My ride through Carrizo Gorge

[Carloswithac]

My friend and I went out to Jacumba yesterday to ride the unofficially abandoned Carrizo Gorge railway. Here are some pictures and video from the ride. The total 17 mile ride took about three hours, because of all the picture taking and scenic views.






Got to ride on some pretty gnarly train tunnels. Some really, really long


Picture while riding in the dark tunnel.


Some abandoned train cars in the background


The Goat Canyon Trestle. 750 feet long, 200 feet high. Second biggest wooden, curved trestle in the US.


Side view



Some history on the Gorge
San Diego & Arizona Railway History
Carrizo Gorge

Carlos

[Genaro]

Thanks for posting. Great photos and video

I keep telling people that there's light at the end of the tunnel

[egress91506]

Very cool, thanks for posting photos and the video. I’ve been fascinated by that ride for years, but the remoteness, exposures (I recall a video of someone crashing down a hillside from years ago), and the threats from the rr has scared me away. I think I need to HTFU. Looks like a great adventure ride.

[Chaco]

Wow, I went there on foot about 10 years ago. I thought a private railroad had taken over the line and was running regular trains on it. Guess not!

[rooftest]

Nice!

[jsigone]

nice report, I think we're gonna try to ride there later this yr when it cools down some. I think I might pack the DSLR for that trip

[Carloswithac]

nice report, I think we're gonna try to ride there later this yr when it cools down some. I think I might pack the DSLR for that trip

It wasn't that hot. We started at around 6 AM and were back in the car by 10:30ish. The mountains cover up most of the sun, so it's cooler in the morning. I did go through a whole 2 liter Camelback and about one bottle of water, so plenty of water is needed for this ride.

According to my Garmin average temperature was in the 80s.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/207053619


Here's one of me exiting a tunnel.

Very cool, thanks for posting photos and the video. I’ve been fascinated by that ride for years, but the remoteness, exposures (I recall a video of someone crashing down a hillside from years ago), and the threats from the rr has scared me away. I think I need to HTFU. Looks like a great adventure ride.

This one? Haha, from what I read, they used a singletrack to bypass one of the tunnels.

Riding with the edge on my right hand side always trips me out for some reason. I had no issues when it was on my left side while riding to the trestle, but was "on edge" on the way back.

[Genaro]

It wasn't that hot. We started at around 6 AM and were back in the car by 10:30ish. The mountains cover up most of the sun, so it's cooler in the morning. I did go through a whole 2 liter Camelback and about one bottle of water, so plenty of water is needed for this ride.

According to my Garmin average temperature was in the 80s.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/207053619


Here's one of me exiting a tunnel.



This one? Haha, from what I read, they used a singletrack to bypass one of the tunnels.

Riding with the edge on my right hand side always trips me out for some reason. I had no issues when it was on my left side while riding to the trestle, but was "on edge" on the way back.

"DID YOU FILM IT ?"

[egress91506]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgoHo9pLXI4[/video]
This one? Haha, from what I read, they used a singletrack to bypass one of the tunnels.

Riding with the edge on my right hand side always trips me out for some reason. I had no issues when it was on my left side while riding to the trestle, but was "on edge" on the way back.

Yup, that's the video! If I remember correctly, part of the tunnel had caved in so the single track was the only way around. This was several years ago before the RR got the line up and running again. I still cringe when I watch that video. Reminds me of the Portal Trial in Moab, which was a once is enough trail for me.

[stevepusser]

Did that once with a club in the early 90's. Lot of detours due to some washed-out track, plus gated and caved tunnel. I remember the biggest threat on that side trail as being large stands of teddy-bear cholla cactus, which I avoided like it was radioactive, but almost everyone else got these "funny fuzzy balls" stuck thru the tires/clothes/skin. A massive tube-replacement party ensued, then the final tunnel at Dos Cabezos being gated, we had to squeeze the bikes and ourselves though a passage dug under the gate.

Are you sure the line is abandoned? I would have though it would have been blocked off again, then. And be aware that the owners in the 90's and the state park rangers did try and catch and ticket trespassers, since that's a legal wilderness you're in if you stray one mm off the tracks.

[rooftest]

Are you sure the line is abandoned? I would have though it would have been blocked off again, then. And be aware that the owners in the 90's and the state park rangers did try and catch and ticket trespassers, since that's a legal wilderness you're in if you stray one mm off the tracks.

The tracks are still railroad property - so you're trespassing either way. I'd personally think the risk of a ticket is worth it for such a cool ride. (I'll definitely wait until fall when the heat is more reasonable.)

[Lesper4]

I had no idea that was local as in 4+ hours to get to. It does look pretty cool.

[Rumpled]

I've looked into doing this off and on throughout the years. Seems the RR keeps trying to start off and on as well.
Might have to look into it again.
As far as wilderness; Federally, there is typically a 300 foot wide buffer alongside any road - railed or otherwise.