Ride Report Rethinking The Oaks

[zipsbiker]

G-dub, some more of the old trail names:

Yucca Ridge/Powerline
Coachwhip/Wigley
"white colored fireroad between Yucca Ridge and Coachwhip/Extra Credit
Peralta Hills/El Camino/Car Wreck
Cactus Canyon/Cremator - I don't know if anyone else called it that
Deer/Widowmaker or Meadows - although this was a different trail than what it is now. You can still see remnants of the old trail, very steep.

Some sections of trails had their own names too but I think your map correctly identifies everything that is legally rideable.

 

[jimw2112]

Is "extra credit" trail really a fire road? I went otb several months ago because its so overgrown that I could'nt see the rutt my front wheel found. Mustard weeds provided a nice soft landing though! not a complaint just an observation.

 

[JoJon]

Great job on the map G-dub!

I was up at the oaks yesterday before the rain started, I tried to go in the the park at the main entrance but because of the run off it was still closed. There is NO lower access to the park!! You can't get to it from the any of the south entrances, the water is still flowing like crazy through Irvine park. So I had to ride up Serrano to the elementary school and climb up to Robbers point so I missed the hole lower end of the park. From Robbers I rode down to Barham ridge and across to Chutes, the original Chutes is still closed but a few people were messing around on the top by the new table tops. I wanted to ride down Goat and up the "B"s but I was pressed for time. I rode down Chutes B and out to Irvine park but I screwed myself. I thought I could get across at the Boy Scout camp but the water was flowing way to fast and I didn't want to risk it. So I rode back the way I came and had my wife pick me up at the school. From what I rode (not much) the park has held up fine, there was a few small pop out slides on Chutes B and the wash at the bottom has grown but passable.

First little slide going down Chutes B

and the other two, all in all the trail was in good shape.

The crossing out to Irvine park.

 

[mtnbikej]

Great job on the map G-dub!

I was up at the oaks yesterday before the rain started, I tried to go in the the park at the main entrance but because of the run off it was still closed. There is NO lower access to the park!! You can't get to it from the any of the south entrances, the water is still flowing like crazy through Irvine park. So I had to ride up Serrano to the elementary school and climb up to Robbers point so I missed the hole lower end of the park. From Robbers I rode down to Barham ridge and across to Chutes, the original Chutes is still closed but a few people were messing around on the top by the new table tops. I wanted to ride down Goat and up the "B"s but I was pressed for time. I rode down Chutes B and out to Irvine park but I screwed myself. I thought I could get across at the Boy Scout camp but the water was flowing way to fast and I didn't want to risk it. So I rode back the way I came and had my wife pick me up at the school. From what I rode (not much) the park has held up fine, there was a few small pop out slides on Chutes B and the wash at the bottom has grown but passable.

First little slide going down Chutes B

and the other two, all in all the trail was in good shape.

The crossing out to Irvine park.

So you knew it was closed, but you still went in anyway?????:?:

 

[JoJon]

So you knew it was closed, but you still went in anyway?????:?:

Only the lower part of the park was closed, the upper entrances were open.

 

[mtnbikej]

Only the lower part of the park was closed, the upper entrances were open.

WHich upper entrance would that be?

 

[JoJon]

WHich upper entrance would that be?

The one at the elementary school.

 

[mtnbikej]

The one at the elementary school.

That's not an official entrance to the park.......check out OCparks.com They update the park status daily.....it has been closed since the rains started before Christmas.

 

[W4S]

So I grew up riding the oaks but haven't been back in a while. I knew the Oaks were closed, I spoke to a ranger on Saturday who let me know that it would be closed for a couple more days even without more rain, the trails don't shed water very well and there are not very many drainage spouts. Anyhow, my favorite trail used to be illegal (I maintained it anyhow just because it's so much fun to ride) but is now a signed trail and i thought my shovel was a more appropriate ride this weekend, I had a couple hours to kill so here you go. First person to recognize the trail wins absolutely nothing.

 

[Jordansrealm]

Stay off trails when they are closed. Secret entrances do not give you permission.

 

[mtnbikej]

So I grew up riding the oaks but haven't been back in a while. I knew the Oaks were closed, I spoke to a ranger on Saturday who let me know that it would be closed for a couple more days even without more rain, the trails don't shed water very well and there are not very many drainage spouts. Anyhow, my favorite trail used to be illegal (I maintained it anyhow just because it's so much fun to ride) but is now a signed trail and i thought my shovel was a more appropriate ride this weekend, I had a couple hours to kill so here you go. First person to recognize the trail wins absolutely nothing.

Bobcat.........AKA............Hawk

 

[g-dub]

Here it is in PDF. Expect to need a new printer cartridge when you're done.

New PDF. I made a couple stylistic changes, GIMPed in El Camino, and re-colored Barham Ridge to orange from blue. I didn't like the way it looked with the historical names for the canyon trails, all that extra text crowded out everything else. So I think it's done.

Thanks for the positive feedback. I'll leave the other parks to riders who know them better, but this technique will work well in El Moro and San Clemente.

 

[molarm]

This is a GREAT map!!! Thank you for your effort. Something like this has been needed for quite some time!

 

[Radical Rich]

Yea man, thanks for the great map!!
I've been thinking that the Oaks needs some signage like El Moro, ya know the aluminum state signs with a map showing the park and your location with a rivet through the "you are here" spot.
What would it take to get something like this done (other than $$$)??
Ride On !!

 

[dstepper]

Yea man, thanks for the great map!!
I've been thinking that the Oaks needs some signage like El Moro, ya know the aluminum state signs with a map showing the park and your location with a rivet through the "you are here" spot.
What would it take to get something like this done (other than $$$)??
Ride On !!

You can get up on a high spot in the Oaks and see nearly every trail in the park, none of the trails are long. Notice the landmarks out there and there will be no need for a map. After the fire there is hardly a tree or bush left out there to hid the trails.

Dean

 

[mindzeye]

Stay off trails when they are closed. Secret entrances do not give you permission.

Park rangers have been directing people to not come in thru Irvine or Santiago Oaks park, but to use all the entrance points on the other side. But thanks for pointing that out...

 

[sir crashalot]

I hit up the oaks on wed. Elemenatry school-> Hawk-> down the new chutes line (jumps) and back up, ->cactus canyon -> bumblebee-> out. Thats a good loop to do fram that entrance. Im diggin the new jumps. trails were in great shape

 

[ridinrox]

Nice!!

 

[rich2k]

Great Map! thank you for posting.

 

[XcShane]

Finally hit Oaks&Weir Canyon after all that rain. Lots of people out. Wow, Chutes is different - but in a good way. I like the re-route about half way down. The bottom was blocked off because it's not finished but I'm sure it will be great when done. Thanks again for all the hard work!