May 20-22 2022
The Hidden Valley is an opportunity for people to step into the story of our recent film ‘The Long Traverse’. Throughout the creation of this film, we learned about the richness, beauty, and complexity of the Cuyama Valley, and we want to share this special place and community with others.
Cuyama, CA.
The event takes place in the Cuyama Valley, coined “The Hidden Valley of Enchantment”, in a townsite called New Cuyama, with a population of under 600, located at the intersection of four counties, Santa Barabara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, and Kern. On one side of New Cuyama lies the Caliente Range, with Carrizo Plain National Monument’s entrance located just 20 minutes from the townsite, while the Sierra Madre Mountains stretch to the southwest. While located about 2 hours from LA and Santa Barbara, and just over an hour from San Luis Obispo, the valley is unlike anywhere else in California, and home to beautiful and rugged gravel roads and trails.
More than a bike ride
The riding portion is a group ride with Sage Trail Alliance and pros Christopher Blevins and Sarah Sturm. We’ll have short, medium, and long distance options for riders of any level. The route will be rugged gravel roads and maybe a bit of singletrack. We recommend you bring a mountain bike, but a gravel bike will do just fine!
We’ll be offering snacks, water, mechanical support, and the context to learn from the ride. The riding portion of this experience, led by Sage Trail Alliance, will involve short, medium, and long distance options for riders of any level.
Detailed schedule
Friday Evening
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Happy Hour and meet and greet at the Blue Sky (optional)
- Cuyama Beverage company mead tasting
- Auction / Raffle
Day 1 Saturday (May 21st)
7 AM – 8:00 AM Breakfast at the Buckhorn – Cuyama Cowboy Buffet
- Hand out materials and swag
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM Welcome Chat at Condor’s Hope
- Chumash representative, Dillon, and Christopher speak
- Root people in place, split into groups
9:30 AM – 1:00 PM Let’s Ride Bikes!
- Group 1: Ride up Bates and down (~20 miles)
- Group 2: Ride up Bates and wrap around to Aliso (45 miles)
1:00 PM – 3:30 PM Condor’s Hope Tasting and Packed to-go Lunches from Buckhorn
- Environmental discussion with Steve and Robbie
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM BBQ Dinner provided at Buckhorn
- Cowboy Poet
- Auction / Raffle
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Film showing – Outdoor Projector Screen in Backyard
- Raffle giveaway
Day 2 Sunday (May 22nd)
8 AM – 9 AM Breakfast at the Buckhorn
9 AM – 1 PM Ride option for everyone from Stilspoke guidebook
2 PM Check out of Buckhorn and Blue Sky
*tentative subject to change
Ride with the pros!
Christopher Blevins – Central Coast local / Olympian and World Champ / Stilspoke founder
Sarah Sturm – Pro MTB and gravel racer / queen of stoke
Dillon Osleger – Director of Sage Trail Alliance / scientist and environmental advocate
Packages
This weekend is about how bikes can help us connect with a community and a landscape. Come experience the Cuyama Valley and its surroundings, through local food and wine, unique accommodations, special talks from guest speakers, and of course, riding bikes. We’re here to engage, laugh, pedal, and learn alongside you in New Cuyama this May. The Hidden Valley Experience is hosted alongside local community development partners Cuyama Buckhorn and Blue Sky Center.
* This is all inclusive package. The price difference is determined by your accomadations (see below).
Day Package
Spend all day Saturday with Stilspoke
See What's Included in the package
See What's Included in the package
- Guided group ride
- Pack lunch prepared by the Cuyama Buckhorn
- Organic, dry-farmed wine tasting from Condor’s Hope winery
If you book this package, you will need to arrive in New Cuyama on Saturday, May 21st prior to the ride start, at around 8 am. Dinner on Saturday night is not included.
