RR: Forgotten Gabes: Acorn Trail

[GP_pilot]

For those who need to step it up an order of magnitude from the Blue Ridge Trail at Big Pines, head 3.5 mi down CA-2 to the town of Wrightwood. I’ve ridden this trail once from top to bottom, which is the way mortals will attempt it. This time I set out to see if it could be climbed on the way to Wright Mountain. Starting out at 6,000’, just the 1.5 mi ride up Acorn Drive to the trailhead will have your heart rate in the upper quarter with a climb of 500’/mi. Once you hit the trail at 6,640’, the climb will bring down all but the superhuman of riders as you’ll be topping out at 8,250’ in another 2.0 mi. This was the hardest sustained climb I’ve done and will have even the biggest of men whimpering for even lower gearing than 22-34 on my 29er.

Acorn trail happens to be a connector between the PCT and Wrightwood for through-hikers needing food supplies, a home cooked meal, or a hot shower and bed with sheets. The AC100 ultra-marathon also utilizes Acorn trail as the start of its race to Pasadena. For biking, I’d guess this trail seems out of the way and too much effort for most folks looking at downhill gratification. Or more simply, most folks pass by it on the 8.3 mi to the end of Forest Service road 3N26/3N06 from Inspiration point on CA-2 and don’t even know it. I rode this the first time by completing a loop starting in Wrightwood, riding CA-2 to Big Pines, up Blue Ridge Trail, up 3N06 past Guffy campground, and then down Acorn (once I found it) for a total of 13.3 mi.

Parking at the trailhead is not an option as there’s a sign 2/3 the way up Acorn Drive stating it’s a private drive. You won’t be missing it as it’s obvious.



Acorn Drive ends at a chained off 4x4 road with a path around it. This is the 4x4 road that leads up to a water tank.



There is one just one sign at the bottom of Acorn trail, veering left at 0.23 mi from the end of Acorn Dr.



Up top, good luck. There’s a makeshift sign is on the PCT.



This is barely viewable 50’ from the road. There’s two very small cairns that you wouldn’t even notice blasting back down from the end of 3N06.



The trail is fairly well maintained from all the hikers that use it.











There are numerous switchbacks, several being tight enough requiring a dismount to flip the bike around.



However, it will be a turnoff to those that don’t like slope exposure especially on trail that sometimes narrows down to 6” or less for a line.





The majority of the trail is well packed except for two short sections that have seen some land movement due to slope slippage.





It’s best to walk these two spots as the ground was slightly soft from the recent snow melt and even hikers’ foot prints had shifted the damp ground. Loosing the front tire here could put you down several hundred feet. It could be slightly worse in the dry summer with no moisture holding the ground together.

It’s 99% rideable both directions, but only if you’ve got the gearing, lungs, and legs when going up. If you’re heading down, you’ll be on both binders the entire descent. Once you hit the street, you’ve got another 680’ of asphalt downhill and can easily exceed 35 mph though the twisty neighborhood.

Unfortunately I ran out of daylight to continue on to the Wright Mtn overlook and explore another possible trail off Guffy camp. There a couple of good view points off the ends of the switchbacks.

Glacial erosion of Wright Mountain



Sunset over Victorville/Hesperia



The entire time I saw no indications of bike tracks on the trail, just foot prints from hikers.




Status: Little Known - Unknown (except to hikers)
Distance: 3.5 mi (3N06 to CA-2), 2.0 mi for Acorn trail
Total Ascent/Descent: 2701’ (3N06 to CA-2), 2035’ for Acorn Trail


Ride reports in the Forgotten Gabes series:
Blue Ridge Trail – Forgotten Gabes: Blue Ridge Trail

[dstepper]

I have not forgotten it, ride up there a few times a year, my sister lives in Pinon Hills.

Take you for the report, after a couple of attempts I found the upper trailhead sign. I am glad to see that Acorn Trail is in good shape as I have wondered about its condition. The problem out there doing a good loop, I don't feel like climbing Acorn and to loop it from town is too much pavement. That said I is still on my to do list as it is a great hot weather ride.

Dean

[MTBBill]

Nice! Thanks, I have have done the Blue Ridge a few times, but have never take the Acorn turnoff. There a few pretty cool trails up there. Did you drive all the way there to do that ride or were you in the area for something else. It is a haul for me, but if I'm visiting my mother-in-law in Victorville, I'll try to sneak in something in the area.

[GP_pilot]

Originally Posted by MTBBill

Did you drive all the way there to do that ride or were you in the area for something else.

Work has me up in the Victorville/Palmdale area several days each week now for the next several months. I punch out by 5pm and have about 2 hrs to get a ride in each day before the light goes out.

[Dino Brown]

I had NO clue the trail even existed!
Just put it on "The List"

[art23rockpile]

Thanks for the RR. It looks like a fab area to ride.
Yet another trail to add to my growing 'must ride' list!

[Burner]

That's a great RR, thanks.

I nominate this for the RR of the week or whatever the new dealio is.

[mrmountainhop]

Nice report. Was thinking I'd explore the area this weekend - you've given me some extra motivation.

[Jslow]

nice ride report! I have had a lot of interest in this area lately. I've been exploring the lytle creek area and was thinking about riding swarthout canyon to lone pine, to lytle creek. Any info would be appreciated. I'm heading out there tomorrow its funny you posted about this area.

[kanga]

Thanks for being so thorough with this! I'm really looking forward to more, and getting up there one day.

[Sewellymon]

thanks for wetting my whistle. for me, the trails around wrightwood are the "forgotten" san gabs

time to refresh my memory..

[PacMan]

I wish I was up there riding it with you bro. I smell a Road Trip, eh?