Route: Fort Ord Small Loop

This is a beautiful loop on wide trails (fire roads?) that starts and ends at the gravel parking lot off of 68 on the southeast side of Fort Ord National Monument. The scenery changes dramatically throughout the year: dry and tan in the fall and winter, lush and green in the spring and summer. If you start the route in the clockwise direction, you'll encounter the majority of the elevation gain in the first 2.5 km (1.5 miles). Head up Guidotti and it'll eventually veer right and become Skyline. Once you start the downhill stay right at the large water tank and continue down Oil Well. At the very bottom of the hill on the way down there'll be an obvious fork in the road. At the fork, take a right onto Toro Creek Road and this will lead all the way back to the parking area. Make sure you continue to the spot where you parked to complete the trail. This trail can be done in either direction. I prefer to get the elevation out of the way quickly by going clockwise.