Ride Review: Barrett-Stoddard "Truck" Trail

I'd had Barrett-Stoddard bookmarked for a while now and had found a few reviews of it, mostly from hikers, a fire road, with some slight to moderate climbing - well, that seemed to be the general gist of it... One site did mention about the glass in the parking area and about not leaving valuables in your car. As I turn in I see some guy in bushes. Sod it, I'm already here, I'll risk it. I unload my bike and by the time I'm done turns out its so local old guy out playing/walking his dog... We exchange pleasantries and he asks me if I'm going to "the flats". I tell him I'm just out for an easy ride, and see how far I go.

I think the term "the flats" are a joke by the locals played on unsuspecting visitors...

Almost immediately there's a stream crossing, only a couple of inches deep, but fast flowing and very very cold. And so the climbing begins. Its not horrendous, but all my rides recently have been flat(ish) and soon I'm huffing and puffing. The early morning warmth of the parking lot has given way to very chilly air, the trail at this point is thick with trees - and silence. The second stream crossing and several cabins precede a gate, which states "Road Closed", well, it is, but hiking and bikes are ok. The trail contines to climb, and at about 1.5 maybe 2 miles, the trees thin out and open up and I assumed I was at "the flats" except as I round a couple of bends, the trail starts to descend.

And change. Under the umbrella of branches, the trail had been leafy and tacky. The local residents frequent use also means its fairly clear. Out in the open now, the trail is hard, with occasional stones/loose rocks. But as the descent continues (and it does continue), the trail is starting to get rougher. Sandy spots begin to appear in the dips, meanwhile stones and loose rock seem to be getting larger as the trail narrows. This is no longer a fire road, this is double track, nature is reclaiming the trail, it seems not many people are coming this far.

At about 3.5 or 4 moles, there are now sizable rocks on the trail. And the trail has continued to narrow - its now down to single track, at its widest! Prepare to have shins/lower legs scraped. By now I'm forgetting myself, out by myself, a few miles from anywhere on a trail that is obviously used infrequently, I'm having fun descending this over grown, slightly technical swoopy trail, all the while watching out for the occasional exposure. A few bends/corners are getting washed out, and maybe at some stage may become impassible. A downed tree also causes a dismount, and there's a fourth very small (probably season) stream.

Then once again, I appear to be at a "flat", but its not... The trail begins descending.

Again. By this time, I'm back in cell phone coverage and a text from my wife says she'll be finishing work early, and I have to pick her up.

I continue to descend a little way further, but then think better of it and begin my trek back. At this point I thought there was something odd anyway... I was actually just past the junction/turn off for W Cucamonga Truck Trail. Barrett-Stoddard was pretty much over grown and I couldn't really see it compared to Cucamonga. If I'd had time, I would've checked my map more thoroughly, but I wasn't that far from the end anyway.

I wanted to get this ride in before any more rain, but long enough after the previous rain. It was a perfect day, beautiful weather, it was 75 when I arrived back at the car, and apart from some hike-a-bike (for me) and the way back a nice ride on a trail I'd never been on before.

.



Near the start, looking up



Obligatory bike pic masquerading as a pic of the trail



Near the top



Looking back down the trail from near the top



View from the top looking south(ish)



Along the top



Singletrack heading down



(cross posted)

 

Nice thanks for the RR.

Dean

 

looks like fun, thanks

 

I thought this was in the wilderness area. It must just skirt the wilderness area since by def there are no roads in the wilderness LOL

A few years back I was going towards Ice House but instead went to Joe Elliot.......which is the other end of the same basic trail except not in the wilderness area

 

andy,
did you start on baldy road? where did you end up,sapphire st in rancho?
ive done this starting in rNcho ,up to baldy then looping back to rNcho down baldy

 

Nothing I'd read when researching this trail mentioned anything about it being wilderness. I'll keep checking, and if it is, I'll ask for this thread to be deleted.

I started on Mt Baldy road at the Barrett-Stoddard parking area. Everything I'd read indicated this was an out 'n' back (except where it connects to W Cucamonga Truck Trail near its end). Which is what I did. I wasn't looking for an epic ride, everything said it was a fire road, which is what I was looking to ride.

 

Cucamonga wilderness is anchored on the left side of the road almost all the way to the West C truck trail. The east boundary is about a mile west of Joe Elliot. Nice country in the high chaparral-yellow pine forest

 

thanks for sharing

 

Always cool to see and hear about the less traveled San Gabe areas. Thanks