Start up the Mitchell Canyon Fire road. The first section for about a mile is relatively flat. Then you hit some wicked switchbacks that take up very fast to Deer Flat. At Deer flat take a right and follow the trail up to Juniper Camp. This section just prior to Juniper Camp is as hard as it gets. After you ride through Juniper Camp take the paved road up the moutain for about 1 mile. BEFORE you get to the summit you will see an unmarked single track trailhead on the right side of the road, this is North Peak trail. Follow this single track over the rocks and through the hairpin turn (Careful here) and down to a 4 way trail intersection. At this intersection take a left onto prosectors gap trail. It is loose and rocky coming down (my one and only mtn. biking fall happened here in 1994). Follow prospectors gap trail down...Its a scream...stay to the left at the next 2 trail intersections and follow meridian trail back to the Mitchell Canyon Fire road trail. The the Mitchell Canyon Fire road trail back to the trailhead. My best time for this ride is 1 hour 51 minutes. One more thing...Do not ride this in the mid day heat of summer. You will cook.
If anyone is rating this more than 2 stars they must not have ridden outside of the East Bay or they are comfortable illegally poaching single tracks. So this is a nice fire road along a creek for about 2 miles and then literally straight up 2,000 feet across 4 miles on Mitchell and then nearly straight downhill on Meridian. If Meridian had a few features/jumps it could be fun but their is literally a featureless fire road. I do most of my riding at Skeggs and Demo near the Peninsula and Santa Cruz so I guess I am spoiled.
| ThankHard work up, not technical just steep and so dry and dusty traction suffers, it gets hot too, very hot! Ride is fast and long the views are beautiful, only advanced due to fitness levels required!
| ThankMakes my knees hurt, steep, need to do it this year. not good in the wet. Get ther before daybreak and hang out in the canyon for critter watching
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