Tunnels, Trestles, and the Impossible Railroad

Bike ride by the Impossible Railroad through tunnels and to a trestle in San Diego

You’re going to need a headlamp for this bike ride. Take a 15-mile out-and-back Wild West revival ride along the “Impossible” Railroad, an engineering feat that extended from San Diego, California, to Yuma, Arizona. Starting in Jacumba’s Carrizo Gorge, pedal parallel to the railroad track and through seven tunnels—the longest of which is half a mile! The railroad is no longer in use, but there are still plenty of remnants. Look for two abandoned railcars along the way, and more wooden trestle bridges than you’ll care to go over (most cyclists dismount and wheel their bikes next to them during these short sections). You might even spy the bighorn sheep that call the Carrizo Gorge home, bounding up the boulder-strewn hillsides. Eventually you’ll see the Goat Trestle Bridge, built in 1932 following an earthquake that collapsed one of the tunnels along the route. This is the end of your ride. Marvel at the architecture of the historic bridge, walk your bike over it, or enjoy a snack here. Skilled bikers often ride across it. Return the way you came, careful to avoid the cholla cactus that skirts the trail.

BONUS BIZARRE EATS: If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, stop at the Shell gas station across from the parking lot at the end of your ride, where fried crickets and mealworms are on the menu for those with daring tastebuds!

From San Diego, take I-8 east approximately 70 miles to Exit 73 toward Jacumba. Turn right on Carrizo Gorge Road and park in the large dirt lot on your right. You’ll start your ride here. Follow the road roughly one mile until you see the sign for the De Anza Springs Resort. Turn left before the entrance and follow a short, narrow path to the railroad. Turn right onto the railroad and follow for approximately 7.5 miles to the Goat Trestle Bridge. Bring lots of headlamps/flashlights for the dark tunnels. NOTE: Spring temperatures are pleasant, but it can get dangerously hot in the summer, so it’s not recommended to do this bike ride then. Always bring more than enough drinking water and some snacks. Dogs allowed, but not advisable due to the cactus on the trailside and the potential for overheating.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  3. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  4. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  3. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

    View
  4. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

    View