Southern California - Anyone up for a SART East (new trail) inaugural ride?

Usually every week unless there is a special event I'll do 4 loops of the San Bernardino/Colton portion of the SART...many do not even know it exists. Since its only 3.86 miles, its not much of a ride. However in May a 4.1 mile portion will be added which will connect with the 8 mile Riverside portion of SART. Also in May the Riverside portion will be extended to the South which will add another 5 mile section and end at the Norco border.

According to the San Bernardino Parks and Recs, the San Bernardino portion will be done in May, however the Hidden Valley portion is behind schedule. Regardless, when both are completed this will end up as a nice 42 mile loop.

I'll keep up to date on the ribbon cutting day if anyone is in on this. I've ridden both the existing trails and the Riverside portion is beautiful. I know we have a lot of I.E. riders who would love to have something like the SART in the OC, and do not even know about this..

For a map of the new trail look here (new parts in yellow, old in blue)
http://www.sawpa.org/projects/planning/SART_wall_map_2006_1.pdf

[I'll keep up to date on the ribbon cutting day if anyone is in on this. I've ridden both the existing trails and the Riverside portion is beautiful. I know we have a lot of I.E. riders who would love to have something like the SART in the OC, and do not even know about this..]

I.E. means Inland Empire? I'm in O.C. so I stop at the Green River Golf Course up the hill at the gas stations and fast food places.

Are you saying that the I.E. SART will connect from there?

I.E. means Inland Empire? I'm in O.C. so I stop at the Green River Golf Course up the hill at the gas stations and fast food places.

Are you saying that the I.E. SART will connect from there?
Eventually. Right now the trail goes from Van Buren to Riverside Avenue/Main Street. Then it starts at La Cadena and goes to Waterman Avenue in San Bernardino. The two sections of the trail will connect La Cadena with Riverside Avenue/Main Street and will extend the Van Buren end to somewhere in Norco.

Eventually. Right now the trail goes from Van Buren to Riverside Avenue/Main Street. Then it starts at La Cadena and goes to Waterman Avenue in San Bernardino. The two sections of the trail will connect La Cadena with Riverside Avenue/Main Street and will extend the Van Buren end to somewhere in Norco.

Don't forget about the *off road* portion of Santa Ana River Trail.

SART actually starts way up in the San Bernardino Mountains, and contains some of the best singetrack in SoCal.

-Trevor

That looks like a fun ride when it is completely finished.

Don't forget about the *off road* portion of Santa Ana River Trail.

SART actually starts way up in the San Bernardino Mountains, and contains some of the best singetrack in SoCal.

-Trevor

I've been planning on riding that for quite some time. If the I.E. has one thing to offer, its great mountain bike trails. I tend to stick to a fire route near my house in Highland which is between the 18 and 330.

Sign me up for riding this!

I ride the Riverside part regularly and was sniffing around the new SB construction last week. There's some pavement in place, so here's to hoping that it's going to be finished on time. I didn't know about the plan to go through to Norco. That's very cool.

Sign me up for riding this!

I ride the Riverside part regularly and was sniffing around the new SB construction last week. There's some pavement in place, so here's to hoping that it's going to be finished on time. I didn't know about the plan to go through to Norco. That's very cool.

How is the Riverside portion for crime? Is it very minimal?

I've ridden the Riverside section many times and have not had any broblems. That being said, I don't think I would ride it after dark.

I ride it a few times a week. There are some questionable people around here and there, like any urban environment, but smile and wave :) No worries. Actually, county officials have been clearing the homeless out of the river, which has pushed them into the Fairmount Park, which is being cleaned up by the local police. I agree with Isits though -- watch out after dark

You mean this part of the SART?

http://pics.livejournal.com/dipster/pic/00046xdw

Bump, only a month (and a day or two) until May. :)

Ya! I ride the riverside portion all the time too - it is convient way into riverside because it starts about 2 miles from my door!

Ya! I ride the riverside portion all the time too - it is convient way into riverside because it starts about 2 miles from my door!

Hey it starts two miles from my door too! (Well, the middle of the trail is two miles from my door.)

I've been watching the construction at the San Berdoo county line: they've created what will be the road under Riverside Ave / Main Street. Once that's paved, they have to stripe it and then it's officially open as far as I can tell. I hope you guys do this ride in May as I'll be out of town for the last half of April (without the bike!) and I'll be craving a good ride when I get back! This is one BF ride that I can't possibly excuse myself from missing.

I rode that section of the SART on Saturday. I got on at Market Street and rode to where the pavement ended just short of the Riverside Avenue undercrossing. As Brian said, the area under the bridge is graded but not paved yet. I backtracked to where the trail dumps you out on Riverside Avenue and rode to the other side of the bridge. I lifted my bike over the barrier and walked through about 100 yards of loose dirt to where the pavement started. The pavement is completed all the way to La Cadena. There is a concrete barrier at the La Cadena end. I had to lift my bike over the barrier.

There were a few off-road vehicles in the Santa Ana River bed. I'm not sure how they got there. I saw one off-road motorcycle on the trail itself. The pavement is smooth, but there is a bit of dirt/gravel on it. The surface hasn't been striped yet, either. I guess that will be the last thing they do.

Bump. It's done :) The wife and I went through on Sunday and they hadn't finished the pavement or striping. Today (Tuesday), everything is complete. They did a really great job, and ahead of schedule! Now that's how I like to see my tax dollars work.

So the connecting trail between San Bernardino and Riverside is now done? Any word on the norco end?

That's great news...we finally have a decent trail as an option. What are the exact miles of the loop? Has the Riverside extension at Van Buren started yet?

I rode out to Van Buren today to check it out -- no progress from that end. I have not heard of any Norco plans being actually in the works yet but I'm sure looking forward to that ride from the mountains to the beach :)

I am going to ride it again tomarrow starting at Van Buren, to Riverside...

I finally got around to riding the trail today. Started at my friends house, hopped on at Mount Vernon and went all the way to the south west corner of Mt. Rubidoux where the trail kinda ends. It's very very nice actually, well the trail itself is very nice. The areas are kinda "meh" (not so hot about the landfill but it's only about a 1/2 mile stretch where you have to smell it) but since it was all new to me and my friend it was pretty cool. Ended up doing 22 miles total with 18 of them on the trail (the other 4 were getting to and from the trail on Valley blvd). Now if my friend will just get his @$$ out there and ride it afew times a week he'll be back to his former cycling shape in no time.

I finally got around to riding the trail today.

Now if my friend will just get his @$$ out there and ride it afew times a week he'll be back to his former cycling shape in no time.

The next time you plan on heading out there, let me know.