5/3 san juan or el prieto

[pumbaxc]

hey all...

i just got some time off last minute and i'm looking to do some new rides. i'm thinking about doing el prieto thursday, may 3rd, and the san juan trail friday, may 4th.

this will be my first time on these trails. i'm a strong intermediate rider, average speed. i'd like to have some company. which ride i do on which day doesn't matter to me that much, and i'm open to other suggestions.

[dubjay]

Unfortunately, I can't join you, but I've ridden El Prieto once using GPS navigation from Geoladders. Satellite coverage once you get onto the El Prieto singletrack is spotty and not very reliable. The only advice I can give you is that whenever you run into a fork, take the one that goes down. If you keep doing that, you'll find yourself at the bottom eventually.

[MTBMaven]

Originally Posted by dubjay

The only advice I can give you is that whenever you run into a fork, take the one that goes down.

I have to disagree with that because I know the trail. There are some good side trails that will get you to the bottom but require uphills at the start. The two I'm thinking of are uphills that branch off to the right. The two that you do not want to take branch off to the left. So in short if you want good side trails exit to the right only. El P is a great trail that pack a lot of fun into a 2 mile trail. dubjay is definitely correct that if you want the guaranteed route to down follow trails that take you downhill.

[Bergsteiger]

I rode El Prieto with MTBMaven, aka the Doc for the first time 2 weeks ago and loved it. The trail is under thick canopy and there are numereous fun creek crossings.
Highly reccommend it.

[dubjay]

Originally Posted by MTBMaven

I have to disagree with that because I know the trail. There are some good side trails that will get you to the bottom but require uphills at the start. The two I'm thinking of are uphills that branch off to the right. The two that you do not want to take branch off to the left. So in short if you want good side trails exit to the right only. El P is a great trail that pack a lot of fun into a 2 mile trail. dubjay is definitely correct that if you want the guaranteed route to down follow trails that take you downhill.

Yeah - listen to MTBMaven. When I got "lost" there, I ended up taking a right somewhere and started climbing..and next thing I knew...I was at the beginning of the El P singletrack again.

Definitely fun stuff though - stream crossings, switchbacks and very lush.

[dstepper]

Add huge leaves of Poison Oak. Seems like that whole canyon is Poison Oak. Stay on the trail!