Tepusquet Road - California
Sisquoc - Jct. SR 166
Distance/Driving time: 16 miles/28m
County(ies): Santa Barbara
Submit your on this road.
Rider Comments:
- I have lived on Tepusquet Road for 19 years. The South (S.B.) side was torn out and 're-built' around 2001. The bridge at Sisquoc River was just built in 2010/11. The N./Highway 166 side (Buckhorn), was replaced not long after the S. side. I used to ride it to and from work in mid 90's and it was horrible. It is smooth as silk now. And better cared for. California Highway patrol and S.B. Co. Sheriff's cruise this road to and from Orcutt/Santa Maria. Also I have seen the occassional semi truck complete with 45'+ trailers go over sometimes in the wee hours, however. 20 to 30 Porshe's, Corvettes, Triumph's...you name it, in a row, fly by on weekends. Or bent axle show cars on way to and from Bakersfield to S.M. or detour to Pismo Beach car shows. Lately, usually during week when traffic is quite slow, downhill skateboarders have taken over. 15 to 20+ will fly by in a row, (I live on mountain on 166 side currently, but have lived on both sides). They have a city transport kinda bus that ferries them back to the top. Sometimes it's just a car or truck. The bus is some sort of competitive team. I have bears, mountan lions, bobcats, turkeys, deer, pig, and rattlesnakes, all cruisin' around every place I have lived out here. Lot's of cyclist, the self powered kind, out here on weekends, but any time during spring/summer. I see single cyclist at times and I refer to them as cougar feed. Awesome road, but narrow and dangerous if misused. - John Dittman (2/7/12)
- In 2009, this entire road was repaved. In 2010 the bridge at the south end was re-opened after being washed out for several years. The new bridge will never wash out! - Steve Crume, Arroyo Grande (5/31/10)
- Tepusquet Canyon Road starts out with scenic winery views with stops along the way to taste all of California's great wine, if you so choose. Next it gets into pretty fast sweepers through a shaded farming area followed by tight (S) turns and switch backs, followed by another set of sweepers that dumps you out on the 166. Great road for a short ride, but be minded, full of cyclist and farmers as the twisty section of the road is only ONE lane. Happy trails. - Derrick Avery (12/1/08)
- The Santa Barbra county side of Tepusquet is very nice new and paved. You will need to watch out for people leaving there homes. The SLO County is super rough and needs to be paved. Watch out for wildlife. A very fun and challenging road. - Brian Rowe (3/9/08)