24-Hour Bikepacking Within Reach of Los Angeles

A world of adventure awaits just miles from downtown, if you know where to look... and own a bikepacking setup

24-Hour Bikepacking Within Reach of Los Angeles

Author

Guest Contributor

Photographer

Jordan Haggard Clark

Camera

Sony a7 II

Film

NA

Jordan Clark Haggard is a Los Angeles-based photographer and avid cyclist. Follow him on Instagram

The hills around the Los Angeles Basin have transformed from a dry-dead brown to a vibrant rainbow after a very wet winter. In addition to bringing life back after seven years of drought, the rain has washed everything clean and created the most excellent tacky trail conditions. With the green in our eyes and the weekend upon us a few friends and I knew we should take a break from the city and make our way into the mountains.  

After much debate on route and itinerary it was decided we would ride Backbone Trail to its end, descend down to the beach and lay our heads in the dirt at Leo Carrillo State Park

Jordan-Clark-Haggard-LA-escape-2

"Even in Los Angeles, given just 24 hours, there’s plenty of adventure to be found within arms reach."

Jordan-Clark-Haggard-LA-escape-25

At 3pm on a Saturday afternoon we loaded our bikes with camping gear and drove north to the trailhead. After 20 miles of winding single track we reached the end of Backbone as the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. After a moment of soaking in the view we charged six miles down Yerba Buena Rd. to the Pacific Coast Highway and then a mile and half south, to the entrance of Leo Carrillo in the dark.

After paying our $10 per cyclist due we made our way to the designated Hike In/Bike In Campsite. We dropped two bundles of firewood near the pit and a six pack of beer on the picnic table only to discover there was already someone occupying the site.

Jordan-Clark-Haggard-LA-escape-17

Jordan-Clark-Haggard-LA-escape-12
Jordan-Clark-Haggard-LA-escape-10

Jordan-Clark-Haggard-LA-escape-8
Jordan-Clark-Haggard-LA-escape-3

Luckily, as I peered through the dark I saw a friend from Santa Cruz Bicycles, Ian Stowe, was standing just a few feet away. Turns out Ian was on the first leg of a week long surf/bike trip down the coast of California. The three of us were thrilled to talk to Ian about the 70 miles of riding and two hours of surfing he had done earlier that day. 

As the clock neared midnight we all crawled into our sleeping bags. Seven hours later we woke, drank some coffee, repacked the bikes, said good bye to Ian, and worked our way back to where we had started. Even in L.A., given just 24 hours, there’s plenty of adventure to be found within arms reach.

Jordan-Clark-Haggard-LA-escape-22

Jordan-Clark-Haggard-LA-escape-26
Jordan-Clark-Haggard-LA-escape-21
Jordan-Clark-Haggard-LA-escape-1
Jordan-Clark-Haggard-LA-escape-24
Jordan-Clark-Haggard-LA-escape-19
Jordan-Clark-Haggard-LA-escape-15
Jordan-Clark-Haggard-LA-escape-14
Jordan-Clark-Haggard-LA-escape-13
Related articles
Battling Wind, Rain & Ego While Bikepacking Through Iceland's Westfjords
Battling Wind, Rain & Ego While Bikepacking Through Iceland's Westfjords

Four friends pedal 650 miles around a rugged, rain-soaked island to discover epic vistas and the pains of overconfidence in an unforgiving landscape

How Biking From Brooklyn to Boston Helped Me Find Joy Through Pain
How Biking from Brooklyn to Boston Helped Me Find Joy Through Pain

Reflecting on a 290-mile impromptu bikepacking trip where themes discomfort, kindness, and acceptance prevailed (alongside good food)

Rapha's New Photo Book Goes Inside Lachlan Morton's Alt Tour de France
New Photo Book Goes Inside Pro Cyclist Lachlan Morton's Epic Alt Tour de France

The inside story on how, instead of riding with the rest of the pros, Lachlan Morton bikepacked the entire 2021 Tour route by himself

Specialized & Fjällräven Collab on Gear for Everyday Bike Adventures
Specialized x Fjällräven's Gear and Apparel for Cycling Adventures Near and Far

The Californian and Swedish brands are building a collection for everyday two-wheel adventures they call “The Great Nearby”

Specialized's Turbo Creo Electric Lineup Makes Adventure More Accessible
Go Further, Faster, and With Less Effort With Specialized's Turbo Creo E-bikes

With power to assist up to 120 miles, the innovative Turbo Creo SL & Turbo Creo SL EVO e-road bikes help you go farther, faster, and have more fun in the process

Snow Peak x Rapha, Adventure Cycling's Most Minimal Collaboration
Snow Peak and Rapha Release Adventure Cycling's Most Minimal Collaboration

Two leading outfitters come together for one three-piece titanium collection geared at bikepacking, or just every day use

More articles
24-Hour Bikepacking Within Reach of Los Angeles

Gallery Mode

Photographer

Jordan Haggard Clark

Camera

Sony a7 II

Film

NA

Back to article