Hey guys,
I know you guys know this area like the back of your hand, so I'm coming here for some answers. (Hopefully) I rode Phelan/Baldy Mesa with my youngest son this week. His first time there. We had a blast and staged at the RR tracks off the 15 and worked our way West on the top of the ridge towards the big sand hill. I haven't been there for probably 18 months and noticed a lot of new sign-age prohibiting riding.
I noticed there were a few new spurs heading N down into the manzanita jungle. (Good!) I got to my favorite one and low and behold - closed to motorized vehicles. (Bad) All the others were posted no riding too until the main road about 10 miles in.
After getting down into the Wilson Ranch Road (?) area, we hit the big sand hill and then headed back East towards the 15, but down in the manzanita "flatland" area. On the bottom there's no signs prohibiting riding those trails. Actually, there are a few signs telling you when you enter the forest and even a couple of signs telling you the difficulty of the trails. Looks to be OK from down there.
What's up?? It's OK to ride from the bottom up, but not from the top down? Doesn't make sense. Also, my fav trail is in the bottom of that canyon with the houses on the E side of it - it's a spur heading South back up to the main ridge road and ST. (Maybe 3-5 miles from the 15) Is that trail still OK? I'll be bummed if it isn't. I did notice that the "no motorized vehicles" sign at the top was totally flattened by what looks like 100 bikes! :laugh: Was that leftover from your ride last week? :yeehaw: :yeehaw: Still, nothing on the lower side saying it was off limits.
Thanks for any info. I've been hearing bad things about riding the whole Hesperia area. I'd hate to loose this area (Phelan/Baldy Mesa). Don't want to piss off any of the locals, but I really want to be able to ride those snakey manzanita trails that I love, especially the spur that ends up in the bottom of the canyon with the houses opn the bluff to the E. Am I going to have to be a mid-week outlaw? :| :(
Thanks, Bill
I know you guys know this area like the back of your hand, so I'm coming here for some answers. (Hopefully) I rode Phelan/Baldy Mesa with my youngest son this week. His first time there. We had a blast and staged at the RR tracks off the 15 and worked our way West on the top of the ridge towards the big sand hill. I haven't been there for probably 18 months and noticed a lot of new sign-age prohibiting riding.
I noticed there were a few new spurs heading N down into the manzanita jungle. (Good!) I got to my favorite one and low and behold - closed to motorized vehicles. (Bad) All the others were posted no riding too until the main road about 10 miles in.
After getting down into the Wilson Ranch Road (?) area, we hit the big sand hill and then headed back East towards the 15, but down in the manzanita "flatland" area. On the bottom there's no signs prohibiting riding those trails. Actually, there are a few signs telling you when you enter the forest and even a couple of signs telling you the difficulty of the trails. Looks to be OK from down there.
What's up?? It's OK to ride from the bottom up, but not from the top down? Doesn't make sense. Also, my fav trail is in the bottom of that canyon with the houses on the E side of it - it's a spur heading South back up to the main ridge road and ST. (Maybe 3-5 miles from the 15) Is that trail still OK? I'll be bummed if it isn't. I did notice that the "no motorized vehicles" sign at the top was totally flattened by what looks like 100 bikes! :laugh: Was that leftover from your ride last week? :yeehaw: :yeehaw: Still, nothing on the lower side saying it was off limits.
Thanks for any info. I've been hearing bad things about riding the whole Hesperia area. I'd hate to loose this area (Phelan/Baldy Mesa). Don't want to piss off any of the locals, but I really want to be able to ride those snakey manzanita trails that I love, especially the spur that ends up in the bottom of the canyon with the houses opn the bluff to the E. Am I going to have to be a mid-week outlaw? :| :(
Thanks, Bill