$165
25 in stock
One Night Camping Package
Photos: Zoe Hertz
Spend all day Saturday with Stilspoke
See What's Included in the package
See What's Included in the package
- Guided group ride
- Pack lunch prepared by the Cuyama Buckhorn
- Organic, dry-farmed wine tasting from Condor’s Hope winery
- Community pig roast/ BBQ at the Cuyama Buckhorn
- Long Traverse film screening
- Campsite reservation at the Blue Sky Center for the night of Saturday, May 21st
- Breakfast on Sunday, May 22nd
If you book this package, you will need to arrive in New Cuyama on Saturday, May 21st prior to the ride start, at around 8 am.
$250
21 in stock
Buckhorn Package
Two nights at the luxurious Cuyama Buckhorn.
See What's Included in the package
See What's Included in the package
- 2 nights at the Cuyama Buckhorn
- MTB / Gravel ride with the pros. (Mechanical and ride support)
- Special guest speakers and presentations
- 3 locally crafted meals
- Wine tasting at Condor’s Hope
- Happy hour mead tasting at Cuyama Beverage Company
- Ticket to ‘Long Traverse’ screening and special performance
- Yearly membership to Sage Trail Alliance
- Yearly membership to Protect Our Winters
- Swag / raffle / gear from partners
Single occupancy starting at $1200
Double occupancy starting at $1700
* Price before taxes and fees. This package will be reserved on the Buckhorn’s website.
Camping Package
Photos: Zoe Hertz
Two nights camping under the stars.
See What's Included in the package
See What's Included in the package
- 2 nights camping at Blue Sky Center
- MTB / Gravel ride with the pros. (Mechanical and ride support)
- Special guest speakers and presentations
- 3 locally crafted meals
- Wine tasting at Condor’s Hope
- Happy hour mead tasting at Cuyama Beverage Company
- Ticket to ‘Long Traverse’ screening and special performance
- Yearly membership to Sage Trail Alliance
- Yearly membership to Protect Our Winters
- Swag / raffle / gear from partners
$430
7 in stock
Blue Sky Center Hut (Single)
Two nights in a one of a kind hut.
See What's Included in the package
See What's Included in the package
- 2 nights in a Blue Sky Center Hut
- MTB / Gravel ride with the pros. (Mechanical and ride support)
- Special guest speakers and presentations
- 3 locally crafted meals
- Wine tasting at Condor’s Hope
- Happy hour mead tasting at Cuyama Beverage Company
- Ticket to ‘Long Traverse’ screening and special performance
- Yearly membership to Sage Trail Alliance
- Yearly membership to Protect Our Winters
- Swag / raffle / gear from partners
$805
1 in stock
Blue Sky Center (Two Person)
Two nights in a one of a kind hut.
See What's Included in the package
See What's Included in the package
- 2 nights in a Blue Sky Center Hut
- MTB / Gravel ride with the pros. (Mechanical and ride support)
- Special guest speakers and presentations
- 3 locally crafted meals
- Wine tasting at Condor’s Hope
- Happy hour mead tasting at Cuyama Beverage Company
- Ticket to ‘Long Traverse’ screening and special performance
- Yearly membership to Sage Trail Alliance
- Yearly membership to Protect Our Winters
- Swag / raffle / gear from partners
$1260
Cuyama Buckhorn
The Cuyama Buckhorn is a timeless roadside resort intimately connected to the Cuyama community, helping source local food and build connections to the natural beauty of the valley. The hotel brings elegance to the high desert with modern amenities and vintage accents.
Learn more…
Blue Sky Center
The Blue Sky Center creates models to develop a resilient and inclusive economy in the Cuyama Valley. Their campground, with the Shelton Huts, the Khalili Cantina, and improved dispersed camping areas—provides an offbeat but comfortable experience.
Learn more…
Non-Profit Partners
We believe that biking can make us more considerate stewards of the environment. Your ticket comes with a donation and membership to Sage Trail Alliance and Protect Our Winters, giving you access to their perks, and helping contribute to the outdoor recreation industry’s voice in advocating for communities and the environment.
Getting There
New Cuyama is 2.5 hours from LA, 5 hours from San Francisco, and 2 hours from Santa Barabara.
