exploration of some mountain bike trails in Poway August 3, 2010 9:34 AM Valle Verde Park in Poway, I'm going to explore some of the trails on my mountain bike mileage here 0.08 SB on Valle Verde Rd 0.15 I cross Espola Rd 0.21 L into trail [Green Valley Trail] 0.45 T intersection of trails, I turn L 0.48 Espola Rd is a short distance ahead, but I turn R to stay on the trail 0.50 trail emerges on Martincoit Rd right next to Espola Rd I ride around a bit to check for other trails I go down as far as Sagewood and find no other trails I return and go E on Espola Rd there is is some construction on Espola Rd, apparently resurfacing [traffic is directed to the R side, and the bike land is being used by cars] [I avoid taking the lane by riding L in the coned-off area when possible] I move over to a well-beaten path on the R I cannot turn L on Lake Poway Rd without walking through construction barriers and possibly over fresh pavement therefore, I continue on the path to the R of the road I finally get an opportunity to turn L into Sandhill Rd I turn R into the trail 3.56 I'm at the tralhead on High Valley Rd opposite Crocker Rd the only trail sign is a trail adoption sign I go W (downhill) on High Valley Rd 3.80 I cross Espola Rd and enter Del Poniente Rd 4.05 I turn R into Del Poniente Trail, and it is signed [image 47370] a trail running along the other side of the street is signed as Tierra Bonita Trail 4.29 the trail turns L it runs roughly parallel to a paved road on my R [probably Northcrest Ln], there is an informal connection between the trail and the road at the turn 4.36 a rather formal connection with the road running to my R [image 47373] there are no signs, but it is big enough to drive a car through 4.47 road to my R turns away from the trail 4.51 a major trail junction 59-578-1-931, I continue SA on Del Poniente Trail [images 47374-47378] at 4.66 I cross a paved street which is Midland Rd to L, El Camino Entrada to the R, SA is Del Poniente Trail, I continue on the trail 4.99 a fence-off paved road to my L [probably Del Poniente Rd], but there's an unlocked gate in the fence 5.08 a gap in the fence to my L, and a well-beaten connection to the street this path has been going in quite a straight line except for one little jog 5.21 solar collectors in an otherwise undeveloped area to my L 5.29 the trail splits, it probably goes SA, but I veer L yes, it appears that this is a trail, but the other way would have gone the same place 5.31 a side trail to the L, probably already mapped 5.38 another side trail to the L, and the trail between fences to my R apparently continues, I keep R to stay close to the fences 5.42 the trail between fences rejoins this one, and I continue roughly due W [the trail descends and gets rough] 5.53 the wooden fence to my L ends, but the trail continues in the same direction and it's very obvious 5.59 the trail veers to the L and crosses a [dry] creek, and it's very rugged here 5.60 at the bottom of the creek bed, there's a sign for Del Poniente Trail 2.5 miles facing this direction facing the other direction is a sign that says Del Poniente Trail 1 mile 5.75 an arrow pointing to the R, and an apparently abandoned trail SA, I turn R [image 47398] 6.05 T intersection, L goes to hospital parking lot, I turn R 6.11 the trail turns R, SA is a confusing conglomeration of paths 6.17 what appears to be bridge under construction there is a temporary closure sign on the other side, but I managed to get through 6.20 trail splits, I take the L branch, which looks lower 6.28 trail to my R, which is probably the other end, to my L is a rock formation, possible view point, but no clear path up to it 6.34 the trail emerges on a paved roadway behind some apartments, I turn R the trail here is signed merely as a trail there is an unpaved area on the R side of the road which might reasonably be considered a trail the unpaved section ends and a trail goes off to the R at 6.48 [image 47410] 6.60 the trail emerges on Pomerado Rd almost opposite Bernardo Heights Pkwy it is signed here as Pomerado Trail I turn R and ride on Pomerado Rd there is a path on my R that might be considered a trail 6.74 I cross Stone Canyon Rd 6.89 side trail to R signed as Pomerado Trail, I turn R to see where it goes [image 47414] 6.98 the trail turns R and crosses a drainage ditch while walking my bike, I pick a small thorn out of my tire, so I turn around and go back 7.08 back at the place where I turned off, I continue N on Pomerado Rd at the far end of the parking lot for the First Church of Christ, Scientist, I pick up the trail [image 47416] it is unsigned but easy to recognize if you know it's here 7.45 I cross a street [Avenida La Valencia], there is a marked crosswalk here and an obvious trail continuation 7.96 the trail turns L 8.00 I turn R into a side trail, SA goes directly up to Espola Rd 8.03 I cross a paved road [Avenida La Florencia] with a marked crosswalk 8.07 the trail SA goes directly to a paved road, I turn L to follow a sign toward