Best Trails after a Rain?

[Evel Knievel]

Originally Posted by SKINNY

Ok.. So what So. Cal. trails hold up the best (no mud) after a rain?

West horse theif.

[Von-Skipp]

It's gona be muddy and wet probably wherever you guys go!!! It really screws up the trails. When I rode San Juan last week I admit I probably really screwed the trails in some places making ruts, and felt really bad.

We get sun and dry weather probably 350 days of the year!!! No big deal to take a day off from the trails.

The best advice on this thread is to ride the road for the next day or two!!!

[project_d]

There are many threads about this topic. That being said, the San Gabes are the best i've seen. You can ride during the rain and you're not going to hurt the trails. A lot of it is decomposed granite, so the water just runs right through it. I ride Mt. Lowe all the time after a rain, and I wouldn't ride any other trail cuz those get ruined while the San Gabes don't.

[jcbikeski]

San Juan and other similar trails are great after 1/2 inch, but we got 3 to 5 inches over the weekend. My experience says to leave virtually all trails alone until at least this next weekend and then only use trails like SJ that are mostly decomposed granite. I won't touch Blackstar for a couple weeks of sunny days since I don't enjoy mud fests.

[denmother]

We rode Sycamore Canyon yesterday, it is in awesome shape!!!! Great place to ride after the rain!! If you haven't been there, you should at least try it once!

Photos: http://www.socaltrailriders.org/gall...=1081&ppuser=0

Ride Reports: Team Dirty Work Sufferfest: Riverside

Sycamore Canyon Riverslime (oops..Riverside)

[MTBBill]

Originally Posted by SKINNY

Ok.. So what So. Cal. trails hold up the best (no mud) after a rain?

From "that other site", but here is my take as well as some discussion on Wet Trail Ratings in the SD area trails.

[ThinkFast]

I rode San Juan Today and overall it was in great shape. A few muddy switchbacks at the bottom, one was a mess.

This is the worst one.


Lots of moss in this section but no Mud.


Nice riding on 99% of the trail today.

[allison]

Sucks that so many people rode the singletrack and effed it up so much

That's just plain ugly.

[project_d]

Originally Posted by allison

Sucks that so many people rode the singletrack and effed it up so much

That's just plain ugly.

I'll "one-up" you.....that's FUGLY!!!

[Schecky]

Originally Posted by allison

Sucks that so many people rode the singletrack and effed it up so much

That's just plain ugly.

Here, here!

[ThinkFast]

That section has been like that since the first storm we got this year. I don't think it has dried since.

[J_Sims]

Originally Posted by allison

Sucks that so many people rode the singletrack and effed it up so much

That's just plain ugly.

Especially after all the work that had been done up there recently...

[Endo Verendo]

I second the San Gabes. They seem to get better when wet. Also a lot of the fireroads in the Santa Monicas do well, as does Sullivan Cyn.

[KBL]

This is your excuse to GET OUT OF OC and discover other local trails--albeit slightly less local trails.

I'll third the vote for the San Gabriels. Most of the trails in the San Gabriels handle water quite well since they're rocky and sandy instead of packed with potentially greasy clay.

If you'd rather head toward Big Bear, the Santa Anna River Trail is a good one that's fairly weatherproof.

I haven't ridden them personally, but I've read about several good trails in the Coachella Valley area--it's sandy, rocky desert and often receives less rainfall than other nearby areas.