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Cycle the Palmer and Cat Canyon Roads in Santa Maria Valley

Santa Maria, California

Details

Distance

30 miles

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Kristi Teplitz

Well-maintained roads, wide shoulders, fun hills, and gorgeous landscape provide fun cycling options in Santa Maria Valley.

You can't go wrong with cycling around the Santa Maria Valley area. There is an abundance of interesting roads to ride along with scenic hills meandering through wineries. 

I started my ride at the Los Flores Ranch Park parking lot and headed east along Dominion. Take a right on Palmer and follow it down to the 101. Ride south along the 101 for about a mile until you reach Cat Canyon Road. (The 101 is doable here with a wide shoulder, but if you don't want to do that, go back up Palmer and follow it until you reach Foxen Canyon Road. Then take a left and follow Foxen Canyon Road north and follow the remaining directions below.)

Follow Cat Canyon Road north until you rejoin a different part of Palmer Road. Follow Palmer east for a short bit until you hit the Foxen Canyon Road. Follow that north and around until you intersect with Dominion again. Follow Dominion south and back to the parking lot. For anyone wanting Strava info on the ride, here you go: https://www.strava.com/routes/18027317

There are plenty of places to turn around and do an out-and-back ride if you're looking for something shorter, and there is plenty of additional miles you could add on to this loop if you want more.

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Features

Cycling
Scenic

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Nearby

Trail Run, Hike, or Mountain Bike Los Flores Ranch Park

Hike or Trail Run the Rice Ranch Trail

Bike Foxen Canyon Road

Roam Ostrichland USA

Explore the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes

Dispersed Camp in Los Padres National Forest (near Davy Brown Campground)