 200 feet to crests at an altitude of 910 feet. Some soft sand to watch out for on a fast descent between Guidotti Rd and Oil Well Rd especially just before Skyline Rd meets Oil Well Rd. In the winter the road gets soft as you near the "Dam" link to Pilarcitos Canyon Rd and cyclists at speed can get a real surprise if they catch air on the second and third "bumps" below where Trail 44 enters. Cyclists attain speeds in excess of 30 mph. Ascending bicycles average 6 mph. (Historical note: "The White Road" is actually a combination of Oil Well Rd from where it departs from Jacks Road and Skyline Rd from its intersection with Oil Well to the Laguna Seca Gate. This route is called "The White Road" by locals because the Army resurfaced it each year with white gravel. As the years go by, those white stones are being knocked off the road and pressed into the road bed so the distinctive color is disappearing,
Length 3.61 miles Blue Circle Multiuse road. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Toro Creek Rd: Mostly firm sand and gravel road bed. The Toro Creek crossing is soft decomposed granite. Cyclists, be careful when crossing creek from east to west as front wheel can dig into soft sand causing you to flip. The section between Oil Well Rd and Jacks Rd is a good location for viewing Red Tail Hawks hunting snakes during late Spring afternoons. Many residents from the subdivisions along Toro Creek walk and cycle along this trail. Many joggers run a loop around Toro Park Estates and Toro Creek Road is part of that loop. Bicycle speeds average 15 mph.
Length 1.89 miles Green Square Multiuse road. Bi-directional use: Foot>Bicycle>Horse
Toro Estates Gate Rd: This sand road links Toro Creek Rd with the Toro Estates Gate.
Length is 0.08 miles Green Square Multiuse road. Bi-directional use: Foot> Bicycle>Horse
Trail 10: Ridge sand road with section known as "the three sisters", three short peaks with moderate to steep pitches that some riders may prefer to walk Good road bed of firm sand. This ridge offers a nice view of Mt. Toro to the east, Freemont Peak to the north east and Pilarcitos Canyon and Look Out Ridge to the north. Most use of this trail is from east to west. Trail 10 is a destination trail because of the "three sisters" and it is also a prime connector trail because it provides access from Jacks Rd to the popular 41, 42, 43 and 44 trails. Bicycle speeds max out at over 20 mph on the descending slopes and drop to 4 mph on ascent.
Length 1.45 miles Blue Circle Multiuse road. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Trail 41 - "Goat Trail": Exciting single track which leaves Trail 10 at an altitude of around 450 feet and ends on Oil Well Rd at an altitude of 110 feet. Upper half is on the contour followed by a short steep climb then a winding descent along the north "side hill" through trees to valley below. Note the connector from 41 to Jacks Rd is about 0.03 miles. Usually ridden by bicycles from Trail 10 to Toro Creek Rd. Bicycles exceed 20 mph in stretches.
Length 2.53 miles Blue Circle Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Trail 42 - "Red rock Ridge": Single track technical trail, 1 to 2 foot drop-offs, gullies, channels. Most riders will have to walk some sections on descent and most sections on ascent. The top of 42 is at an altitude of about 520 feet and the trail bottoms out at an altitude of 210 feet. Bicycles only descend this trail. Conditions limiting speed and good visibility except for a few turns in the brush reduce bicycle collision hazard.
Length 0.66 miles Double Black Diamond Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Trail 43 - "Ewok": Single track moderate slope with no technical sections. Mostly shaded by oak trees. May be easily ridden as an ascent or a descent. Must use is descending so be cautious of surprising folks if ascending during the weekend or late on weekday afternoons. Descending riders might want to make some noise to give ascending riders notice. On descent, be careful of the first major right turn just above the fence because folks tend to slide down into the fence. On ascent you will gain 220 feet. The base of this trail is at about 250 feet and it crests out at about 470 ft. Descending bicycles average over 15 mph and ascending average 6-8 mph.
Length 0.61 miles Blue Circle Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Trail 44 - "Toilet" & "Outhouse": Single track. Each direction has a moderate upslope followed by a moderate down slope. Some riders may have to walk these short climbs. The trail leaves Trail 10 at an altitude of 470, rises to about 600 feet and then gently descends to Skyline Rd at an altitude of 560 feet. Bicycle speeds average 10 mph.
Length 0.71 miles Blue Circle Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Trail 45: Ridge single track connecting Toro Creek Rd to the middle section of Oil Well Rd. Moderate grade, descent is more fun than the ascent but both can be negotiated. Trail 45 leaves Oil Well Rd at an altitude of about 340 and ends on Toro Creek Rd at an altitude of about 180 feet. Bicycles descend at speeds in excess of 20 mph and ascend at around 4 mph.
Length 0.79 miles Blue Circle Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Trail 46: This gentle trail on the contour connects 45 to Toro Creek Rd just below TCR's intersection with Oil Well Rd. Bicycles speeds average 15 mph.
Length 0.18 miles Green Square Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Trail 47 - "Couch Canyon": Challenging single track trail, best done "counter-clockwise" as it is in the Sea otter Classic. Descent can be ridden by most riders with care. Ascents are easy to moderate. This loop is a good technical exercise as speed is increased and a good workout at any speed. From a height of around 850 feet, it descends to 500 feet before cresting a ridge at 650 feet, descending to 500 feet, cresting another ridge at 650, descending again to 560 feet before toping out at 810 feet and joining Guidotti Rd. Bicycle speeds are 15 to 20 mph on descent and 4 to 10 mph on ascent.
Length 4.96 miles Black Diamond Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
Trail 48: Essentially flat trail along a ridge top which shortcuts 47 and eliminates a descent to 500 feet and keeps the rider near 650 feet. Bi-directional. Bicycle speeds average 15 mph.
Length 0.14 miles Green Square Multiuse trail. Bi-directional use: Bicycle>Foot>Horse
© Nick Mackenzie 2001-2002
Updated 10/30/06 12:16:18
