145 miles with 14,200 feet of elevation gain*
(28 miles with 4,300 feet of elevation gain on dirt)
Locate ride on interactive map.
[Interactive Course | enlarge]
[Route Profile]
Dirty Double - Counties Visited:
San Diego County
Dirty Double - Cities/Towns Visited:
Alpine, Santa Ysabel, Ramona, Julian, Descanso, and Harrison Canyon
Dirty Double - Climbs:
Mile 0 (cat. 3), 4 (cat. 3), 13 (cat. 3), 22 (cat. 3), 30 (cat. 4), 32 (cat. 3), 38 (cat. 3), 66 (cat. 4), 71 (cat. 3), 86 (cat. 3), 89 (cat. 4), 93 (cat. 3), 106 (cat. 4), 137 (cat. 3), and 141 (cat. 3)
Dirty Double - Stops:
Mile 18, 36, 49, 63, 77, 109, and 130
Dirty Double - Description:
The Dirty Double is an awesome all-terrain ride through East San Diego County. Different distances are available, including a double century with 4 dirt sectors, a super century with 3 dirt sectors, and a century with 2 dirt sectors.
This ride covers 3 dirt sectors. Viejas Grade starts at mile 12.9 and is 4.3 miles long with 1,200 feet of elevation gain. Boulder Creek starts at mile 23.5 and is 12.8 miles long with 1,360 feet of elevation gain (with double-digit down- and uphill grades). Black Canyon starts at mile 66.1 and is 11.4 miles long with 1,790 feet of elevation gain.
The route starts in Alpine and leads up to Viejas Grade Road, dirt sector 1. Then it follows Boulder Creek Road, which includes dirt sector 2.
Next, Highway 78 leads down through Santa Ysabel, and Old Julian Highway leads down into Ramona. From here the route climbs Black Canyon Road, dirt sector 3.
Mesa Grande Road turns into Highway 79, which passes through Santa Ysabel, and Wynola Road and Banner Grade Road climb up to Julian.
Next, Highway 79 passes Lake Cuyamaca and descends to Descanso. Japatul Valley Road and Japatul Road continue down towards Loveland Reservoir.
Finally, Dehesa Road drops down to the town of Harrison Canyon, and Harrison Canyon Road and South Grade Road climb back up to Alpine.
Dirty Double - Pictures:
[Viejas Grade]
[Boulder Creek]
[Boulder Creek]
[Boulder Creek]
[Black Canyon]
[Black Canyon]
[Black Canyon]
[View of Anza-Borrego Desert]
Dirty Double - Personal Notes:
The dirt sectors make this ride significantly more challenging (and rewarding). This year, none of the riders completed the 200 mile route, which in my opinion is tougher than any of the double centuries I have completed.
Dirty Double - Current Weather:
