This event is hosted by Bikepacking Roots Regional Steward Emily Elliot.
Ranchita Rambler #5 is coming at us with the time change happening on Halloween night! Looking forward to desert shenanigans with you spooky little bike gremlins.
Registration will open 9.1.26 via post card. Same address – @dons_bicycles 700 E Redlands Blvd, Suite B1, Redlands, CA 92373.
Postmarks prior to 9.1 not accepted.
25 riders, fun and challenging route, excellent food in town and primo camping accommodation. RR support crew Greg and Maryanne will be back again slinging snacks and beverages at camp. Community>competition
Our non-profit recipients of excess donations this year will be split between @little_bitty_animal_sanctuary of Ranchita and @bikepackingroots. Every year you guys make me whole on expenses and then some, and every year we give the extra to worthy causes.
About the Ranchita Rambler Grand Depart
The Ranchita Rambler Grand Depart is not a race, but you can ride fast if you want to. It is intended as a chill weekend of bikepacking with friends, and is an excellent option for experienced mountain bikers for their first bikepacking adventure. Riders will start together and camp together, but are encouraged to ride their own pace and are expected to navigate for themselves.
BIKE/EQUIPMENT:
Any All Terrain Bicycle with adequate tire clearance will work, suspension not necessary. Larger, TUBELESS tires (2.3”+) are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for getting through long, sandy sections and contending with plenty of cholla and other tube-popping pokies. If you choose to ride tubed tires or narrower tires, you are committing to a lot of walking with your bike.
It is recommended to start the ride with a minimum of 4L of water. Review the POIs for water re-fill locations. There are sections with no cellular service – please have the route downloaded.
THE COMMUNITY EVENT:
The Ranchita Rambler Grand Depart is not a race, but you can ride fast if you want to. It is intended as a chill weekend of bikepacking with friends, and is an excellent option for experienced mountain bikers for their first bikepacking adventure. Riders will start together and camp together, but are encouraged to ride their own pace and are expected to navigate for themselves.
ROUTE DESCRIPTION:
This fall-spring season route starts and ends in Ranchita, CA (at the former site of the Ranchita Bodega) and after warming up the legs with some early spicy climbs through the Ranchita foothills, the route explores a rippin’, sandy descent down Grapevine Canyon to the Anza Borrego Desert where riders then take up the pavement (caution, narrow shoulder) to connect at Cactus Valley double track, one of the prettiest sections of trail in the Valley, especially at golden hour. A few more miles of pavement, this time with a wide shoulder and minimal traffic, takes riders by some the famous Borrego Springs metal sculptures.
Riders will camp together in a group site at Borrego Palm Canyon Campground (CA State Park) where flush toilets and coin operated hot showers are a nice touch, but no match for the epic night sky. Quintessential California style burritos are along the way to camp in the town of Borrego Springs, as well as other local resupply options such as restaurants, a grocery store, and a mini-mart.
For non-grand depart campers, Hike-in/Bike-in sites are available at Palm Canyon Campground for $5/person/night, no reservation required.
Day 2 offers riders the option to eat in camp, have breakfast in town, or start up the iconic Montezuma Valley Road also called the “Glass Elevator” for its incredible views along the 3,300′ ascent. There’s no shame in taking (many) breaks to take in the massive vistas as the desert floor is left behind. (Please note that this segment has a narrow shoulder and is windy. Traffic is generally light and calm in the early morning hours, but please use caution.) This climb can get hot fast with its eastern exposure – early starts are recommended in warm weather.
Riders ditch the pavement about 2/3 of the way up and are routed through the Culp Valley Cultural Preserve. This somewhat sandy double track is absolutely gorgeous and peaceful. The Culp Valley Overlook offers views all the way out to the Salton Sea and has multiple educational and interpretive sites worth stopping for. If riders are not having fun with the often sandy trails, Culp Valley can be bypassed by staying on the pavement all the way back to the start. The pavement bypass is steep and probably the same level of physical exertion as Culp Valley.
Riders end back at the start in the town of Ranchita.
As of August 2025 the Ranchita BODEGA, the only store in town, is currently for sale and not operational at this time. It would be worth stashing a post-ride snack in your car since there isn’t anything else in close proximity. Next food is Josie’s Hideout or Lake Henshaw Cafe on Hwy 78 or the town of Warner Springs gas station on Hwy 79.
Survey results from the 2023 Ranchita Rambler are available in the photos to give riders more context on perceived difficulty and level of enjoyment.
This event is part of Bikepacking Root’s Community Event Calendar, where we share bikepacking events across the US and Canada. Bikepacking Roots is not involved in the hosting of this event unless otherwise noted. Please reach out to the organizer for more information.