Sierra Nevada Adventures Multi Day Rides

DIABLO RANGE ADVENTURE RIDE

The Diablo Range ADVENTURE ride EXPLORES an exhilarating OFF-ROAD journey set just south of the busy Bay Area, venturing into one of California’s wildest and least explored frontiers. This route traverses the heart of the Diablo Range, taking riders to an abandoned ghost town and the historic hideout of a notorious Mexican bandit from the Wild West. Ideal for the Spring season, this adventure is crafted for those seeking solitude and a deep connection with California’s untamed landscapes.

The Diablo Range Adventure Ride travels through remote off-road stretches, where you will experience scarce cell service and a distinct separation from modern civilization, which enhances both the sense of adventure and self-reliance. The isolation is invigorating and humbling, allowing you to navigate untouched terrain rich in history. This ride provides a rare opportunity to disconnect from daily life and immerse yourself completely in the wild heart of California. Riders are encouraged to prepare for changing Spring weather and bring sufficient supplies, as the Diablo Range rewards those who seek true adventure. Journey through Diablo Range, traverse sweeping valleys and rugged terrain, passing remnants of old ranches and mining camps that offer glimpses into the region’s storied past. The route not only showcases California’s natural beauty but also highlights the history and folklore that have shaped the Diablo Range. Each mile encourages curiosity and exploration, making the ride a unique experience for those drawn to the untamed frontier. The adventure ride explores an exceptional off-road route through the vast, undeveloped Central Coast Mountains of California. It is a true test of rider endurance and adventure, designed for those seeking solitude and an authentic connection with the state’s wild landscapes. Remote stretches amplify the sense of adventure, and riders must be prepared for variable weather and bring necessary supplies to meet the challenges and rewards of the Diablo Range. This scenic route offers views of the remote Diablo Range and passes rural ranch land and structures from the 1800s. The ride then traverses curvy country roads along the San Andreas Fault to a remote ridge in the Temblor Range, named after the Spanish word for "tremor" due to its proximity to the fault zone. Beyond the Temblor Range, your journey ventures to the western edge of the Diablo Range to the city of Paso Robles, its name meaning “Pass of the Oaks” for your night stay.

The Diablo Range Adventure Ride promises scenic routes and diverse off-road terrain, suitable for both newly experienced and intermediate riders. Participants will explore winding backroads, panoramic vistas, and unique local landmarks throughout the journey. Be prepared for a memorable experience, with opportunities for group camaraderie and adventure.

Diablo Range:  The Diablo Range is a vast and mysterious region of central California, known for its rugged terrain and rich history. Stretching from the Carquinez Strait in the north to the edge of Kern County in the south, this chain of mountains has remained largely undeveloped and wild, offering a haven for wildlife and a glimpse into the state’s untamed past. Throughout its history, the Diablo Range has witnessed a fascinating interplay between natural beauty and human intrigue. Its rugged slopes have served as both sanctuary and frontier, drawing explorers, settlers, and outlaws alike. The region’s isolation has helped preserve its wild character, allowing unique ecosystems to flourish in relative seclusion. Today, those seeking to experience California’s wild heart find that the Diablo Range remains much as it was centuries ago—remote, mysterious, and profoundly untamed.

Beyond its natural wonders, the Diablo Range stands as a witness to centuries of California history. Indigenous peoples once traversed its valleys, leaving behind traces of ancient trails and sacred sites. Later, Spanish explorers and American pioneers ventured into these hills, drawn by the promise of land, freedom, and adventure.

The stories and legends embedded in the Diablo Range’s landscape reflect the enduring spirit of those who have sought both refuge and opportunity within its boundaries. The Diablo Range offers great habitat for California condors to expand into as they recover from the brink of extinction. This mountain range harbors incredible biodiversity that supports many rare, endemic (plants or animals found nowhere else), or disjunct species (plants that are cut off from other populations and not expected to be there). Beyond providing habitat for iconic species, the Diablo Range also plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance across central California. Its varied microclimates support ancient oak woodlands, chaparral, and grasslands, creating a patchwork of life that sustains everything from mountain lions to rare butterflies. The region’s remoteness has protected these environments from urban encroachment, allowing fragile communities to persist and making the Diablo Range a living testament to California’s natural heritage.

