RR: Cucamonga Canyon, Alta Loma, CA 12/27

[gurp13]

Took a ride up Cucamonga Canyon. You know, I think this could be a decent ride and a fun trail. It's not heavily traveled and there's some real nice views, as you can see from the photos. The trail is *not* well-maintained which means there's plenty of tech. It looks like someone has done some bushwacking, but otherwise, no work on the trail.







The trail is steep, I mean really steep, for the first 1.5 miles. It's rideable but it's steep enough to make you question your commitment to riding it at all. It really makes you earn it. But, at the top, you get some incredible views of the valley. Then, some fun, technical switchbacks and you get to the saddle.







I went up 5.5 miles in all. No idea how much elevation gained, but it was all climbing all the way. The return trip was a blast. 5.5 miles of pure downhill with rocks galore! But, watch that exposure!

I hope to make more of a ride of it with others in the future. Hope some people might be up to doing some work up there too. There's good riding in those hills!

[Pain Freak]

Hey, I can see my house! (almost).

Yeah, these are the switchbacks you can see from the 210. Gurp has given a fairly good description of the part he rode, but the sign that says 24 miles to Lytle Creek is VERY misleading. That will be some of the hardest miles ever traveled with a mountain bike. I wouldn't suggest doing it at this time as there are numerous road/path collapses along the way and in a few places quite dangerous. The local ranger station (Lytle Creek) asked that we don't ride this all the way through at this time. There are plans to go back up there and recut the trail, but they are working on the more commonly used trails first. But as an out and back, this can be a really good ride.It's one of the steepest the local mountains have to offer, considering the sustained climbing. I'd say just ride 7 to 12 miles then turn around and enjoy a screaming downhill.

[Sharky]

What a trip...that's the sign I was telling him about which I painted the lettering back when I worked seasonal with the Forest Service !! Can't believe it's still there ...the trails not looking as good !! Fun days with the Forest Service during fire season getting up in areas where no man had ever even walked before...but also extremely sad watching the destruction of fire and the wildlife it took with it . We definitely need to get some trail work going up there. Could open up some new areas for us to ride?? Nice job Glenn.
THANKS for the pics and the RR.

[gurp13]

Thanks, both of you. I agree, Mike, I'm not saying we should ride to Lytle Creek. But, I *do* want to go further back along that trail. It was really pretty back there. And, it feels extremely remote once you get on the backside of that trail. I saw a lot of animal scat. You don't see that on some trails around here because they're so heavily traveled. I hope we can organize a ride up there in the next couple of weeks. It's definitely a fun ride down, for sure, even though you pay in advance on the way up!

Sharky, you did that sign in the panorama? What a trip!

[Sharky]

Actually the sign in the first pic although they changed the last line since. Made it at the Sycamore Station where I worked at the time off the 15 past Sierra. These were such well travelled fireroads at the time it's surprising to see them now in their current condition. Beautiful pics...I'd like to see about joining you up there. I'm assumng you started at the end of Sapphire ??

[RidetheRAAM4]

Originally Posted by gurp13

Thanks, both of you. I agree, Mike, I'm not saying we should ride to Lytle Creek. But, I *do* want to go further back along that trail. It was really pretty back there. And, it feels extremely remote once you get on the backside of that trail. I saw a lot of animal scat. You don't see that on some trails around here because they're so heavily traveled. I hope we can organize a ride up there in the next couple of weeks. It's definitely a fun ride down, for sure, even though you pay in advance on the way up!

Sharky, you did that sign in the panorama? What a trip!

You can also come visit me and we can take a trip up from the lytle creek side and ride it up that way for who knows how long. I have never made the ride with my bike computer thing but there is tons of climbing

[gurp13]

Yeah, RTR4, I've been up the San Sevaine fireroad (from the Lytle Creek side). It's six miles to the top. Some of it's moderately steep, but not bad. It does wear you out though. The trouble is, as Pain Freak says above, the trip all the way across is tough, if not impossible. Boulder fields and whatnot. If you go up the Cuca Cyn side, and come back down, you *do* get a fun downhill singletrack that's pretty technical. It's closer to the campground, too, I think. In all, I think if the trail was restored, I think the whole trip would be pretty cool!

[Pain Freak]

Pack a lunch....

A BIG lunch.

