Safest/shortest way to ride from High Desert to Fontana., etc

[bentstrider]

Every once in awhile, I have to make some rounds down to the I.E. .
Since I don't feel the need to rent a vehicle or ask for a ride out of necessity, what are the best routes to get down there from my area?
I know you can ride the 15 from the Oak Hill Rd down to Cleghorn and vice versa, but I'll only do that if I extra persons with me.
And I'm also looking for a route that doesn't require a machete, or has a fire-road that was recently washed out and not reported.

[Mr. Beanz]

007, err I'm sorry, "TCR" lives up that way and should know! I've heard there is a way thru the back of BigBear Arrowhead, but don't know the area or if it would be any shorter from your start.
If he doesn't reply, maybe a PM?

[LCI_Brian]

I've done the 15 southbound from Oak Hill to Cleghorn. I don't like the grooves and debris on the shoulder on the downhill. (But going northbound I don't mind the freeway, since I'm climbing and going slower and can better deal with the shoulder hazards.) So I like the road on the east side of the railroad tracks from Hesperia, which becomes Summit Valley, then right on 138, then 15 to Cleghorn.

From Cleghorn, you can take the old Route 66, then it's side streets through Devore, then past the Glen Helen Pavilion. But then the road is washed out from Glen Helen to Summit, so I've taken the 15 instead without any problems.

[furiousferret]

I've done the 15 southbound from Oak Hill to Cleghorn. I don't like the grooves and debris on the shoulder on the downhill. (But going northbound I don't mind the freeway, since I'm climbing and going slower and can better deal with the shoulder hazards.) So I like the road on the east side of the railroad tracks from Hesperia, which becomes Summit Valley, then right on 138, then 15 to Cleghorn.

From Cleghorn, you can take the old Route 66, then it's side streets through Devore, then past the Glen Helen Pavilion. But then the road is washed out from Glen Helen to Summit, so I've taken the 15 instead without any problems.

I live a few miles from there and the old 66 is one of my rides, but I've never seen anyone cycle up the 15/Cajon Pass. I'll be honest I think its tempting and pretty safe considering the wide shoulders, but I have yet to do it. I'd say the pass is probably your best route. Taking the 18 would be pretty crazy. You could try it but the 15 isn't that bad of a climb/descent.

[bentstrider]

Well, I'll probably try it out as soon as I get my hydration pack and helmet together.
I already put in 10-20 miles a day without these things, but a 40+ mile ride is where these will definetely come in handy.

[TCR]

I've ridden up and down the 15/Cajon several times. Coming down isn't much fun as you constantly have to bunny hop and dodge debris but it's certainly doable. Going up isn't so bad but you have to deal with the constant loud noise and smell from the freeway as you suffer up the hill. I prefer Summit Valley and 138 to the Cajon.

Do as LCI_Brian wrote, "...road on the east side of the railroad tracks from Hesperia, which becomes Summit Valley, then right on 138, then 15 to Cleghorn. From Cleghorn, you can take the old Route 66, then it's side streets through Devore, then past the Glen Helen Pavilion. But then the road is washed out from Glen Helen to Summit, so I've taken the 15 instead without any problems."

[cjbruin]

I don't want to hijack the thread but it seems like the question has been answered. Has anyone ridden all the way to Vegas? I keep thinking about doing a 2-3 day ride from OC or maybe starting in Vegas and coming come. Are there enough places along the way to get food/drink and logical places to get a room for the night? Is there much riding on the 15 required or can you pretty much avoid it?

[TCR]

I don't want to hijack the thread but it seems like the question has been answered. Has anyone ridden all the way to Vegas? I keep thinking about doing a 2-3 day ride from OC or maybe starting in Vegas and coming come. Are there enough places along the way to get food/drink and logical places to get a room for the night? Is there much riding on the 15 required or can you pretty much avoid it?

I think Sirlance has done it from Palm Springs.

