Ride Report Santa Rosa "Sugar Loaf" Trail

Discussion in 'Ride Reports' started by IDY-Craig, May 24, 2009.

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  1. IDY-Craig

    IDY-Craig Lake Arrowhead

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    I am very happy to report that I succesfully linked the Santa Rosa-Toro Peak trail to the Sawmill trail for a great 29 mile loop that bags over 5000 feet, offers self-serve spring water (mmmmm), captures some serious 365 views from the Toro Peak, and gives back a blaze fest-o-chunk run down to the starting car spot!! WooHoo!

    So here are the details and some pictures...

    Geo Route: http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=24025
    Ride time: about 4.5 hours (I took a real easy pace)
    Elevation Gain: 5,524 ft.
    Mileage: 29.6 miles
    Start: Sugar Loaf Cafe/Pinyon Pines Fire Station
    End: Same; loop

    Essential Foods and Fluids...
    00-Nutrition.jpg ​

    After a 4 mile road ride from the Sugar Loaf Cafe you turn left to start the 13 mile climb up the Santa Rosa truck trail. (The sign says 10, but you aren't going to Santa Rosa...you're going beyond!)
    Santa Rosa Up
    01-SantaRosa.JPG ​

    Looking back on some of the work...
    Climb Above Garnet Queen Creek (dry)
    02-Climb.JPG ​

    At about mile 12 you reach a fork that takes you down to the Santa Rosa Spring. Mountain Bike Bill turned me on to this oh so critical refill spot on his ride report (http://www.mountainbikebill.com/SantaRosaMt.htm).
    THANKS BILL!
    When comparing my waypoints to his, keep in mind that my description has an extra 4 miles added at the start.
    I can't say enough how incredibly killer this water spot was. So Cold, So Delicious!
    Santa Rosa Spring
    03-Spring.JPG ​

    There are 3 picnic tables, the lower one with two flats for tents...there is a bathroom too, but I would rather use the forest personally8-[!
    04-Spring.JPG ​

    After you get back to the climbing on your way to Stump Springs Campground you start to pass a few tree/rock signs like this one...
    Fire Safety
    05-Sign.JPG ​

    You'll know when you reach Stump Springs by observing the giant stack of cut tree's stacked up like a pyramid on your left (can't miss). Keep that landmark in mind because you will be turning here on your way down.
    For now you peddal past and at the next fork stay to the right. Up you go to Toro Peak and some of the best views offered.
    You will pass three gates along the way...this is the last one and where I began the HAB. It's only a few hundred feet up to the peak but the grade is stiff and deep with sand...I was not worthy:?:.
    Toro HAB
    06-ToroHike.JPG ​

    Ahhh...
    Toro Peak
    07-ToroPeak.JPG ​

    Geodetic Marker
    08_Geodetic.JPG ​

    Salton Sea in the background
    09-SaltonSea.JPG ​

    Thats Pinyon Pines below and the beginning of the Palm Canyon ride:bang:
    Palm Overlook
    10-PalmCanyonRide.JPG ​

    I got a little picture happy, but hey I did just whack 5k+ so deal with it:lol:!!
    Gratuitous Peak Shots
    11-Toro.JPG ​

    12-ToroBest.JPG ​

    13-KickinIt.JPG ​

    Once you start to head down, remember to turn right near the Log Pile. There are a few variations, but essentially if you just work your way down the hill side you will hit the logging road within a hundred feet or so. Once you intersect TURN RIGHT and prepare to hang on. The trail gets steep and chunky quick. Drop that seat and open that suspension. The logging run ends at the old sawmill. You'll see it and should continue to the RIGHT to stay on track. It's about a 6 mile blaze fest down to the Sugar Loaf Cafe.
    Sawmill Kiln
    14-Sawmill.jpg ​

    I checked in/out with the guys at the fire house before and after. Tom and Rob...super cool and very glad that I let them know my route (in case they needed to come looking).

    The temps were mild 70's all day (while it was 99 in Palm Springs). Very little traffic, very blue skies!

    That's it
    Happy Memorial Day!
    Craig
     
    IDY-Craig, May 24, 2009
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  2. Fatty Los

    Fatty Los New Member

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    Sweet pics. I almost wish I would have done a long ride vs. sitting at the beach all day bbq'n and drinking beer while checking out some scenery..... ok. I'm lying.
     
    Fatty Los, May 25, 2009
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  3. IDY-Craig

    IDY-Craig Lake Arrowhead

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    If only there was a way to merge the two...soooo sweet!
     
