exploration of some mountain bike trails in Poway

[This started as a resurvey of the mountain bike loop around
north Poway, but was aborted by an impassible portion and a flat tire.]

July 22, 2010

I'm going to resurvey and reroute the Poway loop.

This time I will start and end at Valle Verde Park.

12:20 PM starting at the NW corner of Espola Rd and Valle Verde Rd
[images 47165 and 47166]

N 33 1.127 W 117 2.723 mnileage 0.00 [using GPS for mileage and lat-lon]

I ride W on the unpaved path [West Ridge Trail], but mountain bikers may
prefer to ride in the bike lane on the street.

0.23 opposite 16840 Espola Rd, I turn R to follow a trail next to a drainage
ditch

0.45 miles, a sign to my R saying West Ridge Trail 0.5 miles

0.49 the trail turns R and runs next to a paved road, I turn R and ride
on the road

0.55 first intersection, to R is Coyote Ct, this is Rock Rd

I go SA past a mailbox for 17055

0.58 I turn L into an obvious trail with a very small sign on it

0.80 trail emerges on a cul-de-sac and is signed here as West Ridge Trail,
I turn L and follow the road

0.97 I turn L into a marked trail, some of the signs are missing, but one that
says "1 mile" is still there

1.08 trail runs next to the end of a cul-de-sac and turns R, it is signed here
as West Ridge Trail

1.26 I begin a steep, rocky, scenic descent

1.84 trail goes L, the alley SA has a no-trespassing sign on it

1.96 sign to my R marking this as Stone Ridge Trail 2.0 miles

2.17 I cross a paved street, the trail that I was on is signed as West Ridge
Trail, the trail on the N side is signed as Lomas Verde Trail

2.37 T intersection of trails, I turn R

2.47 I cross a paved street and continue, on both sides the trail is signed as
Lomas Verde Trail

2.65 side trail shown on my map here to my R should probably be removed, it is
completely overgrown

2.70 end of city maintained trail [and an equestrian gate]
[image 47197]

3.09 I carry my bike across a dry creek bed [image 47201]

3.10 trail splits, apparently L and R are both Old Coach Trail, I turn R

I photograph L, R and back in that order [47202 to 47204]

I walk my bike up a steep hill

3.13 the trail levels out, and I get back on my bike

there's a fence and a built-up area to my R

3.28 side trail to my R is fenced and gated, and the gate is locked
[image 47207]

3.33 sign to my R 0.5 miles Old Coach Trail

4.00 sign to my R for Old Coach Trail with no mileage

4.05 trail emerges on a paved road [Old Coach Rd], the trail signed as
Justins Trail runs along the other side in both directions

this trail is signed as Old Coach Trail Entrance

just to the R on this side is a driveway marked 17474

I turn R and ride along Old Coach Rd

4.36 sign to my L, I think it says Justins Trail to Old Coach Trail
[image 47212]

4.64 the trail on the L goes down into a canyon, a trail begins to my R, I
continue on my R

4.67 R into a small parking are with a picnic table, a bulletin board, and an
interpretive plaque 1-293-1-752, it is signed as Old Coach Trailhead

4.93 R on Espola Rd

5.03 Westling Ct to my R, I turn L into a driveway [image 47217]

5.12 gated road ahead for San Diego County Water Authority right of way, I
turn L into an obvious but unmarked single track

5.40 I cross a street, the trail is unsigned here, but it is a rather obvious
dirt road

5.60 trail turns R and runs parallel to Espola Rd and right next to it
[actually, the trail is separated from the road by a narrow landscaped area
with bushes 3-6 feet high]

5.90 L on Lake Poway Rd

6.02 R into a dirt road, marked only by a closed area sign and a cylindrical
structure, probably for water [image 47228]

6.15 cross a paved road

6.44 cross a paved road

6.68 I go around a locked gate

6.76 I cross a street with some "private streets" signs on it

6.92 I cross another street, and the trail narrows

7.06 I pass another cylindrical water facility, and the access road to it runs
right to the L of the trail, I follow the access road [which is paved]

7.14 trail crosses a road with double yellow stripe down the center
[probably High Valley Rd], and
continues on the other side, although the other side looks a lot like a
driveway [image 47236]

this is apparently Crocker Rd, there was a sign for a house on it

7.26 I go around a locked gate

7.53 I pass a sign facing the other way marking this as a private road, not a
city trail, I guess I have to arrange an alternate route

7.55 I cross Golden Sunset Ln

7.78 R on Mountain Rd

7.98 I cross Espola Rd and enter a small trail signed as "To Tierra Bonita
Trail"

8.10 another trail to the R, and this is signed as Tierra Bonita Trail

8.19 I cross another street [Tierra Bonita Rd], the trail is signed on this
side as Tierra Bonita Trail, it is signed on the far side as Twin Peaks Trail

8.39 trail to my R signed as Avocado Trail Link

I continue roughly SA

8.48 R on Budwin Ln, there are no signs here

8.57 a trail to my R which might have been a better ride than this one, I turn
R and follow it back to Twin Peaks Trail

yes, this is signed as Avocado Trail Link

8.75 back at the junction of Twin Peaks Trail and Avocado Trail Link,
58-918-1-839, I turn around an go back, taking lat/lon

918-838
943-837 cross a narrow private road mileage here 8.77
995-857
10-881 the path veers R and runs close to Budwin Ln

56-900 Budwin Ln ends, but the trail continues,
to my L and roughly parallel is a private drive, mileage here 8.85

100-915
134-888
161-893
194-874
235-841

the trail is shaded here, it is probably not the trail I previously surveyed,
but it is easy to find

244-837 some trees have fallen across the trail here, but I think I can get
through [image 47255]

59-251-1-840 trail emerges on a street, and there is no obvious continuation,
mileage here 9.04

I turn L and follow the street

my rear tire is going flat [goathead puncture], so I abandon my trip here and
take the shortest way to Espola Rd

[I turn around and follow the street, Huntington Gate Dr, to Del Poniente Rd.
I replace the read inner tube near the intersection. Then I return to the
starting point via Del Poniente Rd and Espola Rd.]

I apparently picked up a thorn [goathead] in that verdant area.

3:30 PM 12.90 miles, back at the truck, end of trip