I hit this trail for the first time today (2/21/10). It rained two days ago but the trail was completely dry. It drains really well.

It's a really interesting trail and takes on multiple personalities: smotth single track, lots of loose rock and very technical through the middle, and technical obstacles down at the bottom.

I rode it with a 5" travel trail bike and 2.1" tires... not ideal. Wider tires would have been a big plus and I think 7-8 inches of travel would be ideal for the middle section which was very technical. Armor would also provide the confidence to take some speed over stuff, making it easier. I walked several sections.

Great views on the way down. Lots of hikers. Bells were available up top.

Customer Service

Up Romero Canyon (single to double track), across the ridge (paved), down Cold Springs, back to the car on Mountain Drive (paved). Took me 4 hours.

Similar Products Used:

Camuesa Connector, Romero, Santa Cruz

OK. Cold Springs East Fork is da bomb! I just did it today with my Kona Stinky and it was really nice. There were no washy places because we just got some rain here in SB. Ride Now! The trail goes back and forth between rocks and hard packed gravel. Up top there is one sweet section where it is all hard packed, really smooth, flowy and fast. As you go down though it becomes rocks and some more rocks. Full Suspension is a must! My friend did it on his hard tail, but he had to walk a few sections. There aren't any really scetchy 200 foot drop off to your right sections unitill you get down to the bottom.

Bottom line: If you live near SB you need to ride Cold Springs.

Customer Service

I got a shuttle up Gibralter Road and then went down. Get picked up somewhere on Cold Springs Road at or after Westmont College.

Similar Products Used:

Cold Springs West fork, San Ysidro, Tunnel, Knapps

Despite what people say in the previous reviews...'Cold Springs' is not for the faint at heart. If you have seen Hypnosis, you will see a certain rider shreading Knapps and Cold Springs. Not to mention another rider BOMBING Tunnel. These trails are proven and tested by many bike companies across the US. Cold Springs combines quick switch back off cambers, very thin off cambers, plenty of rocks and a lot of 'techy' sections if you go FAST. FAST, is the key to really enjoying this trail. Armor would be recommend, along with a bell and yielding to the rich yuppie weekend warrior trail hikers. They are timid and have a ton of power here. We give you guys the same respect when we ride trials like Telonics, Anderson, Ted Whilly, etc. and dont need these trails shut down simply because no one yields to these hikers and say hi.

Make it to the tree and that is where the fun really starts. Smoke a bowl, take in the sights, then get your ass back on the trail for the meat of the trail. This is where most of the rocks and the tech section really starts. Like I said, faster is better. the is a split in the trail about a mile down that will take you either to many tight switch backs and a lot of hikers (left) or to the right wich will take you through a bunch of tech rock gardens with less hikers. either way is fun. If you go to the right, you will encounter the infamous stair section which is cool and highly recommended. Again, wear a bell, the yuppies will hear you coming and you will have more fun.

One last comment. If you cant take the road hits fast.... where you drop your car off and then all the way to the trail head, keep riding the road a few more miles to Romero trail....you dont need to be on this trail.

Similar Products Used:

Knapps Castle, Tunnel, San Ysidro.

Despite what everyone says about 'Cold Springs' in some of the previous reviews, in order to really get the full effect of what this trail has to offer you NEED a 6in or more travel bike....body armor (which is not a bad idea. I dont care who you are or how long ago (in the 80's you rode it on a rigid) you should shuttle it and it is still dangerous if you have never ridden it. If you have seen Hypnosis you will understand that the faster you go the better and knarlier the trail really is. Bike companies around the US test there new stuff here (along with Tunnel) as a great proving ground. As a local, I recommend that you please yield to the rich hikers that enjoy there lame hikes. It wont take that long to say hi, tell them how many people are behind you and for Christ sake, WHERE A BELL, so that the people shreading behind you (hopefully with a bell) can really get the full effect of the ride and the 'Yuppies' can hear you well in advance. Show some respect for the local riders and yourself because we do the same for you when we ride G-Spot, Anderson, Ted Whilly, Telonics, etc.

If you cant flow the road where you park before the trailhead with any grace then keep riding to Romero and enjoy the softer side of SB. I dont care if you rode Whistler, Vermont, etc. this trail is challenging and takes skills to ride it. The first part of the trail is mostly dirt sweeping turns and off camber 1' of trail or less and fewer rocks. As you desend further you will find the trail to be much more fun due to the crazy rock placements. When you get to the tree, take a break, smoke a bowl and chill for a sec to take in the cool view. The second leg of the journey is where it gets fun. Rocks, rocks and more rocks. There is a split where you can go left or right about a mile down from the tree. If you go left you will have more switchbacks and less rocks (along with more hikers) Very fun though. To the right you wil encounter more rocks and water crossings (less hikers) and some crazy steps at the end of the trail to finish you off and then you can calm your nerves.

