"Mountain Bike Rides in LA"

WARM SPRINGS MOUNTAIN

LENGTH:22miles TERRAIN:2 miles paved and 20 miles fireroad DIFFICULTY:streneuos and slightly technical on downhill and beginning of fireroad due to rocky terrain COMPLETION TIME:3.5 to 4 hours ELEVATION:starting at 1500 feet and ending a little over 4000 feet BEST TIME TO RIDE:when the temperature in the San Fernando Valley is below 85' for a maximum

LOCATION:Take the Golden State Frw north toward Sacramento. Exit at Templin Hwy,which is at the peak of the big grade past Lake Castaic. Turn right and proceed about 3 miles to the end of the road to a lock gate. The ride begins here.

DESCRIPTION OF RIDE

This is a nice ride to the highest mountain overlooking Castaic Lake. It is 11 miles out and back. To give you an idea of how high you will be climbing,as you are descending 1000 feet on Templin Hwy to where you will be parked just glace up to that mountain in front of you. You will be above that. Three things I must warn you on this ride: 1. Bring plenty of water. There is no shade on the climbing portion and the sun is preety strong out here. 2.Check the wind conditions. If it says windy in the passes and canyons for the San Gabriel mountains. Pick another day for the ride. It can be very windy once you peak out of your climb. 3. There is an area of a mile in the beginning of the ride in the canyon where knats can be a problem. They are mainly a problem in the spring and summer. Once you get past the camp ground and begin climbing you can say good by to those pesky friends.

Throw your bike over the closed gate and lets begin the ride. Forget about the signs saying no trespassing. Its okay to ride your bike here. After descending on the paved road for about a mile,you reach the low point of the ride. Its kind of pretty down here with some oak trees on the side and some huge mountains on your left. The road now becomes dirt. Proceed about .25 miles keeping your eye out to the left for the fireroad going into the canyon. This road will be right before the main road bends to the left. This is a rough fireroad strewn with ruts and rocks. Shortly you will be making a stream crossing and depending on how much rain there has been you will probably get a little wet. For the next 3/4 of a mile you will be plodding ever so deeper into a pretty canyon. Lo and behold the road becomes concrete with water flowing over it. This is a beautiful spot with the canyon walls high above you and stream running right next to you. On your way back pick a spot on a rock and enjoy this idyllac area. If you are lucky you will be the only person here. Watch out for any green algea on the concrete. If you proceed to ride your bike over it ,I guarantee you will take a nasty fall. You are gradually gaining elevation and at about 2.7 miles you pass through a camp ground with a few picknic tables. Take a nice rest here if the knats aren't around and prepare yourself for the sureous climbing part.

The fireroad improves as you begin to climb out of the canyon. The climb is not too streneous and you will gain about 1000 feet in about 3 miles of climbing. It is all open here and the sun can be quite brutal here. You will have some nifty views into the canyon and once you reach the apex of this climb a nice panorama of the old ridge route. This was the main route across these mountains before Hwy 5. A saddle is reached at about the 7 mile point. This is a four way intersection here. To your far left a fireroad proceeds part of the way up Saw Mill Mountain, the next road to its right proceeds down to Lake Hughes Road. Yow will be taking the road on your right. Proceed a litle bit on this road,look to your left and you can follow with your eyes what is in store for you. Yes you are going to have to climb all the way up to the top of that mountain. Find a little shade and take 5 cause you got another 1000 feet of climbing to do.

Shortly you will come to a locked gate. Throw your bike over it and begin climbing. Again, the steepness is not too bad as you switchback up to the top of the ridge to about 3800 feet. At times the road becomes a little rocky and loose making you work a little harder but the views make up for the suffering. As you steadly increase in altitude you will see the trail you have climbed enfold before you. The big mountain to the north is Burnt peak at 5700 feet over 2000 feet above you. Finally at about 9.75 miles you crest over the ridge and finally see Warm Springs mountain with a watch tower and antennas pearched over it about 1.25 miles away. Catch a breath at the ridge. You are about 200 feet above a nice little plain up here and have a great view of mountains toward Frazer Park. Continue past the road that drops into the plateau and once again throw your bike over a locked gate and begin your final 200 feet ascent. The road here is kind of steep and rutted so plug on and suffer for about .5 miles until finally arriving at the peak. The view is well worth it. You have a 360' view on all four sides. Looking to the south hwy 5 enfolds before you all the way until it drops into the San Fernando Valley. Lake Castaic is .5 miles below and to the far horizon the San Gabriel mountain ridge. Looking to the north you can see the build up of mountains leading to Sawmill mountain and Burnt Peak. Way below you is Lake Hughes Road. Frazer mountain is visible as is Alamo mountain. Hell just kick back up here. I guarantee you will be the only one here. Rest up and enjoy the ride back to your vehicle. The technical rating comes in not getting killed descending too fast or hitting a rut, so take your time and catch some of the views missed.