Dana Point – Build a loop using Colinas Bluff

[JRD]

Dana Point – Anyone in the DP/SJC/LN area interested in helping me build a loop route using the Colinas Bluff Trail with the Shea Trail and the Single Tracks above the Mercedes Benz Dealership off the 5. The Colinas Bluff has some decent climbs with sweeping downhill’s plus there's the Shea trail which dumps U straight down the mountain side (very cool high speed run) and if I could connect the river trails below over to the end of the Colinas trail, there are some really nice ST and jumps to incorporate. Oh by the way my name is Jim and I'm a new member of the STR. I have ridden on several of the STR group rides and had a blast. I've was stricken with the MTB fever this January 08' I'm riding every weekend now (S.OC areas & San Diego) and sometime during the week. I’m still working on getting 'To be One' with the bike. 'Clipping In' has been very challenging for me. OBTW I brew some really tasty Ale and if you’re in my neck of the woods riding you’re always welcome to a couple of pints.

[BrewMaster]

Originally Posted by JRD

OBTW I brew some really tasty Ale and if you’re in my neck of the woods riding you’re always welcome to a couple of pints.

Screw trail building. When are we drinking beer?



Oh yeah, welcome Jim.

[G-Ride]

To exit the fireroad at the bottom that parallels the creek (at Del Obisbo), you have to go through the equestrian center, which is private property. There were never any signs until a few years ago, and I used to ride it a lot when I lived in Marina Hills. So after the signs went up, I got yelled at a few times, and last time I rode through there I got chased by 3 dogs. 2 of them were too slow but one stubby little focker caught up to me and bit my achilles pretty good. Now I am never one to hit an animal but I had a kneejerk reaction and stomped him in the head causing the most insane doggie endo I've ever seen. I remember wishing I had video footage. So the dog shakes it off and turns around, but now the people from the equestrian center are yelling and end up chasing after me on horseback. They were kidding themselves though, and never caught me. That is a service road, and it was there long before the equestrian center was, so I'm sure there is a public easement through the equestrian center, which means I probably should have sued them for the dog bite, but obviously that would involve a commitment that I just don't have time and energy for. All that said, you should probably just stick to the Colinas trail and do the downhills and just climb back up. There is some good singletrack there. There is one called Hole In One that follows a ridge down to the creek near J Serra. Very steep and scary and last time it was very rutted. Also, there are some terraced empty lots above the MB dealer that were graded but never built on. They might be overgrown now, but there used to be some nice launches with good transitions running down them a few years ago.

[cmeride]

welcome

[kbteachme]

WELCOME!

I know the area very well. I live in San Juan. About 3 years ago, my friends and I road near that equestrian center. It was pretty sketchy because their dogs were barking crazy at us and the equestrian people did not waive or smile back. I feel sorry for G-Ride who got bit. We road to that steep single track near J. Serra/cliff and walked up and carefully road back down (pretty steep). There would be some great single track there if it was not for that equestrian center. I think it would be better to build-up the single tracks in Dana Point Hills and San Clemente Single Track. P.S. I think they need help building bridges at San Clemente Single Track.

[Red Hot Sloth]

[JRD]

Thanks for the feed back..I sure would like to find away around that jerks property at the bottom of the Shea trail. I need to explore the river area more. I got kind of freaked out the last time I was down there (by the river), the river was really high so crossing it would have been tough and next to the river and I saw several Coyotes peeking out from the bamboo. I decided since I was by myself I would mossy off in the opposite direction. Your right about that steep down hill section, I found the trail going down from Colinas Trail above the club soccer fields. I had both my wheels locked up and still was sliding down the hill toboggan style. Someone has built some really radical jumps there. I ran into 3 guys that were checking out the jumps on the mountain side and watched one of them execute the run. Major brass balls is all I can say about that. The ST below was really sweet and reminded me of San Clemente. I think the ST trail should be call the Road Runner. I must have seen 10 healthy birds in a hours ride. Plus they were not shy either,they just stood there by the trail as I rode on by. My main reason to improve / loop the area is because its close and I don’t have to haul my bike to it (approx 1 mile street ride from my house.

[Geronimo]

How are the ladders by the dealership? Last time I checked them out about a 1 1/2 years ago they were built out of pallets.

[Jordansrealm]

I am down to lend a hand if everything works out to be okay to build it! I am in RSM and DP is pretty close to home. Be nice to have another trail to hit locally.

[cmeride]

im always down for building new trails..never been there though. Where exactly is it? I've got tons o pallets to use.

[kbteachme]

What about building the trails on the other side of Golden Lantern (near the dog park). It would be great to start from the dog park and wind down to Salt Creek Beach. Anyone has info on the area west of Golden Lantern near the dog park?

This is the area that I'm talking about:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...14613&t=h&z=16

[G-Ride]

Originally Posted by kbteachme

What about building the trails on the other side of Golden Lantern (near the dog park). It would be great to start from the dog park and wind down to Salt Creek Beach. Anyone has info on the area west of Golden Lantern near the dog park?

This is the area that I'm talking about:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...14613&t=h&z=16

That area is the Salt Creek Corridor and is the upper portion of Salt Creek Beach Park and I think it's protected habitat. There is a bike path that starts next to the fire station on Golden Lantern and goes down the canyon, under Niguel Road, through the golf course and all the way to Strands. It's actually a nice little ride with some good mini-climbs - I do it after work sometimes. There are a couple of fireroads that break off the bike path near the top and drop down through Chapparosa Park and reconnect, but that's it. Everything above Chapparosa Park is not county-owned. There is definitely potential for some nice (although short) trails on the other side of the creek from the bike path, but since that part is county park it would take some doing.