Bouquet Canyon to Lake Castaic

This page is in progress - I don't have very many photos yet (I keep forgetting to stop & take pictures <GRIN>)....

This ride is quite short (once you get out of LA), but it can be a beginning of a longer ride (see my "Ojai via The Grapevine, Lockwood Valley and Route 33" page). The road varies from tight and twisty to big sweepers and straight-aways. There are a couple of cool places to stop for refreshments/bench racing, and the scenery is great as you head towards Lake Castaic.

Directions:

Get to Accessories Unlimited (24508 Lyons Ave., Newhall, CA 91321 (805) 255-6522)
There's often a bunch of full-dressers there in the AM - I haven't asked what their club is... After checking out their stuff (there's lots...), get back on Lyons Ave. (turn right) and continue 'till you get to the end. Turn left onto San Fernando Road. Just stay on this road - it will turn into Bouquet Canyon Road at Bouquet Junction (trippy!..).

A few miles later, you can stop here:

Big Oaks Lodge, 33101 N. Bouquet Canyon, Saugus, 805.296.5656

Don't forget to get a burger or something, as the cook/server is a really cool english-type lady that's quite a character! In summer, there's sometimes a live band playing too. Here's a link to a map to help you get there.

After this stop, continue up Bouquet Canyon, past Bouquet Reservoir, and turn left onto Spunky Canyon Rd. (yes, the road's "spunky" - watch for dirt on the apexes!).

Spunky Canyon

When you get to the end, bear right onto San Francisquito Canyon road, then, after a couple of miles, turn left onto Elizabeth Lake road.
 

A few miles later, after passing Elizabeth Lake, there's the Rock Inn (not to be confused with the Rock Store). This used to be owned by a Hollywood actor - there used to be a description on the back of their menu, but they all got stolen! Their beer selection is quite good, as is their jukebox.

(When I take one, there will be a photo here)
Rock Inn, Elizabeth Lake

After you leave the Rock Inn, continue about 1/2 a mile down Elizabeth Lake road to Lake Hughes, and turn left onto Lake Hughes Road

(When I take them, there will be at least one photo of this road here!)
Lake Castaic (you can see the road on the left side of the hill in the background)

Lake Castaic is the location of the annual Love Ride to benefit MDA, and the photo above is about where the stage is every year.

Here's the Love Ride 13 stage - Crosby, Stills & Nash were playing
(I haven't scanned the last few years yet!)

This road will take you 'round the back of Castaic Lake (check out the boats way down below on your right!) to the 5 (Golden State) Freeway. From here, you can either go south back to LA, or go north to the Frasier Park exit (see Ojai via The Grapevine, Lockwood Valley and Route 33 link)

Last modified: 1/19/99