This trail is easy technical and moderate aerobic. The trail begins by winding through the majestic Redwood forest. The road quickly turns to gravel and then to dirt. You will pass Middle Ridge road on your right ignore this and continue on Gazos Creek fire road, ignore all single track as none of it is legal. Continue riding down Gazos Creek keeping your speed in check as this road often contains fallen trees and landslides. Around the three mile mark the trail is blocked by a landslide containing trees and boulders, ride as many of these obstacles as your skills allow. You will pass a small creek on your right and then the trial cuts back to the left and begins to climb up and down to the crossroads. At the crossroads Gazos Creek, White Canyon and Johansen roads intersect. Turn right at the private residence and then turn right again in less than .1mi onto Johansen Road heading towards North China Grade. The road continues to climb up above the residence as it places you onto the toughest climbing sections of the trial. You will continue to climb up and be afforded beautiful views of the forest. Continue through a gate until you reach Middle Ridge Road around 9 miles from the trail head. Turn right on Middle Ridge and get ready for some fast downhill. Follow this for 2.7 miles to Gazos Creek turn left and head back to your car.
This was the first trail I found on this site... let me say this... it was quite the adventure. Let me start by saying this is NOT in Saratoga but in Big Basin State Park in Boulder Creek. There are some pretty challenging climbs and some really ridiculously cool downhills... however that wasn't what we really were intending for the trip.
Somewhere at the top there's a residence with a train car and some large teepees. We hooked back around as we interpreted the directions to say and ended up at a paved road. We followed this ~ 5.5 to 6 miles and ended up at Cabrillo (Hwy1). Thank GOD we ran into Ben and Jamie @ Gazos Grill. They were closed but helped us out with beers and a phone (read: no cell reception). We can across this hardcore local dude named Michael who turned us onto the grill and nearby hostel.
Overall not what we intended and took a lot longer but was a fun adventure nonetheless
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