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Bridge | Personal | Travel | Mountain Bike | Road Cycling | Links
In December 1997, I was putting 100 miles a week on the bike just riding around Stockton, but could not keep it up through the rainy season. (It doesn't snow in Stockton, but we get some pretty nasty fog.) It was then I met a local riding group called SCAAB (Stockton Cyclists Are Always Bleeding) that was building a trail at New Hogan Reservoir near Valley Springs. They formed an organization called the Hogan Alliance for Trail Access. I am not fond of riding alone. I got a chance to ride the streets of Stockton with some of the group on December 13. We were delivering Christmas presents to children at the Gateway Visitors Welcome Center, a facility for children of incarcerated parents. We were twenty riders in all, some on mountain bikes, some on tandems, and some with trailers. Before we headed back, a local bike shop gave some gifts to the riders as well.
Near Angels Camp is the Glory Hole National Recreation Area at New Melones Reservoir. (I had heard that there were some nice trails there.) I finally got the nerve to go up there by myself during winter break. I had no map (and could find none on the net), but had a fair idea of the location, so off I went.
My first trip up there I found two trailheads: one high above the lake near the entrance and one not far from the water. I parked at the lower one (Who wants to climb at the END of a ride?) and headed out along the trail. It paralleled the lakeshore for a couple of miles and then...around a bend...it started to CLIMB! I was not prepared for this, so I walked and rode part of the way up. Because sundown was less than an hour away, and not knowing haw far from the top I was, I turned around, and headed down. The ride was a bit hairy for a beginner like me, but I got back down and headed back the way I came. On the way back I found a pleasant 1-mile loop before returning to my car at the trailhead. Out of curiosity, I drove to the other trailhead and confirmed my suspicion that these were opposite ends of the same trail. The lower trail was rated easy to moderate, the upper, superior.
A week later I gave it another try. But this time I went earlier and stopped at the Mountain Peddlar bike shop in Angels Camp to get information. The guy gave me a map and made some suggestions. I drove to the Buckbrush day use area, parked, and began to unload. A rather muddy rider soon arrived, so I asked him how it was. He told me the Buckbrush loop was pretty messy, but the Angels Creek loop was mostly dry with a few muddy patches on the shady side. He said had he known the conditions he would have skipped the first and done the second twice. I decided to forego Buckbrush this time.
This trail is fun. Done clockwise, there was only one climb that really taxed me. I stopped for a break to recover at this otherwise pleasant spot and found that the rest of the trail was mostly down. At the bottom of the hill was a slippery patch of mud. I heard a couple of riders ahead of me squeal, and one yelled, "and I just took off my pants!" (He had stripped down to his bike shorts just before the descent.) I negotiated the wet spot without incident and headed for...
This trail parallels the road between Buckbrush and the Carson Creek areas, but it's a lot more fun than the road. It's not very twisty but has lots of little ups and downs. It's one of those that you let go on the way down to build momentum for the next rise. Kinda like a roller coaster. Can you tell I like this one?
This was the trail I visited on my first trip. The map names the lower portion (and the little loop) Carson Creek and the upper portion is called Tower Climb. I am not in the mood for that climb. So I do the loop and head over to...
The bike shop guy told me this trail is not very popular. I can see why. The views do not compensate for its bumpiness, so I cut over as it nears the road and head back to my car. The ride back along the Frontier Trail is a fun way to finish off the day. Total mileage: about 10, not a lot for some, but a good off-road day for me.
On a subsequent trip I rode this trail that quickly drops to near lake level and then winds near the shoreline. The backside of the loop slowly climbs back to the trailhead. It's treeless and brushy, and there was evidence that the lower portion of the loop had been under water. In November 1998, I face-planted at the end of the loop, but aside from a bloody nose and a few scrapes on my elbow, I was pretty much undamaged (except for my ego). The bike fared even better, so, after cleaning myself up, I continued the ride. In December 1998, I fell again on a slippery patch of mud going in the reverse direction.
There is a climb that shortcuts the road to the top of the Tower Climb that until December 1998 I always had to walk. With a new Proflex and a little roadie determination, I made it to the top without stopping. Boy, was I stoked!
The Tower Climb is the trail I did not finish on my first trip. I have since been down it a few times. It's still a daunting trail for me. The switchbacks are sharp and steep, and poison oak abounds. My riding buddy had a miserable rash for about two weeks following our ride. I am still too chicken to ride the switchbacks (save two).
Since I gave the map away at the end of my first ride, I stopped at the bike shop for another copy to scan and to thank them for the great day they helped me have. To read another description of the area, go to the Stanislaus Off Road Enthusiasts (S.O.R.E) web site and click on the Trails icon. George Crawford cleaned up my scan of the map and has it posted there as well. Thanks, George!
In January 1998, I had the privilege of riding Dry Creek in Modesto with the Stanislaus Off Road Enthusiasts (S.O.R.E). On that day the creek was far from dry. Much of the trail was under water. But we did have fun on what remained above water. Here is a picture of me and the Trek from that ride.
Rockville Hills Community Park is located near Fairfield. The park is small, and distances are short, but many of the trails are very challenging. After an initial climb from the parking lot, most of the trails lead back to a small lake on a plateau. There are many more trails than can be found on the map, and while it's easy to get disoriented, one is never lost for long. There are some nice panoramas of the Central Valley and nearby hills. It's a playground for mountain bikes.
Located at the top of Pacheco Pass on SR 152 is Pacheco State Park. It's a recent addition to the state park system, and is pretty much undeveloped. The trails are mainly old farm roads and cow tracks. Some of them are STEEP! On our first trip there my buddy and I ended up on a "three hour tour," losing the trail several times, and running out of water. There are some nice views from the ridge. The park was also experimenting with ranger-led horse and MTB trips into unopened areas of the park. Equestrians and MTBers seem to be getting along nicely there.
I finally had the opportunity to ride the Flume Trail with Steve "Sk1Bum" Lieberman, Tahoe skier, mountain biker, and restaurateur. This trail is renowned for its scenic vistas. It's a bit of a climb at first, but the reward is worth it. There are several web sites devoted to this trail, and Steve promises to have pictures of our trip posted at TahoeBike. If you're ever in South Lake Tahoe, stop by at Killer Chicken, have a bite, and say hello to Steve. The food is excellent. If Steve's not too busy, he might just take you on a ride! (But be sure to bring your own bike.)
Updated June, 1999
