Nov
2009
Big Pine Flat Trail
November 30th, 2009 at 05:37 pm by admin in Jeep TrailsStarting Point: Green Valley Lake Road, 2.5 miles north of California 18
Finishing Point: California 18, 3 miles east of Big Bear City
Total Mileage: 26.6 miles
Difficulty Rating: Beginner (1 out of 10)
Special Attractions:
- Points of historic interest in and around Holcomb Valley
- Excellent backcountry camping
- Access to a network of graded dirt roads and off-road trails.
History:
The eastern end of Big Pine Flat Trail, also known as Holcomb Valley Road, passes high above Baldwin Lake through the workings of Gold Mountain Mine. Elias Jackson Baldwin owned this mine from 1860 to approximately 1900. Baldwin, known as “Lucky”, had struck it rich in the Comstock Lode and was to become one of the biggest investors of the time. Set into the mountainside at his Gold Mountain Mine are the remains of a 40-stamp mill built in 1870 and destroyed by fire in 1876. The settlement that developed around the mine was known as Bairdstown, later to become Doble in recognition of Budd Doble, Lucky’s son-in-law who managed the mine for a period.
Nov
2009
Willow Creek Trail
November 28th, 2009 at 06:40 pm by admin in Jeep TrailsStarting Point: California 173, 7 miles south of intersection with Arrowhead Lake Road
Finishing Point: National forest boundary on Hook Creek Road, 3 miles from Cedar Glen
Total Mileage: 8.9 miles for more difficult route (slightly longer for easier route)
Difficulty Rating: 2/4
Special Attractions:
- Trail through a popular OHV area with a choice of easy or moderately difficult route.
- Remains of Splinter Cabin
- Access to hiking trailheads and fishing spots.
History:
A major wildfire – the Willow Creek Fire – raged through the north side of Lake Arrowhead in the fall of 1999, burning 65,000 acres in 14 days. Twelve million dollars was spent fighting the fire, with a further $2 million allocated for restoration work. This trail travels through part of the burned area.
Nov
2009
Sugarpine Mountain Trail
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:41 am by admin in Jeep TrailsStarting Point: Verdemont Drive and Palm Avenue, 1.2 miles north of US 215
Finishing Point: California 138, 2.4 miles south of the intersection with California 173
Total Mileage: 17.1 miles
Difficulty: Moderate (3 out of 10)
Special Attractions:
- Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area
- Long, moderately difficult trali very close to Los Angeles
- Trail passes through a variety of chaparral and forest vegetation
History: The ascent to Monument Peak along the trail parallels the climb up nearby Waterman Canyon Road to the east. The original passable route up the rugged Waterman Canyon was constructed in 1852 for Mormon settlers in the San Bernardino Valley to use as a lumber road to access the tall trees of Seeley and Huston Flats. It was completed in just two and a half weeks, although nearly a thousand mandays of labor were used under the supervision of Captain Jefferson Hunt.
