Stunning views of the Pacific, sandy beaches and the oh-so-glamorous nightlife. What else would one expect in Southern California? Oh, right—bomber descents, white-knuckle drops and contentious access battles. You can find it all in Santa Barbara, particularly at the infamous Tunnel Trail. Located two hours north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara is where California mountain bike manufacturers like GT, Fox, Specialized and Giant go for product testing. The Tunnel Trail offers extreme terrain with the convenience of another SoCal staple: the shuttle. This gnarly descent, featuring large rock formations, ledges and 4-foot drops is easily accessible via the paved Gibraltar Road. Though the area is blessed with trails for all kinds of bikes—from hardtails to big-hit machines—7 or 8 inches of travel is recommended on Tunnel. Prolonged sections of sledgehammer hits and drop-offs test your skills. Push it too far and Tunnel will eat you alive. Keep it upright, ride within your limits and show some courtesy to other trail users, and you’ll be treated to one of the most rewarding singletrack adventures in the state.

The Tunnel’s intensity has earned it a reputation, but not always a good one. Lately it has been at the center of some highly publicized hiker/cyclist conflicts. The Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers (SBMTV) group is doing their best to mitigate conflicts, but the battles are hard-fought. Symbolic of the climate here are the bell boxes. If you don’t have your own, grab a loaner at the start to alert others of your presence. When your run is finished, toss the bell in another box at the bottom of the trail. The hikers and equestrians may win out in the end, but for now Tunnel trail riders are treated to a real test of downhill daring.—Andrew Juskaitis