This combined with Tunnel and San Ysidro (which is in great shape) really makes for a great day. There are ALOT of thin off camber areas that are a ton of fun at high speed so if your not local, yield to hikers, wear a bell and dont be a dick. They will shut the trails down.

Similar Products Used:

Knapps Castle, San Ysidro, Tunnel and 'Old Springs'.

Rode the trail on Saturday 8/12 @ 3pm. Only encountered a few hikers. The trail is in excellent shape and is less technical than Tunnel. Still has plenty of fast flowy singletrack, rocky sections and tight switchbacks at the bottom. We opted for the left fork instead of the right fork (seems to blow better). This was my 1st trip to Cold Springs as we normally ride Tunnel. Cold Springs is a better place to take your friends who have never ridden SB before and also for Intermediate and out of shape riders!

Customer Service

Take the left fork in the middle of the trail (the uphill one).

Similar Products Used:

Knapps Castle
Tunnel

I have not been on this trail since 99. We used to park at the beach and shuttle to the trailhead. It was a 4 to 5.5 hour bad to the bone, not for beginners, I almost got tired of rocks ride I have ever had the pleasure of riding. At the time I had a DBR with 60 MM of spring and elastamere travel and had only been riding for a year. Each time I was there bikes were broken, tacoed rims, ripped off derailures and on and on, along with dislocated fingers. (At least he didn't passout when I popped it back in for him.) I would love to come back with my Yeti 575. I am sure it would be easier and much faster now.

Customer Service

Park at the beach, shuttle up and ride out. You will be spent when you get to the beach.

Similar Products Used:

Gridley

I have not been on this trail since 99. We used to park at the beach and shuttle to the trailhead. It was a 4 to 5.5 hour bad to the bone, not for beginners, I almost got tired of rocks ride I have ever had the pleasure of riding. At the time I had a DBR with 60 MM of spring and elastamere travel and had only been riding for a year. Each time I was there bikes were broken, tacoed rims, ripped off derailures and on and on, along with dislocated fingers. (At least he didn't passout when I popped it back in for him.) I would love to come back with my Yeti 575. I am sure it would be easier and much faster now.

Customer Service

Park at the beach, shuttle up and ride out. You will be spent when you get to the beach.

Similar Products Used:

Gridley

A FINE RIDE. IT IS SO MUCH FUN I ALMOST POOPED MY PANTS. THERE IS A COOL DROP ONTO THE ROAD AT THE END, YOU CAN'T MISS IT.

Customer Service

DOWN OF COURSE.

Similar Products Used:

TUNNEL, TUNNEL, AND TUNNEL.

I've heard a lot of hype on California trails and have to agree there's nothing quite like them although I've ridden many trails throughout the West and my personal opinion is...they're all good. I ended up renting a hard tail from Pro Velo ($40 bucks...ouch!) but it was my birthday. What a present! The downhill and switchbacks were well cut. Cold Springs seemed to be a very short trail and has to be combined with other trails to get a workout. The comfort of my own ride would have been nice. I only brought one water bottle with me so I had to cut my ride short.

Customer Service

I parked the rental car at the trailheads of Romero and Cold Springs although it appears to be frowned upon from reading other reviews; ignorance is bliss but next time I'll just ride up Romero. I rode down Cold Springs to Forbush to Blue Canyon all the way back to the road. From there I rode toward the car but took my first left up a jeep trail to Divide (I think that's what it's called) for an out and back. Great view of the Pacific and town of SB plus it's a fun downhill back to the main road. From there, ride back to the car.

Similar Products Used:

Not my area to recommend...ride them all.

I just rode this trail for the first time - mid sep. early morning. I wasn't too impressed considering how much hipe this run gets. Good flowing single track at the top but this ends quickly just as your getting into good speed. The rocky sections/steps are narrow and so close that your constantaly checking speed to make the next turn after steps... it's just too slow through here, and just tears up your ride. The bottom half showed promise- there's an intersection(unmarked) i went left (after the left on the fire road) and it was pretty good.. but then your lower on the hill and there's plenty of hikers about. The switch back sections are fun for a while then i just want to catch some speed. Maybe it was the fact that i've just come back from riding Whistler - Canada. Fast and plenty of sick jumps/ big drops, i'm still searching for anything worth bragging about in C.A. If anyone doubts this... head North and ride B.C VERY SICK Note.. all the hikers i saw were very friendly, probably to early for the rest.

Customer Service

Shuttle it if your on a DH rig.. otherwise the Romero climb isn't too bad - maybe alittle overgrown at the top.

Similar Products Used:

Gridely.. nice and fast.. climbable on DH and a very good mix of trail, now i just need to add some jumps.