Noble Canyon First-Timer

[FatPossum]

Hi All,

I am going to Noble Canyon this week and wanted some general advice. Any tips on the route I should take?

MtBikeBill names a few routes on his ride report, but I'm not sure which one to do.

Also, do I need an adventure pass like it says on Bill's website? If so, how can I get one?

Thanks for any advice you have to offer!


FatPossum

[Pato]

Originally Posted by FatPossum

Hi All,

I am going to Noble Canyon this week and wanted some general advice. Any tips on the route I should take?

MtBikeBill names a few routes on his ride report, but I'm not sure which one to do.

Also, do I need an adventure pass like it says on Bill's website? If so, how can I get one?

Thanks for any advice you have to offer!


FatPossum

I've never been there so I can't recommend any trails nor can I verify whether or not an adventure pass is needed. If you do need one, you can get a day pass at any REI location or you should be able to get it near the trailhead entrance. It's usually $5 or so. If you frequent places that require one, I'd suggest you get an annual pass. Better yet, find someone who needs one also and buy an annual pass and a second car pass for an additional $5 at REI and split the total cost between the two of you.

[Patrick]

I don't recall an adveture pass, maybe. I'd try to go the "long route" where you ride along the highway at the top. You"ll see a trail marker a few miles up the road, past the camp ground. I say this beacuse there is some really epic cross country single track up there and add to the ride. Nothing to strenious, though meadows and pines, really fun middle ring cruising before you get to the more technical faster decents.

[jonathan_sykes81]

Yes, you do need an adventure pass. Like everyone said, it's only $5 but if you plan on going to CNF often just buy the year pass for $30. I say that if you are going to go out there you might as well do the full tour. When are you planning on going? I have a 4-day weekend coming up and I might be able to go. The route on Bill's site has a little bit of road riding that can be avoided if you go the route described in my RR. The totals for this ride are 31 miles with a little over 5100ft of climbing.
le Tour de Noble

[CalEpic]

Check the weather forecast and bring lots of water. It can get pretty hot there.

If you can endure the heckling, you can shuttle it also.

[FatPossum]

Originally Posted by jonathan_sykes81

Yes, you do need an adventure pass. Like everyone said, it's only $5 but if you plan on going to CNF often just buy the year pass for $30. I say that if you are going to go out there you might as well do the full tour. When are you planning on going? I have a 4-day weekend coming up and I might be able to go. The route on Bill's site has a little bit of road riding that can be avoided if you go the route described in my RR. The totals for this ride are 31 miles with a little over 5100ft of climbing.
le Tour de Noble

Thanks - I will check out your rr.

We are going on thursday (7/4) in the morning. How long is your ride you describe in your RR vs MtBikeBills?

Thanks - Joe

[ericfoltz]

Gonna be hot. Try this:

http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=3398

[bikerider]

I have ridden it about a 100 with varying loops. Having said that i would say the standard route is an epic ride by itself. I would park in the parking lot off Pine Creek rd (yes you need a FA pass) Ride up the pavement, hang a right at the big Oak tree and continue up the pavement to Sunrise Highway. make a right on sunrise highway. about a mile up there is a turn out and the trail starts on the right. About 200 yards down the trail there is a sign post that points to Noble canyon, straight ahead or big laguna lake to the left. If you are feeling strong take the out and back out to the lake. it's fun, scenic and rolling and you won't get lost. Once you are on the trail it's pretty easy to follow. You do cross the road that you climbed several times. At the bottom of the trail, after you've come out of the forest, and are back in the scrub brush, the trail goes to the right and back up to the paved road. At this point just go down the paved road and you will be at your car in 5+ minutes. Or if you haven't had your fill and are ready for some more climbing go left here. You need to watch for the trail and follow the tire treads but within a quarter mile you cross a wash. the climb takes about 15-20 minutes but is well worth it. the last descent is the most technical with some rocky sections going into switch backs. This actually drops you off right in the parking lot next to your car... Good luck and have fun.

[m0to]

Bring a friend! Yesterday three of us were riding and came across a guy and a girl. She was badly injured. We got them all out but if you're alone, no telling how long you could be hanging out waiting for help.

Otherwise, enjoy the ride!

[CPATCRASH]

I was there Saturday and it was HOT climbing up. I think it will be hotter this coming weekend. Drink all your water on the climb and refill once your at the top. The water is good and cold. I stuck my head under it and that felt awesome! Have fun!

[PacMan]

Originally Posted by FatPossum

Thanks - I will check out your rr.

We are going on thursday (7/4) in the morning. How long is your ride you describe in your RR vs MtBikeBills?

Thanks - Joe

Thursday is July 3rd. If you're looking to do it on the 4th (holiday), that'll be Friday.

As others have already said--it's going to be HOT out there. Bring lot's of water and be careful. More importantly--have fun and take pics!!

[Docklobster]

Are you guys riding Thursday the 3rd or Friday the 4th, I would be interested in joining a group on the 3rd....

[SnookDawg]

With any luck I will be riding either Noble or Cuyamaca Friday early. I usually start around 7:00AM, so not sure if that's too early. I am bringing a friend along on his first ride out there so it's going to be up to him whether we do Noble or Cuyamaca.

Fatpossum, you can take bikerider's route up, which is certainly a good way to go the first time. I personally think going straight over the back down the fire-road at the Oak Tree is the way to go, as you then hook up with Indian Creek Trail a couple miles later - a single track on the right going uphill, with a trail sign-post. You will do overall more climbing this route for sure, but the Indian Creek trail is a lot of fun, mixes in an additional short downhill section and presents a lot of challenging technical uphill, which is more interesting than slogging it all the way up the paved road.

You can crank out the ride in 2.5 hours riding up the road, and it's more like 3.5 hours if you climb Indian Creek. These times are if you're in good climbing shape and maybe with a couple 10 minute stops to eat some trail mix.

[OldDogDan]

You can get your pass in RB:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardin...&submit=Submit

[FatPossum]

We will be going Friday the 4th. Sorry about the confusion. We will be looking to hit the trail before 8am.

Originally Posted by Docklobster

Are you guys riding Thursday the 3rd or Friday the 4th, I would be interested in joining a group on the 3rd....

[FatPossum]

[quote=SnookDawg;326987]With any luck I will be riding either Noble or Cuyamaca Friday early. I usually start around 7:00AM, so not sure if that's too early. I am bringing a friend along on his first ride out there so it's going to be up to him whether we do Noble or Cuyamaca.


We are leaving from Rancho Bernardo around 630 and hope to be on the trail before 8am. Let me know via PM if you end up doing Noble and would like to wait about 30 or 40 minutes for us to get out there. That would be awesome to have an experienced guide. The Indian creek climbing sounds good - my group of guys are in pretty good shape and are amped up to try this ride. Hope to see you out there.

FP