more stats
1.1 miles
Distance
92 ft
Climb
-417 ft
Descent
00:11:41
Avg time
-325 ft
Altitude change
587 ft
Altitude min
944 ft
Altitude max
912 ft
Altitude start
587 ft
Altitude end
-5.54%
Grade
-27.892%
Grade max
17.34%
Grade min
1,194 ft
Distance climb
4,201 ft
Distance down
472 ft
Distance flat
00:11:41
Avg time

Panhandle Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Pismo Preserve
    Pismo Beach, California
  • Difficulty Rating
    Green Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Blue (2 votes)
  • Local Popularity
    75 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 85 in Trail Running
    • 25 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #93624 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #127591 in Trail Running
    • #97652 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • TTFs on Trail
    Berm

Out and back with gorgeous views of Avila Beach

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 2 rides
  • 25.8 km average
6 Months
  • 26 rides
  • 25.3 km avg distance
All
  • 203 rides
  • Last: Sep 20, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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update trails status or condition

Panhandle Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Jul 22, 2025 @ 10:52am
Jul 22, 2025
 Great shape!
Mar 19, 2024 @ 10:39am
Mar 19, 2024
Nov 11, 2023 @ 1:22am
Nov 11, 2023
Aug 12, 2023 @ 9:53am
Aug 12, 2023
 Great view.
Apr 20, 2023 @ 12:37am
Apr 20, 2023
 Steep, perfect conditions
more »
Status:
on Jul 22, 2025
Very Dry
Avg: 3.57 (6 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (2,081)
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      Directions to panhandle trailhead (35.162082, -120.665717)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      16 more »
      mtb
      43 |
      Jul 22, 2024 @ 3:39pm
      Jul 22, 2024
      mtb
      36 |
      Jul 22, 2024 @ 3:38pm
      Jul 22, 2024
      mtb
      46 |
      Jul 22, 2024 @ 3:38pm
      Jul 22, 2024
      mtb
      33 |
      Jul 22, 2024 @ 3:38pm
      Jul 22, 2024

      Videos

      2 more »
      Panhandle Down
      mtb
      5:02 | 150 | Jan 7, 2024 , Pismo Beach
      Places 2 MTB: Pismo Preserve
      mtb
      3:30 | 204 | May 17, 2023 , Pismo Beach

      Technical Trail Features (TTF)

      Routes with this trail

      77
      Pismo 11.1 Miles
      ★ 5.0 • 11 miles • 1,442 ft • 14 • Point to Point •
      Starts at the west trailhead, ends at the west trail head with a fun downhill finish. A good ride that...
      77
      Pismo Preserve: 11.4mi / 2156'
      11 miles • 1,479 ft • 19 • Loop •
      Starts on the West side, ends on the West side. This route engages most all the Preserve has to offer....
      77
      CCCMB Poker Ride Proposed
      12 miles • 1,537 ft • 20 •
      Proposed CCCMB poker ride course.
      3.2 ★★★★★
      6 Ratings
      5 ★ 33%
      4 ★
      3 ★ 33%
      2 ★ 17%
      1 ★ 17%

      2 Reviews & Comments

      ino5VQ
      “Green” for tech but damn that gets up to 25% per my wahoo so definitely a hard green climb but well worth it for the descent.
      thetallweeks
      This is a tough trail. There are two really steep, rocky sections. But the nearly 360° view from the top is worth it.

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      Nearby Trails

      Pismo Preserve

      • By seanharanmtb & contributors
      • #103930 - 2,671 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Panhandle located?
      Panhandle is located in Pismo Preserve, Pismo Beach, California, United States. It is part of the Pismo Preserve trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 35.16208, -120.66572.
      ▼ How hard is Panhandle?
      Panhandle is rated as Green difficulty. The average grade is 5.54%.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Panhandle?
      Panhandle has 92 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 417 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 587 ft to 944 ft.
      ▼ Is Panhandle a point to point trail?
      Panhandle is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Panhandle?
      Panhandle is 1.1 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Panhandle?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Panhandle. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access Panhandle? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Panhandle are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Panhandle?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 12 minutes to ride Panhandle. The trail is 1.1 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Panhandle?
      Panhandle is a very popular trail. There have been 1,107 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 2,081 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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