Southern California - "Mt. Wilson Trail" vs. "Mt. Wilson Toll Road"

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KayGee
10-23-06, 11:51 AM
Hi all. I am relatively new mountain biker (I've been mtb-ing for about a year now) and I wanted to try out the Mt. Wilson Trail in the Angeles National Forest. The problem is I've looked online and at various trail guide books and it seems like there are two trails -- the Mt. Wilson Trail and the Mt. Wilson Toll Road -- because sometimes I read a description that says the trail is an out-and-back fire road and then I read another description that says it's an 18 mile trail that's 98% single track. But I've never seen the two trails described in the same source, which seems kind of weird if there are two trails. Can someone please explain what's going on?

Also, assuming there are two trails, I want to ride the one that has the single track. Would someone please give me the address on how to get there? I live right by the 2 and the 210...

Finally, I know that the trail(s) is supposed to be very strenuous but is it very technical for someone like me? I ride Red Box to Switzers frequently w/o any real problems and have ridden El Prieto once without getting killed (though I haven't gotten enough courage to try again yet).

Thanks in advance!!!

roadfix
10-23-06, 11:58 AM
The toll road starts out at Eaton Canyon in Altadena and is not singletrack......it's fireroad up through Henninger Flats and up to Mt Wilson. I believe the access road from Pinecrest is still closed due to that humongous landslide at the bottom of the canyon. That's where we used to take off on our mtb's.
Mt. Wilson Trail is over in Sierra Madre and is mostly singletrack. That's where the Mt Wilson run (http://sierramadrenews.net/trail.htm) is held every Memorial Day weekend. I've never been up this trail so I can't tell you anything else about it.
jsigone
10-23-06, 12:04 PM
here's a few links from MTBR

http://trails.mtbr.com/cat/united-states-trails/california-trails/california-la-area/trail/PRD_165484_4520crx.aspx

http://trails.mtbr.com/cat/united-states-trails/california-trails/california-la-area/trail/PRD_348453_4520crx.aspx


Never rode that trail but the vibe I get for the forums, it's a great run and people usually shuttle it, so if you're climbing, watch out for the DH bombers