While the climbs here are pretty tough, they're definitely manageable to the intermediate rider who chose not to wake n' bake. They'd be even more so if the steepest sections weren't deeply eroded and covered with loose material.

The highlights of the above ride are: the meadow along Canada de Pala just prior to the Line Shack, the view of the South Bay from Antler Point, the view of Mt. Hamilton along Pala Seca, and my wife's sick wipe on Los Huecos. (This trail is pretty trashed. Perhaps Yerba Buena is a viable alternative and does not suck. Anyone?)

The riding here is exhausting because of the repeated steep climbs, but it's non-techical.

I have found that Hall's Valley is the easiest way to climb up to the ridge. It's at least partially shaded too. Spotted my first wild pigs here.

Once up on the ridge, you can go left and do the loop out to the line shack and Antler point. I think counterclockwise is better, having done it both ways. The lower part of this loop is a beautiful little valley of grass, oak trees and flowing water in the Spring. Don't miss it. Also take the side excursion to Antler point. The view is specacular. Good place to sit and eat.

Right from the top of Halls takes you along the ridge. This nice, but not memorable.

Los Heucos is a boring straightline downhill fire road. Yerba Buena is next downhill, haven't taken it.

Cross the road and go through the gates. Here you can head downhill on Canada de Pala if you're already exhausted. However, turn up to the left to take the Bonhof trail. This is one of the prettiest sections of the park. You will have to walk your bike up some of Bonhof, but I think it's worth it.

At the end of Bonhof, you turn right onto Foothill Pine. There is a meadow here and a pond. The first time I rode here, I came up Foothill Pine in the other direction and as I crested the last climb to reach the meadow and I looked up there was Mt Hamilton, straight ahead of me looking like a Starwars matte painting. It made quite an impression on me. The ride down Foothill Pine is a roller coaster ending in a 100 yd long creekbed/road/rock garden.

When you climb up from the creek, you're at Eagle Lake (pond really). I always sit here and watch the birds for a while. You have to climb through barbed wire to get to the bench, go figure.

3 mile downhill back to the parking lot on Hotel. There ARE hikers on the Hotel, even on a weekday. They are easy to see, so SLOW DOWN until you pass them. I want to keep riding here.

If you still have it in you, go up Corral, San Felipe, Brush and Dutch Flat trails to the Ridge trail and make the full circuit of the park. I've never made it all the way around. Good luck.

i guess we added in canada de, bonhoff and foothill pine, three fire roads (i won't call these fire roads "trails") and mesp don't use. now imagine having not ridden a bike in two months--after having been in nearly race-ready shape before the accident that put you out for two months--and being subjected to this death march at race pace on a hot day, all the time wearing a long sleeved wool jersey.

oh, the horror of it all. i am going to stomp my riding partners like bugs once i resume my full on training program which now includes trail running.

like bugs, goddamit!

going down the hotel trail for twice the distance that barger gives you in one of his races is a blast though, ain't it? it's not hard for me to see how the reviewer on a full on rigid bike does it--and i'd readily accept claims of speeds reaching up into the high forties, maybe, just maybe even the low fifties, depending on who was bragging about attaining those velocities.

regardless, grant ranch still does'nt particularly give me too many thrills, since we have el corte madera so near to us in Sodom of the North, and china camp--not to mention the marin headlands, which i can ride to from my house and is pretty much the same as grant ranch, except for the fact that the headlands has a treasure trove of singletrack trails which can be carefully poached by expereinced riders.

none of you read that sentence now, did you?

all in all, i have to reiterate that i'd only ride joe grant's old stomping grounds again if i were racing here again. as a matter of fact, the only reason we were down there is that big john's paid for the race already and wants to re familiarize himself with the course.

GOOD LORD, was the 1999 race here a MUD FEST!!! my chain is still hanging from a fence post out there. i thought i was going to be sucked into the center of the earth by the mud. i'd only race here based on what i've seen unless a local showed me better.

If you haven’t been here before, check it out. It offers great open scenery with sweeping views of the South Bay from the top, with the Lick Observatory easily within sight. Joseph D. Grant has few people, good groomed dirt roads, plenty of steep, and picturesque CA atmosphere with open rolling hills and big oak trees.

Some interesting links about Joseph D. Grant county park and riding:

http://www.parkhere.org/activity/trailmul.htm

http://www.parkhere.org/prkpages/grant.htm

http://www.calphoto.com/grant.htm

I haven't ridden the trails since they opened up some additional singletrack.