I ascend a few more hundred yards but am rewarded with no greater view than Dee back at base camp! We are hungry and soon consume our lunch before starting on our return. At the 5 mile point we select a lunch site just before the trail steepens on its way to join Temescal Fireroad. As the path climbs along the ridge the view to our right opens up again across the L.A. The trailside is brightened with heavy clumps of Toyon berries and the first Ceanothus is bursting into flower. On our way again we see Temescal Ridge off to our left, but are unsure which bump is Temescal Peak. The ancient hood Boney Ridge on the Backbone Trail. Apart from a few descending cyclists we enjoy the quiet. To the north we can see Gizmo Peak on dirt Mulholland and across Rustic Canyon Sullivan Ridge winds up towards the old Nike missile site. We settle on the tree roots, careful to avoid the ubiquitous, plump ants climbing the oak, and enjoy a cup of coffee. In a while we reach the top of Rivas Canyon where a renown four-trunked oak sits astride a saddle overlooking upper Rustic Canyon. Private inholdings have for years stymied an uninterrupted route. There are a few vetch and monkey flower in early bloom. Backbone Trail Completion The news this week, broke by the LA Times, is that the trail will soon open in full. We meet a rabbit chewing on a juicy blade and he continues for a minute or two before hopping off into the undergrowth taking his succulent lunch with him. The vegetation is a little more lush here and the grasses brush against our legs – better check for ticks. is really tough, expect over an hour of brutal mashing of the pedals.The trail climbs along the right slope of the canyon just below the ridge. Or it makes a nice break before continuing onto a grueling climb back up Corral Canyon Road, a little west from here along the PCH. If you do venture down to the water below, a quick walk down to the beach makes a nice end to the ride if you've shuttled. This is a good spot to turn around, explore more of the Backbone Trail, or take the Puerco Motorway and Puerco Canyon Road down to the ocean as mapped. The most western section travels up to the summit of Sandstone Peak (3,111') the highest mountain in the Santa. Most people who hike it break it up into sections. The trail can be done as a continuous thru-hike or as various day hikes or overnight trips. This is a great trail if you are looking for an adventure. Here, continue on and look for the Backbone Trail singletrack that takes you all the way to the Corral Canyon trailhead about 4.2 miles from Latigo Canyon Road. The Santa Monica Mountain Backbone Trail traverses the Santa Monica Mountains. Here riders will descend down the saddle on some technical downhill and into a shady section with lots of flow and rocky creek crossings.Ĭoming out of this is a mild climb and you'll eventually reach an intersection with another fire road. By 1990, 43 miles of the trail had been completed. That feeds into a tough climb on some loose trail that takes you up to the Newton Motorway about another two miles from Latigo Canyon Road. The Backbone Trail would connect from Will Rogers State Historic Park to Point. A short climb, then some nice downhill with shade is up next. When you reach Latigo Canyon Road, cross the street to the other trailhead and look for the singletrack. The trail here continues up with a section of downhill and then finally climbs until Latigo Canyon Road about 2.1 miles from the start. This gave hikers the ability to have the right. After crossing over the tunnel, there is a flowy downhill section until you reach a private road crossing. They championed land acquisitions to enable what is called right-of-way trail. It probably will require a hike-a-bike unless you're a great climber. The first section requires a tough climb on loose rocky trail that is not representative of the rest of this great ride. The trailhead parking is on the right, just before the tunnel on Kanan going south. Finally, the hard work and altruism will culminate with completion of the trail. Keep an eye on the MTB Project mobile app if you're not sure where you are. Over the decades, the Backbone Trail, stretching 67 miles between Point Mugu State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park, has slowly taken shape, stitched together by public funding and private donations that have led to acquisitions of land. The park abounds with historical and cultural sites, from old movie ranches to Native American centers. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. If you miss signs then you might be off the trail somehow. The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. This section of the Backbone Trail is very clearly marked.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |