Southern California - Need some questions answered regarding GMR

Hi all,

A friend and I want to ride GMR next Sunday (8/31). I've only been on a portion of this road (for a time trial back in 2001). Can some of the GMR regulars please make some recommendations with regards to:

1. What's the best place to start from (so we get a short, say, 4 or 5 mile warmup before things go up). We'll be coming up the 57 from OC, so I'm looking for a place to park and directions to GMR.

2. Once on GMR, what route should we take? We're in good shape, but we probably want to keep the climbing to 5,000 feet at most. We'll be back later this fall to go all the way.

3. We're thinking about starting out about 7AM. We're concerned about getting off the roads before too much weekend traffic. Now, next weekend is Labor Day weekend, so maybe this is a really bad time to be on GMR? Please advise.

4. Is there a phone number or website we're supposed to check to see if the road is open/closed to cyclists? I'm not familiar with what's going on up there (fire danger, etc).

Thanks for the tips!

1. Sorry, don't know. Someone else will.

2. GMR from the corner of Boulder Springs up to the village and back is just under 5,000 ft of climbing. Start up GMR, when you come to an intersection, go up. Turn around at the lodge.

3. I was surprised today at how few motor vehicles there were on the road today.

4. I don't think it will be closed to cyclists...then again, someone else can probably give a better answer.

Here is a link that should help you out.

Glendora Mountain Road (http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/glendora/1130669907)

You can either head down East Fork and out Azusa Canyon or go across to Mt Baldy Road. The last climb to Baldy road is about 20-25 minutes long. You might want to carry an extra bottle if you start any later then 7:00. There is water at the fire station on Mt Baldy road.
The road should be open unless there is a severe fire alert.

Start from Encanto Park, cross the bridge and take the bike path to Hwy 39. Take 39 to East fork, turn right. Go to the campstore, (where the cloud of cigarette smoke is), and get water. Continue on and climb Little GMR to GRR, turn left, go to village. Come back down GRR to Big GMR and descend to Sierra Madre, turn right and go to bike path in the industrial center, about 1 mile past 39. Return to Encanto for 63 miles and 6300 feet.

57 fwy to 210. right before you hit the 210 exit AUTO CENTER DR. Left to Lone HIll (1/2 mile). Right to FOOTHILL (NOT NOT RT 66 which is Foothill/Huntington down the way) Foothill is about 1/2 mile above RT 66. Should be about 2 miles.

Left on Foothill (3/4 mile), rght on Valley center (1 mile), left on Sierra Madre (40 yeards) right on Glendora Mtn Rd (1/4 mile) to Boulder Springs (only stoplight on this road).

Park ther or travel anothe 1/4 mile to a big dirt lot on the left hand side of the road. Sort of a construction type area.

Big John's route above is the uber-classic.

However, if you are doing big GMR- i prefer to park right off the Little Dalton Road which shoots right/ east just past the suburbs at the start of the climb. This gets you off the main drag and able to prep and de-camp in relative solitude while only 100 yards from the start of your ride.

Hi all,

A friend and I want to ride GMR next Sunday (8/31). I've only been on a portion of this road (for a time trial back in 2001). Can some of the GMR regulars please make some recommendations with regards to:

1. What's the best place to start from (so we get a short, say, 4 or 5 mile warmup before things go up). We'll be coming up the 57 from OC, so I'm looking for a place to park and directions to GMR.

We start from Glendora High School. Easy to get to and gives 2-3 miles of ride before you hit GMR "proper"

Take 57N - Exit Auto Center Dr, turn Left. Turn Right on Lone Hill. Go under FWY and then Left on Route 66. Turn R on Compromise Line Rd and then Right on Valley Center - Glendora HS is on the Right.

From the HS, go North on Valley Center, through the light and Left at the stop sign (Sierra Madre) and almost immediately Right on GMR. Keep going and fairly soon you'll be at the gate.


2. Once on GMR, what route should we take? We're in good shape, but we probably want to keep the climbing to 5,000 feet at most. We'll be back later this fall to go all the way.

Really only one way to go on GMR - up. :lol: Go up as far as you want - there are several logical stopping places. One is at the maintenance shack at the top (about 8 miles from the gate); another is at the first peak - about 7 miles from the gate (the maintenance shack is at the second peak); you can pick just about any switchback that you want.


3. We're thinking about starting out about 7AM. We're concerned about getting off the roads before too much weekend traffic. Now, next weekend is Labor Day weekend, so maybe this is a really bad time to be on GMR? Please advise.

Should be fine, but we like starting at 6:30 - it's just a little bit cooler. We've been the first cyclists up the past few times and we've had to deal with the down-hill skateboarders. . .but very little traffic. There's really no destinations up there so the only thing you should see is motorcycles enjoying the road (just as we do) but they've always treated us well.


4. Is there a phone number or website we're supposed to check to see if the road is open/closed to cyclists? I'm not familiar with what's going on up there (fire danger, etc).

Just go for it - shouldn't be any big deal.


Thanks for the tips!

Such as they are! :D :thumb:

Hey thanks very much guys!

One thing to remember... Once you are on GMR it is 30 miles without services. So make sure you have water for 30 miles of climbing.

One thing to remember... Once you are on GMR it is 30 miles without services. So make sure you have water for 30 miles of climbing.

Bouldersprings to Baldy Village is only 22'ish miles!:p

Bouldersprings to Baldy Village is only 22'ish miles!:p

Yo Beanzer,

We missed you on GMR last Saturday man! We had a great crowd, with lots of bikeforum.net riders plus OC Rebels . . . but no Beanz! Everybody missed you, so don't let it happen again :D.

Rick / OCRR