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Trail Guide: How to Mountain Bike Gridley Trail in Ojai, CA

ByBecky Timbers

Heading to Ojai? Be sure to check out one of the most iconic trails in California – Gridley Trail. Learn how to ride it, what to expect, trail tips & more!

To be completely honest, I had no idea that Gridley Trail in Ojai was such an iconic California mountain bike trail.

I had landed a housesit basically at the bottom of the trailhead and after a few days of recovering from my TDA Ruta Maya adventure, I decided it was time to hop back on my mountain bike.

Holy moly was I surprised. (In a very good way).

Gridley Trail is everything a mountain bike trail should be: challenging, beautiful, engaging, and fun!

While I typically don’t love out-and-backs, this is one trail I would happily pedal out-and-back for again.

If you find yourself around Ojai, definitely set aside a few hours to check out Gridley. You won’t be disappointed!

Here’s everything you need to know to plan your ride.

Quick Facts

  • Where is Gridley Trail? It’s located up Gridley Road on the north side of town.
  • Where should I park? There is a small parking area and some street parking at the base of Gridley Trail (Google directions here). It can get busy, so you may need to park farther down at the Shelf Road Trailhead.
  • How long is the trail? The full trail is about 12 miles out and back
  • Is there water? Don’t plan for any water along the trail or at the trailhead.
  • Is it well-signed? Not really. I recommend having a mountain bike app downloaded to your phone.
  • What’s the elevation gain/loss? There is about 2,503 ft of elevation gain/loss.
  • How hard is Gridley? The overall grade of Gridley is pretty mellow and manageable. There is a stretch or two that is a bit more technical and may need to be walked. However, it is a 6-mile climb and there is some hefty exposure.
  • How much time do you need? It took me about 2 hours of moving time (2 hrs 20 mins total time) to do Gridley as an out-and-back. I wouldn’t say I was hammering hard, but neither was I dallying. I’d say give yourself at least 3 hours if you plan on going all the way to the top.
  • Are e-bikes allowed? I’m not sure, but probably not
  • What bike should I use? A short-travel or medium-travel mountain bike would be ideal.
Gridley Trail in Ojai California surrounded by beautiful ridges and canyons

Gridley Trail Map

This shows the main Gridley Trail up to Nordhoff Ridge Road. To get to the trail that is highlight below you have two options from the parking area:

  1. Lower Gridley Trail: This section is steep and chunky and not very fun to ride up
  2. Gridley Canyon Road: Pedal up the paved driveway and take a left at the intersection. You’ll see another trail that will link into Gridley Trail. This is the easier and more pleasant option.
Gridley Trail Map in Ojai, California

Why (or why not) ride Gridley Trail?

I had no idea what to expect when I set out to ride Gridley Trail. I know it was one of the more popular mountain bike trails in Ojai, but I had no idea that it was so beautiful and fun!

If you’re wondering what to expect, here are a few highlights and challenges of the trail:

Highlights

  • Epic views around every corner
  • A backcountry feel
  • Manageable grade – it’s never super steep
  • 6-mile descent 🙂

Challenges

  • It can get busy with hikers & equestrians
  • It’s a hefty climb!
  • Very hot in the summer
  • High consequence exposure

How to ride Gridley Trail in Ojai

Riding Gridley Trail is pretty straightforward – it’s a simple out and back. The trail is a solid intermediate blue with some technical sections, but nothing overly difficult.

The biggest thing to note is that there is some pretty significant exposure in places. You do not want to go over the edge. On the climb, the exposure is fine, but on the descent, it’s easy to get going too fast and there are some sharp, tight turns where you could easily go flying into the canyon below.

Gridley Trail Out & Back

Trail Basics

  • Skill level: Intermediate
  • Fitness level: Very good
  • Miles: 12 miles
  • Elevation Gain/loss: 2,503 ft
  • High point: 3,775 ft
  • e-bikes allowed? Not sure
  • Map: TrailForks / MTB Project
Gridley
Ride it for:
  • Epic canyon scenery
  • A backcountry feel
Need to know:
  • There is almost 2,500 ft of climbing in 6 miles
  • Narrow sidehill and tight switchbacks with high consequences
  • Hikers and horseback riders also use this trail

Route directions: Gridley Trail Parking > Lower Gridley Trail OR you can take Gridley Canyon Road which crosses private land, but is allowed by the landowner > Gridley Trail to Nordhoff Ridge Road > turn around and come back down!

Route notes: You may be tempted to turn around before you reach the intersection with Nordhoff Ridge Road, but keep going! It’s worth it to get to the top.

Make longer: It is possible to turn Gridley Trail into a 15-mile/3+K loop by taking a left onto Nordhoff Ridge Road and descending Pratt Downhill. However, this isn’t nearly as fun as riding back down Gridley. I highly recommend doing Gridley as an out-and-back if it’s your first time riding it.

Looking for more great rides in Ojai? Check out my post on the 5 Best Ways to Explore Ojai by Bike.

Mountain bike on Gridley Trail in Ojai with beautiful mountain and canyon views
The climb up Gridley trail is 6 miles and ~2,500 ft. Give yourself at least 3 hours to ride it

What to pack

For a complete list of what to bring, check out my post on what to carry in your mountain bike pack.

Here are a few items to bring specific to the Gridley Trail in Ojai:

  • A hydration pack with 3L of water. This is a big ride with a lot of climbing and there is no water on the trail. Be prepared with plenty of H2O.
  • Tailwind Endurance Fuel: I like to have a water bottle filled with this electrolyte/carb mix, especially on long climbs.
  • A camera or your phone. You’ll want to stop and take photos!
Mountain bike standing up at viewpoint on Gridley Trail in California
Be sure to bring your phone or camera to take pictures – there are tons of photo ops!

I hope this gives you the info and inspiration to check out Gridley Trail next time you’re in Ojai. It was one of the more epic rides I’d done in a while and I hope to return to ride it again in the future. Happy trails!

Read next

Ojai is home to some great biking. Check out these two-wheeled adventures for your next visit to the area:

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Mountain biker riding on Gridley Trail in Ojai, California, surrounded by scenic mountains and lush greenery.
Gridley Trail in Ojai, California
Mountain bike propped up at scenic overlook on Gridley Trail in Ojai

Have you ridden Gridley Trail? What did you think? What questions do you still have? Leave a comment below!

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Becky is the creator and founder of the bike blog Two Wheeled Wanderer. She's been riding bikes and traveling the world since she was a kid and likes nothing more than enjoying some flowy singletrack or embarking on a multi-day bikepacking adventure. When she's not blogging, Becky is a Level 1 PMBIA-certified mountain bike coach and coaches with Ladies AllRide.

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2 Comments

  1. I lived in Ojai for 17 years. Gridley was a mainstay and a great challenge. Yep exposure most of the way. I have stitches and scars to prove it’s glory, but always went back for more. Ran over a rattle snake once going downhill, not by choice. The trail is narrow and I couldn’t help it. Sorry snakey. Miss my SoCal riding. Not too bad in NM though.

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