[mrtawney]

I rode this in late November. I was getting ready for the 50 miles for Rwanda. As I climbed I thought I was in The Lord of the Rings- The mountain never stopped. Tough climb, but worth it- I made it to the San Savine gate about 5.6 miles up-
I live about a 5 mile ride to the trail head- I'd love to ride with some others up the beast-If the wind ever stops long enough.
I had a spill on Christmas Eve- so the wife wants to make sure I ride with others-

[Pain Freak]

Welcome MrTawney, We were thinking of starting from the other side from Saphire street in Alta Loma or is it Cucamonga? Anyways the side from Lytle Creek up to the San Sevaine gate is a ride I've done a dozen or so times, it's definitely the easier way from the bottom. What I'd like to try to do is start from Saphire and go to the campground, then turn around and come back down. I did this ride 3 or 4 years back (Lytle Creek side) and after you go past the San Sevaine gate the road becomes quite dangerous. If memory serves me right, it wasn't to bad on the other side going down after the old Joe Elliot Campgound. So what we are talking about is about 12 miles of climbing, some very difficult climbing. This will be a slower paced ride, with some breaks, so if anyone is looking to set a new land speed record, this may not be your ride.

[mrtawney]

I'm game- I just did Harding Truck on Saturday up and back about 25 miles from Cook's- I don't mind the climb but I really suck at the down part- So SLOW is really good for me-
I'm just stoked to have more people to ride with-

[Pain Freak]

Let me check with Sir Gurp and we will solidify a day.

[gurp13]

Yeah, let's do it. I'll have to check for dates, too and see what works! Dood, this will be fun!!

[RidetheRAAM4]

Originally Posted by mrtawney

I rode this in late November. I was getting ready for the 50 miles for Rwanda. As I climbed I thought I was in The Lord of the Rings- The mountain never stopped. Tough climb, but worth it- I made it to the San Savine gate about 5.6 miles up-
I live about a 5 mile ride to the trail head- I'd love to ride with some others up the beast-If the wind ever stops long enough.
I had a spill on Christmas Eve- so the wife wants to make sure I ride with others-

I am about a 3 mile ride to the san sevain road. I'm in Las Collinas in rialto, where are you at?

[mrtawney]

I'm in summit heights. I just crank up Lytle Creek, do the rolling hills as a warm-up then hit the trail head. I ride to work (work at Los Osos High School) every day. On Fridays. I go up Lytle to meet the Num and we ride to work together.
A user here, NumChek, also lives in Los Collinas- Off of W. Sunnyview- First turn off of Riverside going towards Rialto-

[SScheetz]

Originally Posted by gurp13

Yeah, let's do it. I'll have to check for dates, too and see what works! Dood, this will be fun!!

I'm in!

[dirttorpeedo]

Originally Posted by mrtawney

I'm in summit heights. I just crank up Lytle Creek, do the rolling hills as a warm-up then hit the trail head. I ride to work (work at Los Osos High School) every day. On Fridays. I go up Lytle to meet the Num and we ride to work together.
A user here, NumChek, also lives in Los Collinas- Off of W. Sunnyview- First turn off of Riverside going towards Rialto-

hey my kids go to los osos.

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

Pack a lunch....

A BIG lunch.

yes jon (ride to live) and other peeps did this ride a year ago,about 13 mi. in you get to the BIGGEST boulder fields.those guys made a left turn and came down the rong way and ended up at the top of haven ave in cucamonga,i hadda go get em cause they were cooked.sounds fun!

[auger]

New to this forum. I live by Los Osos and do a lot lot riding after work above Los O. Usuall go up by the drain canal beside the fire station on Banyan then take the roads and trails to Etiwanda falls then back down above the Etiwanda Preserve. Question where do access the trail in the pictures? On the first post where is this sign.? Thanks

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by auger

New to this forum. I live by Los Osos and do a lot lot riding after work above Los O. Usuall go up by the drain canal beside the fire station on Banyan then take the roads and trails to Etiwanda falls then back down above the Etiwanda Preserve. Question where do access the trail in the pictures? On the first post where is this sign.? Thanks

Welcome aboard.

Same road as what Mike and I rode see San Sevaine thread for more info.

Dean

[b-rad!]

Gurp, a few weeks ago i rode from my house to the trail you're talking about here. Took the exposed singletrack up, connected with more fireroad, and actually climbed all the way to the Baldy Village. Talk about an amazing ride! Kinda sketchy by myself, especially with 3 flats that eventually left me stranded on the hwy(hitched a ride down)

Anyways, looks to be some cool loops that can be developed, as there was several other singletracks i'd like to check out if someone is game!