RR: Siberia Creek Trail

[dstepper]

Siberia Creek Trail Trailhead is 6 miles South of Big Bear Lake. I parked at the bike shop near Mill Creek Road and Highway 18 in Big Bear and pedaled up Forest Service Road 2N10 following the signs to Champion Lodgepole Pine. It is the largest Lodge Pole Pine in the world. If you are used to giant Redwoods and Sequoias you will be disappointed. That 6 six miles seemed like 15, the road is soft and sandy. It only gains 1500 to the trailhead, but at 7000 ft. elevation it is taxing.

OK, I get to the singletrack; down to Champion Lodge Pole is prime. I branch off at Siberia Creek Trail and the trail is soft with pines needles and pines cones everywhere. It is obvious by the snow on the trail, that I am the first to ride out there this year…not even any hikers have hit the trail yet. So I do my duty, and clear the fallen branches of the trail enjoying the total solitude being that far away from everything. I get to Gunsight (the below picture with the two rocks standing on end), also the end of the maintained section of the trail. Things are OK but getting on the extreme side technically for me. I make it another .6 miles and trail is so overgrown that I need a machete to continue. Bummer, turned around and did the 2.6 miles and 800 ft. climb back to the fireroad.

It is a shame that no one cares for this trail. It is a legal bike trail, that at one time, you could ride Siberia Creek Trail to Clarks Ranch Trail and down to Seven Pines/Seven Pines Road and connect to the SART below Angeles Oaks.

I stopped in town and talked to the bike shop and I get the impression that there is not a local mountain biking community in Big Bear. Ya they like the lifts and downhills but they let a jewel go to waist. I am bummed.

[TURNERob]

Nice pics as usual Dean, thanks for sharing

[Pain Freak]

Dean, would you want to try to get this trail back together? Is there any spec's on this trail?

[dstepper]

Before trying much work, I would like to try to come up from the bottom. Some of the hiking reviews state that it is too steep for maintance. So I need more to do investigation before putting sweat into the trail. It drops 3,000 in 7 miles.

I have read hiking reports that the first 2.5 of the trail off Clarks Grade Road is flat to moderate. It is hard to find good info on that trail.

[ChrisB]

Originally Posted by dstepper

Before trying much work, I would like to try to come up from the bottom. Some of the hiking reviews state that it is too steep for maintance. So I need more to do investigation before putting sweat into the trail. It drops 3,000 in 7 miles.

I have read hiking reports that the first 2.5 of the trail off Clarks Grade Road is flat to moderate. It is hard to find good info on that trail.

i live down in san bernardino so im closer to big bear than most of the people on here and I would be interested in helping fix up some trails out there...reconnecting it back to the SART would be fun

[gurp13]

I live in Fontana. If the times were right for my schedule, I'd like to help, too. I've been interested in learning about trail building and maintenance.

Ooops, were those "famous last words?"

[dstepper]

I appreciate the offers, when I have some time I will hike/bike up from the bottom and explore it some more.

Does anyone know if Clarks Grade Road (1N54), Pines Road (1N64) or 1N10 are gated and if not, high clearance or 4-wheel drive. I think need to talk to a 4-wheel drive club.

I think Clarks Grade is the old road to Big Bear built back in the 20's. If it is, it may not be very steep.

I need to study this more.

[Rob]

Bump.

I'd be up to help. I'm putting together a 200+mile loop and this could be a good part of it. I'm available on most Sundays and Mondays to get this done.

[sxc70]

Originally Posted by Rob

Bump.

I'd be up to help. I'm putting together a 200+mile loop and this could be a good part of it. I'm available on most Sundays and Mondays to get this done.

200 miles omg will some one just give me a gun!!!!!!!! i hope this will b a back pack trip.

[Rob]

Not back pack, but bikepack.

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by Rob

Bump.

I'd be up to help. I'm putting together a 200+mile loop and this could be a good part of it. I'm available on most Sundays and Mondays to get this done.

Since this report I finially found someone in the Forest Service that is familiar with Siberia Creek Trail below gunsight. Apparently it is not just a matter of brush clearing but the trail has dropped of a steep section that would need dynamiting to reopen. They have since renamed Camp Trail that drops of near Rim Nordic, Siberia Creek Trail. I have no idea what that trail is like but it is on my short list. When I get around to it I will attack it from the bottom off Clarks Grade.

Dean

[ghixon]

Morning Dean

Clark's is "ridable" but with a lot of chunk and baby heads. The local jeep club doesn't use it very often because of that. But, you're correct. Siberia is basically a lost cause without a TON of rebuilding.

I did a long SART loop from Loch Levine to the top of Clark's Grade, over to Wildhorse Meadows and the upper extension of Heart Bar back down SART. It could be a fun substitute ride for you. I skipped the top section of SART from Heart Bar to AO because of time, but you can throw it in for fun.

SART LOOP

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by ghixon

Morning Dean

Clark's is "ridable" but with a lot of chunk and baby heads. The local jeep club doesn't use it very often because of that. But, you're correct. Siberia is basically a lost cause without a TON of rebuilding.

I did a long SART loop from Loch Levine to the top of Clark's Grade, over to Wildhorse Meadows and the upper extension of Heart Bar back down SART. It could be a fun substitute ride for you. I skipped the top section of SART from Heart Bar to AO because of time, but you can throw it in for fun.

SART LOOP

I rode Clarks grade last fall and I liked it...no one out there but a long tough climb. Last time I was out there the gate part way up from the bottom was locked. I was surprised that the motos weren't using it. I am curious to see what shape Siberia Group Camp is in.

Dean

[Snowytrail]

I rode the Siberia Creek Trail once...but it was a long time ago, '90 or '91 I think. It was overgrown but it was fairly rideable, this was pre-suspension. We climbed Clark's and looped it around, it was PMBC group ride if I remember right. Near the end of the trail there was an old mine and someone stuck their head in and pulled out an unopened 12 pack of Bud, a few were cracked and we finished the ride, it was a long day.