[LCI_Brian]

I don't want to hijack the thread but it seems like the question has been answered. Has anyone ridden all the way to Vegas? I keep thinking about doing a 2-3 day ride from OC or maybe starting in Vegas and coming come. Are there enough places along the way to get food/drink and logical places to get a room for the night? Is there much riding on the 15 required or can you pretty much avoid it?

I've done Barstow to the Cajon Pass, and on a separate occasion I've done the Cajon Pass to OC. Route was old 66 to Victorville, then D Street, then following next to the freeway on 7th Street and Mariposa Road, then getting on I-15 at Oak Hill, exiting at Cleghorn, and following the directions in my previous post.

This map from Caltrans is ancient, but is the latest "official" thing from them which shows what parts you'd need to ride I-15. The parts in the Inland Empire are dated, but it is still probably good for the high desert.
http://www.cabobike.org/touring/dist8map.pdf

[bentstrider]

Well, part of that was pretty much squared away.
Now the next question I have concerns getting to Sierra Rd via the Devore/Glen Helen Rd.
I figured that if I take Cleghorn going south, then run up on Devore Rd going through the little community, it will take me to 15 underpass that runs near the Glen Helen exit.
At that point, there seems to be a blockade/barricade at the Glen Helen Rd going west, bulldozers, Phalanx 30 mm cannons, etc.,
Is their any way to parallel this without deviating too far from it?
If there's a dirt path that crosses over the creek and takes me directly to Sierra, then my day will be made.

[TCR]

I figured that if I take Cleghorn going south, then run up on Devore Rd going through the little community, it will take me to 15 underpass that runs near the Glen Helen exit.
At that point, there seems to be a blockade/barricade at the Glen Helen Rd going west, bulldozers, Phalanx 30 mm cannons, etc.,
Is their any way to parallel this without deviating too far from it?
If there's a dirt path that crosses over the creek and takes me directly to Sierra, then my day will be made.

Last year when I did it I had to get back on the freeway at the blockade/barriers and then exit on Sierra. It was a short distance and down hill so it wasn't bad at all. I believe you can also take Cajon Blvd/Route 66 all the way down, paralleling the 215. I remember I drove it that way once last year to see if it was possible but I didn't end up taking that route on the bike because it took me so far East and the neighborhoods down that way weren't the greatest. Again, this was a year ago and things change so if you can recon this before making the bike ride that would be best.

BTW, a few guys from the bike club will be riding down to Huntington Beach from Apple Valley, tentatively scheduled for September 17th.

[bentstrider]

Last year when I did it I had to get back on the freeway at the blockade/barriers and then exit on Sierra. It was a short distance and down hill so it wasn't bad at all. I believe you can also take Cajon Blvd/Route 66 all the way down, paralleling the 215. I remember I drove it that way once last year to see if it was possible but I didn't end up taking that route on the bike because it took me so far East and the neighborhoods down that way weren't the greatest. Again, this was a year ago and things change so if you can recon this before making the bike ride that would be best.

BTW, a few guys from the bike club will be riding down to Huntington Beach from Apple Valley, tentatively scheduled for September 17th.

Looks like I might do just that.
I'm not so worried about the CHP giving me $h!t, than I am about a civilian tossing a hard object from the window.
Only reason I'm asking is because I've got to get down to the Swift Transportation terminal(becoming a truck driver again) on Banana Ave down in Fontana.
It lays right off of San Bernardino Ave near that place where they keep the cars that were totalled in accidents.
I'll just hook a right and pick this up off of Sierra, then I'm good.
Wish I was able to make that ride on the 17th.
That's okay, I'll just find an equally long one when I'm on my 34 hour recap period while over-the-road.

[my58vw]

I am not exactly sure about getting to Sierra - my only experience is through Lytle Creek and the 15, but once you get through Foothill will take you parallel to Fontana, and Edawanda, Sierra, or Riverside Drive are great ways to get through the area. If you want to have some fun go do the short climb up and down Sierra to Armstrong Ave... it is my training climb about 1 mile 6% average!

Mandy