Pamestique 

This is a very special treat. On September 12th from 8am - 1 pm, Limestone Canyon will allow open access for hiking, mountain biking and esquestrians. There hasn't been an open access day for at least 5 years or so. Also good news, before access was limited to hikers on Limestone Road. This time all the ridges are also open and to mountain bkers (whoo-hoo!). The only closed trail is the Dripping Springs Spur. This means you can climb up to and do the ridge trails. Limestone Ridge is an e-ticket singletrack! Here is the post from the the website (irvineranchconservancy.org). You can register online or at the site. The event is staging at Augustine, just off Santiago Canyon Rd. and Hick's Haul.

Wilderness Access Day - Limestone Canyon

Trail lovers, this one is for you. Enjoy self-guided access in Limestone Canyon. Designated trails will be open for self-guided hiking, biking and equestrian from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Participants MUST check in and register at the Augustine Staging Area prior to accessing the trail system.

Trail users are allowed to enter the wilderness trails up to one hour prior to closing time and no later. Park closes at 1 p.m. Youth ages 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, distance and level of difficulty dependent on trail. Bikers are required to wear helmets. Dogs are prohibited. Pre-registration is available on the website. On-site registration is also available the day of the event.

The trails will include Limestone Road, Loma Ridge, Sandtrap (the northern half of the Dripping Springs loop trail), Limestone Single Track and Cactus Canyon. Dripping Springs will not be available on the Self Guided Access Day.

If you have any questions, let me know.

Rumpled

I signed up, we'll see if I can go that day.
Any chance of getting a trail map ahead of time?

alicestrong

I'm curious how the majority of the singletrack is rated. Beginning? Intermediate? Advanced?

Sounds great!

Pamestique 

The singletrack I would say is intermediate to advance depending on speed. I would not recommend it attempted by beginners.

The park offers all levels of ride. For beginners (someone with at least a some trail experience) plan on riding from Augustine to the Sinks and back. It is about 8 miles round trip. You climb up out and cruise back. If you are feeling good, and can stand alittle climbing, add Bolero Springs. You may have to walk up some of it and watch the sand coming down. It can be alittle E-Ticket. We generally add Bolero to our advanced beginner rides. Nothing in the Park is that easy... it's definitely a MTB trail, not a bike path.

For intermediates: I suggest taking out Limestone Road to Dripping Springs West (Sandtrap) and climb to Lomas Ridge ( I am assuming that at sign up you can ask questions re the trails and get a map and docents will be out patrolling to answer questions). Lomas is rolling, some tough climbs with a steep descent into Bolero. If you do Lomas Ridge and then back down Limestone its 10 miles. If you add Cactus and Limestone Ridge it's about 12. I think the elevation gain is probably around 2200' if you do the full loop. PS Sandtrap is very steep, full of sand but short... you can walk it.

Cactus and Limestone Ridge: You take a grindy fire road up to Limestone Ridge (the Cactus Spur), turn right and then watch for the singletrack called Limestone Ridge (there are no signs). It starts out really nice and cruisy and then gets alittle more serious. For intermediates you would just ride more slowly or walk these tough parts. For advanced, give it a shot. One of the trails maybe "walk" only because it is dangerous. I consider myself a low intermediate and have "ridden" all the trails. I just have to walk in some places.

I'll see if I can get a map.

Pamestique 

Just wanted to BUMP this as a reminder of the Open Access Day on Saturday. Limestone is a very spcial area, normally closed to the public. Come to either ride or hike; hours 8 - 1.

Rumpled

Thought I'd put up the trail map that I got for this open date.
Probably too small once upoaded, we'll see.
It'd be really nice if these were actually sent out to people ahead of time for these open dates.

Rumpled

I went today and my friends had a better time than me. Just starting to ride up Sandtrap when my RD hanger broke. Ended my riding day. I thought about trying to make it a SS at that point to ride out; but as it was just about 1.4 miles; I figured just easier to walk out.
Looks like lots of riders had a good time.
Hope it's done more often and Bommer is opened again.

Pamestique 

I think I saw you walking back... I rode by and asked if you were OK and the response was "NO!". I'm sorry you didn't get to complete your ride. Good news is that most likely there will be other Open Access days.

Bad news, it doesn't appear Bommer will be opened again to mountain bikers (except on guided tours). Just too many people were unable to follow the rules and ruined it for everyone. We had a few problems Saturday and I hope people understand it was a privilege to ride Limestone without a guide along.

The day was really a sucess. hundreds of people showed up - mostly mountain bikers. Sandtrap was a real challenge -it lives up to its name! Limestone Ridge was a definite success - many people got to ride this jewel for the first time and thankfully there were only a few accidents. I had a great day standing around and directing bikers. Saw quite a few people I knew.

Although the Fall schedule is no yet posted, we have alot of good rides coming up for October, November and December (weather permitting). Watch the calendar at irvineranchconservancy.org and I hope to see you all out on a ride.

Rumpled

Sory I didn't know it was you. Hope I didn't seem too negative. I was a bit bummed, but fortunately it didn't happen farther from parking.

Pamestique 

Well get the bike fixed and come out next time. I'm sure something will be posted in October or November.

Funny you are the second person I've caught walking back with the same problem this last month. The week before I started out the back side of Chino Hills and someone was walking back. My buddy suggested having a spare derailleur hanger in my pack and my response was "yeah, and then what...?"