Backbone Trail / Castor Crest

This is a lollipop-shaped route where the sucker is a lot bigger than the stick, but every part is worth devouring. Much of this ride takes place on the Backbone Trail, a path that snakes across the spine of the Santa Monica Mountains and is mostly closed to bikes. Irresponsible riding could close this section as well, which would be a shame since it offers a great deal of fun, easily accessible singletrack. From the Latigo Canyon Road parking area, the downhill begins almost immediately as the trail plunges south of Castro Peak before climbing back up to Newton Motorway. After crossing the motorway, an especially scenic but rocky singletrack falls into a canyon shaped by the west fork of Solstice Creek. this loose sandstone section can be dauntingly slick.