Green Valley Trails 8.29 L on Valle Verde Rd, there is no trail sign here, but you can see Valle Verde Park and a traffic light on Espola Rd 8.38 11:41 AM back at Valle Verde Park, end of this part [I drive down to the park & ride lot on Twin Peaks Rd at Budwin Ln] NB on Budwin Lane 1.64 L into a signed continuation of Twin Peaks Trail it is signed as Twin Peaks Trail, and it appears to follow some power lines 1.82 side trail off to R, which probably is Twin Peaks Trail to the L apparently goes down to Twin Peaks Rd [near Midland Rd] 1.83 trails L, R and SA, I'm in doubt, so I go SA 1.88 I cross a paved road, ahead and to my R is 14812 Midland, I guess this is Midland Rd SA seems to have some trail signs on it, so I go SA the road veers R, but SA is a signle track signed as Twin Peaks Trail in a few places, this trail is so steep that it is hard even to walk 2.05 the trail emerges on a dirt road, and it is signed here simply as a trail 2.25 I come to a T and turn L 2.26 the road ends at a nice view point, I turn around 2.28 I come to the T and go SA 2.41 I come to another T with a sign that suggests that the trail goes L, I go L 2.50 rats! the trail comes to an end, I turn around 2.59 back at the T, I keep L to continue on Twin Peaks Trail 2.78 side road to L, but signs suggest that the trail goes SA, I go SA 2.85 trail to my R, probably to Twin Peaks 2.93 another road to my L, but I can see that it deadends, and the sign says the trail goes SA toward Silverset Park [which I can see from here], I go SA 3.06 side trail to my L, possible the cutoff to Silverset Park, I keep R yes, that was the cutoff to Silverset Park 3.28 side path to L, apparently down into a residential area 3.40 the path, which is apparently an access road, emerges on a paved road [Sagecrest Dr], I turn R I reach the highest point at 3.58 12741 Sagecrest Dr is on my R, and a water tank to my L, I turn around 3.77 I pass the place where I entered this street, and continue downhill first intersection, I turn R from Sagecrest Dr to Brookstone Dr, and the area that I was in is signed as Chimney Rock Open Space Preserve 4.04 I come to the end of a cul-de-sac, but there is sidewalk through to the end of the next street, I ride on that other side is end of another cul-de-sac 4.10 first intersection, a T intersection, I turn from Laja Dr L onto Amso St 4.20 Nazas Dr to R, I turn R 4.25 Pomerado Rd, I turn L and ride on the sidewalk on this side 4.37 L on Twin Peaks Rd right under the power lines, I see a trail to my L that I obviously missed I cross over and enter the trail at 4.51 4.58 trail narrows and continues to follow the power lines, but I turn L and go onto a street 4.70 I cross over from one cul-de-sac to another [probably from Conchos Dr to Deerwood St] 4.84 power line access road to R and L, I turn R 4.85 this quickly narrows into a social trail, I turn around I come back and cross the road, and then I come to another road, and I recognize this place, it's near Sagecrest and Brookstone Dr as I came down Sagecrest, there was a trail to my L, I enter that trail at 4.96 4.98 it crosses Brookstone, and there are signs on it, mostly trail maintainence signs, no trail names, I continue on the trail 5.04 I cross a road and continue [probably Deerwood St] this is the trail that I formerly rejected, I walk down it it follows some power lines and is quite well-trodden but it is steep, and it has a lot of small, loose stones on it 5.15 this is place where I turned off that trail from Twin Peaks [at 4..58] I continue and go back to Twin Peaks 5.25 I turn L on Twin Peaks Rd and ride on the sidewalk on this side 7.13 back at the truck, end of this part [I drive to Starridge Park by the most direct route] 9.75 I'm at Starridge Park, and I'm going to explore a path that the map shows going W from near here 0.07 at the corner of Silver Lake Dr and Silver Lake Rd, entering a narrow path between two fences [image 47466] [actually, between a wall and a fence] 0.08 it loses its pavement and goes steeply up a hill with water bars 0.14 some steps, seven steps, to be exact just beyond the steps the path becomes paved 0.15 the path emerges on a street I turn L first intersection, Quasar Dr, a little stub to the R, this is Celestial Rd, and SA is Arbolitos Dr [probably the opposite] mileage here 0.18 I waste 0..02 mile just riding around the intersection [reset mileage to 0.20] I finally see the continuation at the end of Quasar, and I follow it 0.24, at the end of Quasar, I enter a continuation trail the trail apparently emerges on a cul-de-sac the cul-de-sac is Shallman Rd, I continue SA I cross Frame Rd and enter a small continuation, which is paved 0.49 path crosses another street [Powers Rd] 0.51 the path ends on Pomerado Rd, just a short distance S of Meadowbrook end of this part, I turn around and go back the way I came correction, before entering the unpaved part of the trail, I go S [on Tobiasson Rd] and try to go around the hill 2:51 PM 22.13 miles, back at the truck, end of this part