RR: John Elliott Trail: San Bernardino National Forest

[dstepper]

First off I do not post all of my rides. I post the rides that are new to me, with the hope that it will encourage others to get out and try new trails. There is so much to ride that it is a shame to ride the same old tired trails week after week.

Route: Mountain Home Center to Angelus Oaks. 6.51 miles one way to Post Office and 2229 ft of climbing. Easy climb, a stay in the seat singlespeed climb. It surprized me, this trail sees alot of MTB traffic. It loosely follows Mountain Home Creek up the mountain and there are some lush forested spots were the fires missed. One place must have a excellent waterfall during the winter that comes right down on the trail...would be worth investagating next winter.

History of Trail. This trail is also known as Old Highway 38. It was the original autoroute to get to Big Bear. It was one lane up the mountain, in dem olde days they let cars go up for three hours then they let cars come down for three hours. Once you got to Angelus Oak you took Middle Control Road; then called Mill Creek Road to Clarks Grade then up to Big Bear.

The trail is a mixture of pavement, dirt, double track, single track and something rare…paved singletrack. I would not want to climb this when it was hot out but it was very pleasant today. This ride can be put in the beginner’s category as you can stop at anytime and coast back out…it is all uphill. I must be easily entertained, I liked this ride and would do it again. To make the climb worthwhile I did the SART Post Office Loop up on top to get in some more miles. Here are a few pics, plus the handlebar shot for my friend Allison.

[FONT=Times New Roman]Dean[/FONT]

[allison]

Awesome shots, Dean!! Looks like it might be a nice option for a weekend camp out up at the campground at the far end of SART if it's nearby.

[gurp13]

That trail looks okay, I guess. I would ride it if someone gave me a dollar for gas.

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by gurp13

That trail looks okay, I guess. I would ride it if someone gave me a dollar for gas.

How much is it going to cost me to get you to ride Kernville with us?

Dean

[gurp13]

Oh, shoot, I ride up there for free, brother. I'm generous!

[Pain Freak]

He's going if I have to drag his fat ass out of his house with his kids screaming and hollerin.

Nice find, Dean. I've never even remember reading about that one. I know I've rode on old portions of the 38, so I may have rode this and just didn't know the name.

[CC]

Dean, I really love these pictures...if your going back I feel *cough**cough* a cold coming on. =)

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by cyclecc

Dean, I really love these pictures...if your going back I feel *cough**cough* a cold coming on. =)

Tomorrow I am going a little further up the mountain well past South Fork Campground and do some exploring in the Heart Bar/Coon Creek Jumpoff Area.

I am always open to company, except I can not guaranty what type of ride it will be. I can tell you that it will be high altitude, forested and the PCT runs through that area.

Dean

[Pain Freak]

Not sure if it's open to bikes, but it is a 4WD trail so possibly. Fish Creek looked to be an awesome trail to me. We accidently took my truck down it one day and we just barely made it. Almost turned the truck over a few times, but there is a good line to follow down. If you find it, try it, I'm sure you'll be pleased.

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

Not sure if it's open to bikes, but it is a 4WD trail so possibly. Fish Creek looked to be an awesome trail to me. We accidently took my truck down it one day and we just barely made it. Almost turned the truck over a few times, but there is a good line to follow down. If you find it, try it, I'm sure you'll be pleased.

The Forest Service has a new map of the San Bernardinos...it has givin me half a dozen ideas for new rides. It has also changed some of the plans I have made with other MTBers to brushout Siberia Creek Trail. Forest Service has renamed Siberia Creek Trail to Gunsight/Siberia Creek Trail and it ends two miles below Gunsight. The trail named Camp Creek Trail has been renamed Siberia Creek Trail and comes off the backside of Snow Valley Ski Area, thru Siberia Creek Hike In Camp and over to Clarks Grade. I have been eyeing that drop-in and it may not be rideable...is crazy steep. First off I have to get a closer look which means some long fireroad miles in that canyon below Keller Peak.

Dean

[Pain Freak]

Let's do it!!!

[sheclimbs]

Feels like there's plenty up there for a weekend. Camping trip?

[ghixon]

Looks like a fun afternoon trail. I haven't riden this one yet.

[dstepper]

I posted a JPG Topo Map of the ride in the downloads section.

Dean

[Burner]

grrrrrrrrrrr

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by Burner

grrrrrrrrrrr

If you are grrrrrring now, wait until the Plunge pics!

Dean...without a corporate job.

[Burner]

I finally get back to town late tomorrow night, I plan on riding fri afternoon, sat am, and sun am locally...

I'm ok missing the adventure riding this weekend, since it's my favorite weekend in LA (for the last 10 years), I'll be at the playboy jazz fest both days and nights.

Mat.... corporate out-of-shape sellout