This is considered a "beginning" mountain bike trail in the San Gabriels, where most everything is just up or down. After you get your bike and out of your car, go past the yellow gate, and go down the pavement for just under a mile. You'll pass JPL to your left, and several other pseudo-trails on your left and right that don't go anywhere.
You'll reach a fork in the road, and take the left fork. If you take the right fork, you're on the wrong trail. Continue through the wide double track, and you'll be in the forest in no time. At about 2.5 miles, you'll hit your first creek crossing (there are five). The first three are pretty close together, and the second one is usually the worst. The higher you go, the more technical the trail gets. There is one area after the fourth creek crossing that I call "Satan's rock garden" because of the amount of rocks you have to go over with slick wheels from the creek.
Towards the end, the trail becomes singletrack, but it doesn't last long. You'll reach the sixth creek crossing, and you can continue on, but it's a lot of hike-a-bike from that point on.
Turn aronnd, and enjoy the downhill. Just becareful of all the dogs off-leach (no, they're not supposed to be), the horses, the hikers, and all the kids who leave their bikes in the middle of the trail.
The best part about this trail is it's the only shaded trail in the area, which is really nice on a hot summer day.
Went on this trail a few weeks ago after a large rain. Had so much fun. Parts of the trail were washed out but manageable. The steams were awesome. Only had to exit the bike once after a stream crossing. I came home all wet and muddy just the way I like it. Easy accent for beginners just a bit to technical with all the rain we have had lately.
| Thankgood trail for beginers
| ThankWas on this trail a week ago after the first week of rain. All of the rock gardens got harder where the trail washed out. The creek crossings were insane and where the trail didn't flood to what appeared to be about 6 feet, it slid and slid. Definitely large pieces of trail missing, new boulders in the middle of flowy downhill sections, and a lot more challenge as the usual hardpack is covered in rocky debris. One old roller looked like it was ruined by a torrent of water and is cut a few inches deep now and sent me over the bars when my wheel hit it and bounced my bike back under me (definitely a hard part of the trail on the return as you now have a cut directly to a small upward rolling hill.) Beginners will walk a lot of this trail in the weeks until the trail smooths back out.
| ThankNice trail leading into El Prieto
| ThankA bit more than a beginner trail. Either wide & sandy or narrow & rocky with a few creek crossings thrown in. Enough technical stuff to make it fun.
| ThankThe recent storm washed the singletrack out pretty bad, too many trees and debris in the way to make this ride fun for beginners at the moment. This summer the trail should be broken in again for riders to fully enjoy.
| ThankFlat trail along a creek - parts of the ride a unfortunately a bit littered up which is a bummer, but a great place to go with kids or people who just want to ride bikes, not really seasoned MTB vets.
| ThankI have a question.
| ThankWould you say this trail is good also for an 8 and 10 years old kids or stay away. Note: my kids are not really experienced in MTB...they ride very well but not MTB
Thx
I enjoy this spot. Also a great hike.
| ThankStill closed. With giant signs telling you its not open. Zero chance of pleading ignorance if smokey bear found you.
| ThankIt's closed because of the fires last year. So don't bother going rangers wait for bikers.
| Thanki dont really enjoy the trail i believe it is boring
| ThankStick to the loop, otherwise you will be going uphill for miles like i did, and when you finally get sick of going up, you turn around
| Thank