RR: Redbox to Mount Wilson to Valley Forge via Kenyon Devore (formerly Rattlesnake)

[kamaekia]

I thought I would check out a new trail to me, the Kenyon Devore trail. The plan was to ride from Redbox up to Mount Wilson and then down the Kenyon Devore (formerly Rattlesnake) trail and then take part of the Gabrielino back to Redbox and then go up to Eaton saddle and then go down the Valley Forge trail.

The weather was perfect for riding. I started at Redbox and did the climb up to Mount Wilson on the road. It is a moderate climb with some views here and there. I made my way up to the antenna farm there. It is about 5 miles from Redbox up to the Antenna farm

Now the fun began. I had never been on the Kenyon Devore trail before. Looking at the map, it looked pretty steep. But to my surprise, the trail is very ridable and a whole lot of dun. I would say 99.5% of the trail is in excellent condition and flows very well. The trail starts of mildly and descends, but then picks up the angle of descent. There were a couple of trees sticking out into the trail that I decided to stop and walk around. The roots are almost completely exposed. I am guessing in the next big rain or two, these trees will topple over.

Since I am coming down the back side of Mount Wilson, the route is pretty much covered the whole way. And since there is pretty dense tree cover, there aren't that many views to be had of the backside of the San Gabriels. Of course, it is hard to stop since the trail is so much fun coming down. There is some exposure as you descend, but the trail was in very good condition and seemed solid in that there the trail didn't seem like it would give away it you got to the edge like parts of other trails, particularly the the Gabrielino trail I was about to take.

The only hike a bike sections were a couple of the stream crossings. After about 3 miles of descending with a big grin on your face, you come to an intersection with the Gabrielino trail. One way goes down to the West Fork campground and the other way goes to Valley Forge. I thought I would take the route over to Valley Forge. I hadn't been on that part of the Gab in a while. Now I remember why I hadn't been on it in a while.

Parts of the Gabrielino trail in this area really just suck to me. From the narrow, off-camber trail to the overgrown bushes to the sometimes fragile trail, it just wasn't really a whole lot of fun to ride. So I will keep a mental note, just take the fireroad next time. After about 1.5 miles of this, I got the next trail junction where you meet the Valley Forge trail that comes down from Eaton saddle. Shortly after this trail junction, you can then take a fun little trail down to the Valley Forge campground. A word of caution in this trail is that the PO is encroaching onto the trail, so you have to keep a tight line. The Valley Forge campground consists of a couple of toilets, a few benches and areas to pitch tents. There is a stream next to the campground that had plenty of water in it.

Now began the grind back up to Redbox on the fireroad. It is about a 3 mile ride back to Redbox.

The plan had been to do a lap on Valley Forge, but due to time constraints, I had to get back to the family.

Some final thoughts. As long as you don't mind the exposure here and there, it is really a nice ride on the Kenyon Devore trail. I certainly had a big grin on my face coming down this trail. But, for only about 3 miles of fun singletrack, you have to pay of lot of dues of climbing, first up to Mount Wilson and then from Valley Forge back to Redbox. Next time, I will have to loop in something else, but it was a new trail to explore and was fun riding.

Here are some pictures:
1. Mount Wilson antenna farm in the distance.
2. Backside of the San Gabriels looking towards Chilao.
3. Trailhead.
4-7. Some nice singletrack.
8. Exposed tree on Kenyon Devore trail.
9-10. More goodness.
11. Exposure.
12. A fallen tree.
13. Stream crossing requiring a hike a bike for me.
14-15. More fun.
16. Lots of water still coming down.
17. Taking a break to look at the water.
18. Junction with the Gabrielino.
19. Stream crossing to get onto the Gabrielino. Note the PO.
20. One of the few fun sections of the Gab.

More pictures to follow...

[kamaekia]

1. Another ridable part of the Gab.
2. Intersection of the Valley Forge Trail from Eaton Saddle.
3. Going down to Valley Forge Campground.
4-5. Trail down to Valley Forge.
6-7. Valley Forge Campground.

[dstepper]

Thanks for the RR, I really like that trail great ride when it is hot out...until you climb back up to Redbox.

I know that trail well and it is the reason I say "friends don't let friends ride Small Block 8's". I tried stopping coming down that trail and to make a long story short I went off the trail and ended up in the water.

Dean

[art23rockpile]

Nice RR!
Thanks for posting it.
Aside from the PO and multiple stream crossings, I love the Gabrielino trail.

[scottay]

Thanks for the RR. Can I piggy back some more info?! We did Strawberry Peak, RedBox, Switzers saturday morn. The Strawberry side is in nice shape, with some bushes sticking out. But there were a bunch volunteers working the trail, so its prolly really cleaned up now. We gave our thanks to lots of them as they let us thru.
The drop in from RedBox is trashed and the rocks are relentless! But its in pretty good shape also.....


scott
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[Blue Rat]

Nice!!

Thanks for sharing.

[JoeTruth]

Nice Ride Report. That's a good little back-country adventure. I had a couple of friends do that same ride about 2-3 years ago and their impression of the ride was almost identical to yours. Too much deposit and not enough withdrawal. Plus, no happy ending and coming out of the canyon floor as too much HAB'ing and bush whacking.

Art, this is the other (north) side of the Gab. Not the one you all rode recently.

[kamaekia]

But I would never know unless I rode the trail. That is why I ride, to get out there and explore.

[JoeTruth]

No doubt about it & I never implied otherwise. Exploring is part of the adventure and fun. Saying that, I try to use good judgment and not get myself in over my head. That's when an adventure could easily turn into a search and rescue. Thanks again!

Originally Posted by kamaekia

But I would never know unless I rode the trail. That is why I ride, to get out there and explore.

[gregg]

That is one of my favorite trails. I go up Strawberry first then do your loop. I enjoy those goat trails more than the fireroad climb up to Red Box.

I never see mtb tracks on Kenyon Devore Trail. Great ride report.

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by art23rockpile

Nice RR!

Aside from the PO and multiple stream crossings, I love the Gabrielino trail.

Art he is that about a different part of the Gab, he is talking about from West Fork Campground to Redbox. That section is a much tougher section to ride.

Dean

[kamaekia]

He must be referring to the section from Redbox to Switzer. That is the usual add-on to Strawberry peak.

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by kamaekia

He must be referring to the section from Redbox to Switzer. That is the usual add-on to Strawberry peak.

Yep...and the rest of the way to JPL.

Dean

[ChariotsOfTires]

Sweet RR. Thanks! One question. How tall are you? That Spechy is huge. No offense intented, but I don't know if my 5'10"/ 31 in inseam self could stand overt that.
Love the ride!!!!

[kamaekia]

I go 6'3", 230 lbs. It is an XL, for sure!

[stjunkie]

Thanks for the report. Rattlesnake is also one of my favorites.

One version I like to do when it's hot is to start at Switzer and climb the Gab to redbox. From there, climb up to Mt Disappointment on pavement (not all the way to the peak). There is a somewhat scary but short trail from there that drops down to Mt. Lowe road. Drop down through the tunnel to Wilson rd and the follow the same route as you did. We usually take the Gab east all the way down to ????? Fork campgound and take the fireroad up from there. The only reason for starting at Switzer is to have a downhill at the end of the ride.

[art23rockpile]

Originally Posted by dstepper

Art he is that about a different part of the Gab, he is talking about from West Fork Campground to Redbox. That section is a much tougher section to ride.

Dean

Cool!
I'll have to check the trails he mentioned on my handy map... more Gabs trails to explore. I'm there!