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The San Jacinto mountains contain approximately 200 miles of dirt roads and over 40 miles of trails open to mountain bike riding. http://www.idyllwildcalifornia.com/biking.htm
Here are some suggested routes:
Alvin Meadows and Webster Trail: This network of dirt roads starts at the end of Tollgate Road, 1.4 miles southwest of Idyllwild, off Highway 243. Over 10 miles of moderate roads and 1.5 miles of trails are suitable for mountain bikes in this area. The first 1.5 miles of the Webster Trail are moderate, after that, the trail becomes steep.
Coyote Run: Beginning at the north end of the Hurkey Creek county park and ending at the waterfalls on Hurkey creek. This easy and scenic ride is about three miles (on a closed to motor vehicles dirt road).
Fobes Ranch Road and spurs: Starting three miles south east of Lake Hemet off Highway 74 in Garner Valley. These very easy to moderate roads offer over 20 miles of mountain bike riding.
May Valley and South Ridge Trail: To start this ride take Saunders Meadow Road from Highway 243, 1/4 mile southwest of Idyllwild. Then follow Saunders Meadow road for one mile and go left on Cow Bell Alley to the end of the pavement. A moderate two-mile dirt road and two-mile trail begin. The South Ridge trail crosses the road 300 feet before the locked gate. This trail is best during the first mile in each direction. After that, steep and difficult sections occur.
Thomas Mountain and Ramona Trail: Here's a challenging 17-mile loop that begins one mile southeast of Lake Hemet on Highway 74. Start your ride at the beginning of Forest Service dirt road. The first six miles ascend to the top of Thomas Mountain and the next five miles take you along the ridge. At Toolbox Springs campground take the spur down to Toolbox Spring and follow the trail. This fun trail gently descends three miles to a short dirt road, veers left onto the power line road, and returns to the start of the loop.
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And some more URLs where you can find descriptive material about trails: http://www.idyllwild.com/mtnbiking/erniemaxwell.htm http://www.idyllwild.com/mtnbiking/hurkey.htm |
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Safety Tips: Keep your eyes and ears open for vehicles on the road, equestrians, and hikers on the trails. Helmets are highly recommended. Control your speed. Carry plenty of water. Avoid riding after dusk. Carry a map. |
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There are developed small campgrounds with 25 sites or less, for the camper who wants a campground without the crowds. Most of these campgrounds are low cost ($10, or even FREE of charge). Some are on narrow side roads, well off the highways, and may require a good map. Fire rings, picnic tables, and pit/vault toilets are usually provided.
These include undeveloped and partially developed camp areas with dispersed remote camping, for the self-contained camper who wants some seclusion. The "yellow-post" fire safe areas in Southern California National Forest Lands are among those listed. Back roads to privacy -- many dirt roads lead the avid camper to out-of-the-way sites. Most National Forest lands let you camp almost anywhere with a fire permit. Sites may have picnic tables and fire rings, but usually NO toilets. Some sites may be as bare as a rock fire ring in a small clearing. A detailed back-country map is advised. A high clearance vehicle/sport utility vehicle (SUV) is sometimes needed to reach these wilderness roads and camping spots. Check with the ranger station for road conditions and permits and passes needed.
Campfire Permits :
California suffers numerous wildfires every year. Please don't be the cause of one! Campfire permits are issued at no charge to insure that fire restrictions are followed properly.
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