Note:  You must register in advance for this ride- registration closes at noon on Thursday before the ride.  There is no late registration or day-of-event registration. You must be a member of both RUSA and PCH Randonneurs to register.

The ride starts in the Santa Clarita Valley and traverses through Valencia and Newhall along bike trails and surface streets to Sierra Highway.  It then climbs up along the original route of what was known in the 1860s as Beale's Cut Stagecoach Pass (Beale's Cut was a narrow channel cut through the pass where tolls were charged to travel to and from the San Fernando Valley.  Beale's Cut still exists but is difficult to see from Sierra Highway.)  The route then travels across the top of the San Fernando Valley and over the beautiful Santa Susana Pass, and then down and across Simi Valley to Moorpark.  Climbing up Grimes Canyon Road to cross the Santa Susana Mountains, there is a fast and winding descent into the Heritage Valley.  The route then travels down the valley to Santa Paula, where it turns up Highway 150 into the Topatopa Mountains and down the long descent to the Dennison Grade and on down into the Ojai Valley.  Heading west over the double bumps the route descends to Carpenteria.  Following the coast south to Oxnard, the route turns inland across Rancho Las Posas and through the Las Posas Hills back to Moorpark, where it again crosses the Santa Susana Mountains.  The return to Santa Clarita follows Guiberson Road to Piru along the northern edge of the Santa Susanas, then along Highway 126 (where the shoulder has been designated and painted as a bike route.)  Following a few miles of streets and trails the route ends back in Valencia.  There are beautiful views of rock formations in the Santa Monica Mountains, and of the Heritage Valley, the Ojai Valley, and Lake Casitas along the route, as well as an opportunity to see the sunset over the Pacific from our namesake highway.

There are several moderate climbs on this route, but for most part they are 6% or less with occasional short sections at 7--8%. Services are available along the route, but at least two water bottles are recommended due to the dry, and often windy and hot, conditions that may be encountered, particularly on the climb from Moorpark, and between Ojai and Carpenteria.

The ride starts at Bridgeport Park in Valencia, and ends at the ride leader's house a short distance from the start, where there will be food and drinks available around a backyard fire pit.  Limited parking is available in the parking lot at the start, and also to the east of the park along Bridgeport Lane and Parkwood Lane.

All participants are required to have working front and rear lights on their bicycles and meet the reflectivity guidelines as required by Article 10 of the RUSA Rules for Riders.  An inspection will be conducted to ensure compliance for your safety during the ride.