Arroyo Seco Indians Road, by bicycle

[K Vandevere]

Rode a bike over the AS-Indians Road today (photos at: http://xasauantoday.wordpress.com/2012/ ... ians-road/). It was a great ride on a beautiful day, but things are looking very, very dry. No obstructions except, of course, the slide near Jackhammer that bikes must be carried across (unless you're a trials rider). The slide will need some work before a sane person would be willing to lead stock across it - although I've known some mules that would probably think it was easy. Accumulating rock and vegetation is turning a lot of the road into singletrack ... not that that's a bad thing. Passed a young couple headed toward Arroyo Seco on loaded touring bikes (and judging from the number of tour reports being posted on the web that feature this road, they are hardly alone), so no one should think they need a full-on mountain bike to make the trip.

[brknarrow]

does anyone know if this is passable on horseback???? thanks

[mikesplain]

A great ride indeed- & masterful timing!
It's worth noting that if / when Sam Farr's Big Sur Forest Service Managment Unit Act of 2009 (HR 4040) passes the US Congress,
that beautiful stretch of Arroyo Seco–Indians Road will officially become the Arroyo Seco–Indians National Recreational Trail, a public thoroughfare managed for non-motorized recreation (including, of course, mountain biking.)

[K Vandevere]

Wow .... looks like it was a fantastic trip. Great photos!

[Amy L]

Thanks to all of you for advice. I've finally assembled photos. The captions of the photos form the trip report.
http://amyl.smugmug.com/Bike-Trips/2010 ... 8367_7vkgQ

[LindsayJeffers]

Amy, sounds like a fine ride. I have done a bunch of it, the northern part. You mention taking Highway 25 east of Pinnacles. Be prepared for very little water and surprising hills. If you take Gloria Road over to the Salinas Valley, you will be climbing a lot with no water sources that I can remember, but it is a beautiful route. As an aside, although bikes are not allowed to ride through Pinnacles, the eastern entrance road will take you most of the way to the Balcony Caves trail and there is an easy walk around the caves for horse folk. Not saying walking it with your packs carried on a wheeled support beside you is strictly legal, but I know it can be done <G>. You will have to carry your bike over some water courses and up and over a few rocky sections.

The Arroyo-Seco - Indians road does have some water. There is another recent conversation on this same topic. For someone coming from the north who has to take the dirt backroad to FHL, the turnoff is a few miles from the Indians, a sharp left turn up a small ridge. It is a nice, all-weather road along the eastern side of the valley that was, I think, the only route when I rode it first in 1964.

You should have a great ride. The flowers will be brilliant.

[Betsy M]

I agree, you shouldn't have any trouble on the AS-Indians road itself. I've often seen bicyclists start from Arroyo Seco, ride up the road, and return in the afternoon. You do climb a lot, and there are great views.
But I think the fords on the road through Fort Hunter-Liggett are closed, so you have to do a detour. If you are coming from the Main Gate, do not turn left where it says To Highway 1 (or similar wording) but continue straight. When you get to the driveway to the Mission, veer right, then take the left called Mission Road (I think). It is a long dirt road, but eventually you end up on the paved road and from there just continue straight to the AS-Indians Road.

[Boon]

Now this sounds like an EXCELLENT bike trip! I'm jealous, to say the least. Please let us know how the northern Santa Lucia portion goes when you get back (although I'd sure like to hear about all of it).

My suggestion would be to not worry at all about getting through FHL, just be sure to carry solid personal identification just in case. You'll be coming in from the backside where there's no guard gate, so if for some wierd reason they get moody with you they'll just escort you to the front gate, which is on your way. I also don't think you'll have any serious problems on the Indians/Arroyo Seco road - it was graded for the 2008 fire, and while there may be a new landslide or two it's nothing that'll stop someone on a bike who's determined to get through.

[dish]

i dunno....that is the number i got from a bike club.....and it does climb before Escondido...just not as much...still a fun ride

[mikesplain]

dish wrote- "its a climb of about 4,000 feet from Indians to the summit"

That CAN'T be right!
there's no way that it's more than 2,000'-
the Indians is close to 2,000' elevation
& the climb doesn't really start until beyond Escondido,
which is a bit higher.

However, the climb is much tougher from the gorge side....