We're Going Camping!
Gravelstoke is bringing gravel to SDMBA's Mount Laguna Trail Fest, October 16 to 18, with 2 guided rides from El Prado Group Campground. Join us Friday for a 15 mile shakeout and Saturday for a 45 mile route featuring the Kitchen Creek climb, with registration for the full Trail Fest weekend required.
Mount Laguna Trail Fest is SDMBA's annual weekend of riding, camping, and community in the mountains of San Diego, and this year gravel gets a spot at the campfire. SDMBA invited Gravelstoke to lead 2 gravel rides during the 2026 edition, October 16-18 at El Prado Group Campground. Laguna is known for its signature singletrack, but the dirt roads and quiet pavement surrounding it hold plenty worth exploring.
Mount Laguna sits at roughly 6,000 feet in the pines, about an hour east of downtown San Diego. The weekend brings 3 days of guided rides for a range of riders, skills clinics, bike demos, Noble Canyon shuttles, a Vendor Village, and live music Saturday night. Food trucks will be on site, or you can cook at camp, and families are welcome with kids' activities and the Ride Crew. To join our rides, you'll need to register for the full Trail Fest weekend. Schedule, camping details, and registration can be found on the registration page. Both rides leave from and finish at El Prado Group Campground.
Photos by Jake Orness | Mount Laguna, CA
Friday shakeout
Roll at 3:30PM | 15 miles | 1500 ft
Friday, October 16 opens with a 15 mile shakeout with 1,500 feet of climbing. We'll ride a clockwise loop tracing the boundaries of Mount Laguna, linking singletrack, pavement connectors, and the area's gravel roads. It's a chance to warm up to the elevation and get bikes dialed for a bigger day on Saturday.
Saturday Ride
Roll at 8:30AM | 45 miles | 5000 ft
Saturday, October 17 brings one of our favorite routes, with 45 miles and 5,000 feet on tap. We'll roll out through Laguna Meadow, Penny Pines, and Upper Noble before descending Pine Creek Rd into Pine Valley. From there we head to Kitchen Creek, the signature climb of the day, gaining nearly 3,000 feet over 12 miles through the Cleveland National Forest. The road is mostly unmaintained and gated, and the scenery shifts from desert to pine forest with big mountain views along the way. Resupply at the Pine Valley Store at mile 15 and the Laguna Mountain Store at mile 42, both marked on the RWGPS route.
Please RSVP to the rides here if you are registered for MLTF and plan to join either or both of these rides.
2026 Gravelstoke x Voler Super Cargo Bib is a high performance bib short with a 6+ hour chamois, integrated leg grippers, wide bib straps, and three cargo pockets for comfort and durability on long rides.