Verdugo Mountain Bike Ride

The Verdugo Mountains is a thin slither of mountains in the Northeast of the San Fernando Valley. The highest ridge is about 3100 feet. There are many fireroads leading to the summit. This ride takes the easiest one called Hosteller Fireroad which is a 1400 foot climb in 3.4 miles. The start of the ride is reached by taking the 118 freeway and exiting at la Tuna Canyon. The entrance is visable from the freeway and so there is no problem finding it. Once on top follow Verdugo Motorway along the ridge top descending about 700 feet to the last mountain ridge. Enjoy the fabulous views of the front range of the San gabriels with Mt. Lukens with its communication towers directly to your north peaking at 5000 ft, Mt. Wilson farther to the east and to the south east and west downtown LA , the entire San Fernando valley, Santa Monica mountain range, Palos Verdes, the Pacific Ocean with Catalina islands out 20 miles. On a clear day you have a total of over 150 miles of visability. For example on the pictures you see two snow capped mountains. The one on your left is San Gorgonio and the one on your right is San Janito, adjacent to Palm Springs, both about 10800 feet high. Looking in the other direction you can see the entire Santa Monica Mountains the farthest west being in Newbury Park. As you proceed on Verdugo motorway you will see all the different fireroads leading up on both sides of the mountain. Once you reach the last peak just retrace your route and go past Hosteller for about .75 miles and take a left turn up to a vantage point. You will notice what was once a beautiful pine forest that was just about completely destroyed in a fire I think in 2005. Retrace your steps and enjoy the great downhill.