    IDY-Craig, May 25, 2009
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  4. jamisjake

    jamisjake Active Member

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    Nice, man! Sounds like a killer ride! SimonMTB and myself are planning on doing santa rosa/sawmill soon as well!
     
    jamisjake, May 25, 2009
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  5. Ride2live32

    Ride2live32 New Member

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    Jamisjake and I did that today, even though I got tired too soon on an DH/fr bike.. hope to get an xc bike to do longer rides.
     
    Ride2live32, May 25, 2009
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  6. dstepper

    dstepper (R.I.P.) Over the hill

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    Excellent job.....

    Dean
     
    dstepper, May 25, 2009
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  7. chevrolegs

    chevrolegs Active Member

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    How do you keep the beer cold??
     
    chevrolegs, May 25, 2009
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  8. IDY-Craig

    IDY-Craig Lake Arrowhead

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    Once I take it out of the cooler and open it, I try to drink it in the shade:lol:!
     
    IDY-Craig, May 25, 2009
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  9. CalEpic

    CalEpic member

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    Great RR!

    I have a couple questions. Is it feasible to shuttle to the top or nearly so and use that as the starting point for a Palm Canyon Super ride?

    Also, doing the route you did, do you see this as a summer ride possibility?
     
    CalEpic, May 25, 2009
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  10. art23rockpile

    art23rockpile Minus Delta T

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    Excellent RR! Since its in an area i've never ridden before, it has me scrambling for my maps to scrutinize your route. :)

    It's great that the temps were only in the 70s. My guess is that on a warm day, that would be a tough ride (for me, at any rate).
     
    art23rockpile, May 25, 2009
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  11. dstepper

    dstepper (R.I.P.) Over the hill

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    I went out there the Sunday of STR Hurkey Creek Campout and although you could shuttle to Stump Springs it just does not seem worth it as it would be a long drive to go back and get the car. Now if someone was to drop you off! The very top of the mountain is Alpine and big trees but that is only a small part of the road out there. Most of it is barren with no tree cover. Summer too hot for me. I would try the ride late fall, when I tried in in the spring the road was still snowbound.

    Dean
     
    dstepper, May 25, 2009
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  12. chevrolegs

    chevrolegs Active Member

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    :lol: I didn't even think about that. I thought you put everything in the pack!
     
    chevrolegs, May 25, 2009
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  13. Ride2live32

    Ride2live32 New Member

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    some backpacks has cooler build in :), simply if u want to bring one or two beers to have beer break.. get one of those flexible cooling packs for lunchbox, and an small cooler pack shove it in the backpack.
     
    Ride2live32, May 25, 2009
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  14. dstepper

    dstepper (R.I.P.) Over the hill

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    On warmer rides I freeze 5 dixie cups and put them in my camelback bladder. I could also fit one bottle of beer in there if I wanted.

    Dean
     
    dstepper, May 25, 2009
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  15. IDY-Craig

    IDY-Craig Lake Arrowhead

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    There is not a lot of shade so a hot day would be tough until you get up to Santa Rosa Spring...but for those of us in the desert...we'll take it:)!
     
    IDY-Craig, May 25, 2009
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  16. IDY-Craig

    IDY-Craig Lake Arrowhead

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    I could see it as an STR campout/cookout at the Stump Springs area the night before with someone connected to each rig that would drive them out the next day. The riders could easily start rolling at Sun-up and add 8 miles to the Palm Canyon ride and another 4000k feet or so (paging DFT-the climate zone dropper).

    Dstepper is right...a fall ride would be best for this. Sometimes we get a break in the late summer from the desert-bottom heat. When it happens I may go for it and I will post up prior when it looks the window is opening. For now we are seeing 100-110 already (dooh!)
     
    IDY-Craig, May 25, 2009
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  17. simonmtb

    simonmtb Digging for fun.

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    Great RR and pics. I hope to ride it this week too.
     
    simonmtb, May 25, 2009
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  18. dstepper

    dstepper (R.I.P.) Over the hill

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    Nice take some pics of the downhill....
     
    dstepper, May 25, 2009
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  19. maxwell

    maxwell Dirty Stinky PATH Love

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    Great RR! Going solo on a new route always gives a great feeling when you're done!
     
    maxwell, May 25, 2009
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  20. simonmtb

    simonmtb Digging for fun.

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    Okay. No problem.:bang:
     
    simonmtb, May 25, 2009
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