San Francisquito Canyon
A Big Bike Playground with a Haunting Past
If you're itching for a dirt escape that’s big bike friendly and just a short ride from the sprawl of Los Angeles, San Francisquito Canyon might just be your ticket. Tucked at the edge of Santa Clarita, this area offers easy access to a network of scenic dirt roads—perfect for dialing in your suspension, brushing up on your skills, or just letting your adventure bike breathe a little before tackling a full-blown BDR (Backcountry Discovery Route).
DOW challenge rating: 2/5
Forest Route 5N16 connects San Francisquito Canyon Rd with Lake Hughes Rd.
On this ride, the Department of Wander crew rolled in aboard two heavyweight ADV machines: the Ducati DesertX and the BMW GS 1250 - a pairing that’s as photogenic as it is capable. Our route of choice for the day was Forest Route 5N16, a short but sweet 5.5-mile dirt road connecting San Francisquito Canyon Road to Lake Hughes Road across the mountain.
Even on a grey day the terrain up here doesn’t disappoint.
The riding here is mellow and scenic—exactly the kind of terrain that makes it easy to forget you’re still within striking distance of downtown LA. The road itself is relatively easy by ADV standards, with only a few minor ruts and soft patches from recent rains. It’s ideal for new riders looking to get comfortable off-road or for seasoned veterans looking to shake off the rust before a longer trip. Just stay sharp in the tighter sections; blind corners and occasional traffic do show up when you least expect them.
But San Francisquito Canyon holds more than just fun riding - it’s also steeped in a darker, lesser-known history. The route begins near the site of the San Francisquito Dam disaster of 1928, a catastrophic engineering failure that claimed the lives of 423 people. The disaster effectively ended the career of William Mulholland, the man largely responsible for bringing water to Los Angeles and immortalized in Roman Polanski’s 1974 film Chinatown. The scar left by the dam’s failure is still visible in the terrain today. Riding through this canyon, it’s hard not to feel a chill when you realize the peaceful landscape was once the site of such unimaginable loss.
The San Francisquito Dam after the 1928 disaster that claimed 423 lives.
Whether you’re chasing dirt, views, or a story to tell, San Francisquito Canyon delivers. It’s a ride that balances accessibility with meaning—a place where adventure and history intersect in the high desert just beyond the city’s edge.
Stay tuned for more ride reports from the Department of Wander, where every road has a story - and we’re here to ride them all.