RR: Calabasas Crest/Grasslands

[Collette]

Fiance was up in NorCal, so I called up a school chum and we hit up a Calabasas trail that I'd seen while driving to & from School.

You can access Calabasas Crest/Grasslands in three different spots, but the Bark Park Dog Park entrance is the most accessible, as the other two have zero parking within maybe a mile of the trailheads. The first mile or so is all uphill with multiple, supertight switchbacks. I contemplated quitting after maybe 45 minutes of steep, loose climbing and constant unclipping, but Holly, my friend, willed me to the top of the next switchback. BTW, this trail is 100% singletrack, right from the trailhead. Anyways, as I knock out yet another steep section, it hits me; tight, rolling, flowy singletrack as far as I could see, almost all of it hugging the steep hillside. We felt miles from civilization, save for the occaisional McMansion that came into view. The singletrack was truelly excellent. True singletrack, with near-vertical embankment on one side, and near-vertical drops on the other. Caught myself staring out into the view a few times, but as they say, you ride where you look, so I quickly turned my attention back to the trail. A couple stream crossings, some more long, drawn-out, but easy climbs and I'm at one of the other trailheads. Getting here was 80% uphill, so you know how the trip back was.

In n' Out washed down with a Bass capped the day perfectly.

[Nagaredama]

Where is the trail head for that ride?

[Collette]

101-N, off at Las Virgines Rd, hang a left, continue on Las Virgenes Rd past Agoura Rd. The Dog Park will be on your left hand side.

[epicriderat]

That is one of my new favorite rides, nice pictures. although I have ridden it in both directions, I prefer the reverse direction. I think it gives a better DH flow and at the end you can opt to throw in the Las Virgenes connector trail and come back across the grasslands trail to DeAnza park. Let me know next time you head out there, I'm in Newbury Park.