Despite its wild reputation, the Diablo Range is also a place of scientific discovery and ecological significance. Conservationists and researchers have long recognized the region’s role as a biological corridor, connecting distinct habitats and supporting a wide array of flora and fauna. Its untouched landscapes provide critical refuge for species threatened elsewhere, making it a focal point for ongoing preservation efforts. The range’s unique geology, climate, and topography foster rare communities that cannot be found in other parts of California, further highlighting its importance beyond mere scenic beauty. The Diablo Range is extremely important for wildlife, crossed only by two major highways at Altamont and Pacheco Passes. It serves as a reservoir of biodiversity, a core habitat for wildlife in California. Although golden eagle populations are declining in western North America, they are stable in California because of the Diablo Range. The northern Diablo Range supports the highest density of golden eagles on the planet.

The Diablo Range’s isolation and ruggedness have not only shaped its ecological communities but also influenced the human stories woven into its hills. Generations have found both challenge and opportunity within its boundaries, from indigenous tribes and early explorers to legendary outlaws. The dramatic landscapes, marked by deep canyons and twisting ridges, evoke a sense of timelessness that continues to inspire awe and curiosity. As a region where nature and history intersect, the Diablo Range remains one of California’s most remarkable—and enduring—landscapes.

In June 1862, an American surveyor named William Brewer rode into the Diablo Range at a place called Mount Oso, named from the Spanish word Oso, meaning "bear," likely because early explorers, like the Portolá expedition, encountered numerous bears in the surrounding Los Osos (Valley of the Bears) area about 20 miles north of modern-day Henry Coe State Park. “Back of the treeless hills that lie along the San Joaquin plain, there rises a labyrinth of ridges, furrowed and separated by deep canyons,” he wrote in his journal. “This region is twenty-five to thirty miles wide and extends far to the southeast—I know not how far, but perhaps two hundred miles. It is almost an unexplored territory with no map representing it, no explorers has touched it; a few hunters know something of it, and all unite in giving it a hard name.” Mount Oso, with its commanding views and storied past, stands as a gateway to the mysteries of the Diablo Range. Brewer’s observations underscore how little was known about the region at the time, highlighting its reputation as uncharted territory teeming with wildlife and legends. The area’s formidable geography and sparse human presence contributed to its allure, making it both a challenge and a refuge for those who ventured within its wild and scenic landscape.

In the first written description of the Diablo Range, by the priest accompanying the Spanish Anza expedition in 1776, Father Pedro Font used the word “rugged” five times in two short diary entries to describe the party’s exploration south of Livermore. The 1850s newspaper accounts read by John Rollin Ridge called the Diablo Range the rocky aerie of criminals, horse thieves, and robbers. In 1853, a reporter for the San Joaquin Republican wrote, “This portion of the State is comparatively unknown; but in its solitudes and rocky fastnesses lie the retreats of hordes of desperate villains.” California’s most infamous Mexican bandit, Joaquín Murieta, and his gang of outlaws explored the vast Diablo Range and chose the remote Arroyo De Cantua canyon near present-day Coalinga as the headquarters and hideout for this legendary outlaw and his gang of thieves. "Arroyo de Cantua" (or Cantúa) means "Creek of Cantúa" in Spanish, named after a California rancher, but it's famous as the legendary hideout and death site of the notorious bandit Joaquin Murrieta in 1853.

Throughout the mid-19th century, tales of lawlessness and adventure became deeply intertwined with the Diablo Range’s identity. The region’s rugged isolation made it a natural setting for both real and imagined exploits, attracting not only those seeking refuge from the law but also storytellers eager to chronicle its legends. As settlements grew along their periphery, the mountains retained their reputation as mysterious strongholds, giving rise to countless stories of daring escapes and hidden treasures.

Joaquin Murrieta: Joaquin Murrieta Carrillo (sometimes misspelled Murieta or Murietta) (c. 1829 – July 25, 1853), also called the Robin Hood of the West or the Robin Hood of El Dorado, was a Mexican figure of disputed historicity. The novel The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murrieta: The Celebrated California Bandit (1854) by John Rollin Ridge is ostensibly his story. Legends subsequently arose about a notorious outlaw in California during the California Gold Rush of the 1850s, but evidence for a historical Murrieta is scarce. Contemporary documents record testimony in 1852 concerning a minor horse thief of that name. Newspapers reported a bandit named Joaquin, who robbed and killed several people during the same time. A California Ranger named Harry Love was assigned to track down Murrieta and was said to have brought his head in for the bounty. The popular legend of Joaquin Murrieta was that he was a forty-niner, a gold miner, and a vaquero (cowboy) from Sonora, Mexico. His brother was hanged, and Murrieta was horse-whipped. His young wife was raped, and in one version, she died in Murrieta's arms. Swearing revenge, he hunted down the men who had violated her. He embarked on a short but violent career to kill his Anglo tormentors. The state of California offered a reward of up to $5,000 for Murrieta, "dead or alive."

Joaquin Murrieta formed a gang, with well-organized bands, one led by himself and the rest led by one or two of his trusted Sonoran relatives. The core of these men had gathered to help Murrieta kill at least six of the Americans who had lynched his stepbrother, Jesus Carrillo, and whipped him on the false charge of the theft of a mule. The gang began to engage in illegal horse trade with Mexico, using stolen horses and legally captured mustangs. They drove herds of stolen horses from as far north as Contra Costa County, the gold camps of the Sierras, and the Central Valley via the remote La Vereda Del Monte trail through the Diablo Range, then south to Sonora, Mexico, for sale. At other times, the bands robbed and killed miners or American settlers, particularly those returning from the California goldfields. The gang is believed to have killed up to 28 Chinese and 13 Anglo-Americans. This figure is based on accounts of their raids in early 1853.

The death of Joaquin Murrieta: By 1853, the California state legislature listed Murrieta as one of the so-called “Five Joaquins”, suspected criminals, in a bill passed in May 1853. The legislature authorized hiring for three months a company of 20 California Rangers, veterans of the Mexican War, to hunt down "the five Joaquins, whose names are Joaquin Muriati, Joaquin Ocomorenia, Joaquin Velenzuela, Joaquin Botellier, and Joaquin Carillo, and their banded associates."  On May 11, 1853, the governor, John Bigler, signed an act to create the "California State Rangers," to be led by Captain Harry Love (a former Texas Ranger and Mexican War veteran).

The state paid the California Rangers $150 a month and promised them a $1,000 governor's reward if they captured the wanted men. On July 25, 1853, a group of rangers encountered a band of armed Mexican men near Arroyo de Cantua on the edge of the Diablo Range near Coalinga. In the confrontation, three of the Mexicans were killed. The rangers claimed one of the dead was Murrieta, and another, Manuel Garcia, also known as Three-Fingered Jack, one of his most notorious associates. Two others were captured.

As proof of the outlaws' deaths, the Rangers cut off the hand of Three-Fingered Jack, and the alleged head of Murrieta. They preserved these in a jar of alcohol to bring to the authorities to claim their reward. Officials displayed the jar of remains in Mariposa County, Stockton, and San Francisco. The rangers took the display throughout California; spectators could pay $1 to see the severed head of Joaquin Murrreta and the hand of Three-Fingered Jack.

Ghost town: Situated in the arid hills of San Benito County, New Idria emerged as a vital mining settlement due to its rich deposits of cinnabar ore. The town's remote location meant that access was often challenging, and visitors had to navigate winding dirt roads to reach the community. Despite these obstacles, New Idria thrived for decades, becoming well-known for its role in the mercury industry and its distinctive cultural identity.

The New Idria Mercury Mine was claimed in 1854, during the California Gold Rush, which was an important part of the process of extracting gold from ore. Once a bustling community, New Idria was characterized by its remote location and rugged terrain. The town featured essential amenities for its residents, including a general store, school, and post office, which served as focal points for daily life. The isolation of New Idria contributed to both its unique character and its eventual decline. Residents relied heavily on mining operations for employment and community stability, with the town's fortunes closely tied to the success of the mercury mine. Despite the challenges posed by the rugged landscape and limited access to outside resources, the community thrived for several decades, reflecting the resilience and adaptability of its inhabitants. Over time, advancements in mining technology and shifts in economic demand influenced the town's development. The community experienced periodic booms and busts, with population fluctuations mirroring the mine's productivity. Social life in New Idria was shaped by communal gatherings and events, which helped foster a sense of camaraderie among residents despite the town's seclusion.

The New Idria Mercury Mine was named in honor of the world's then second largest quicksilver mine in what was then Idria, Austria, now Idrija, Slovenia: (Slovene pronunciation ĭdrija, California English. The community was established to support the mine, which mainly extracted mercury, since cinnabar was abundant in the local rock formations. The town grew to support the mining operations, but the mine closed in the 1970s. The town is currently an abandoned ghost town with more than 100 standing buildings, though vandalism has contributed to their deterioration in recent years. After the closure of the mine in the 1970s, New Idria gradually transformed into a ghost town as residents moved away in search of new opportunities.

The legacy of New Idria remains visible today, not only in the abandoned structures but also in the environmental challenges left behind by decades of mercury mining. The site has been recognized for its historical significance, drawing interest from historians, urban explorers, and environmental scientists. Efforts to preserve what is left of the town continue, though New Idria stands as a stark reminder of both the promise and consequences of California's mining boom.