mountain biking the skyline

[marmot]

I'm considering mountain biking halfway up c2c, has anybody done this before? it seems like a reasonable trail to do it on.

[zippetydude]

Hi Marmot!

Mountainbike Skyline? I haven't seen your posts for a while - have you forgotten what Skyline is like, or are you a monster mountainbiker?

There are a few stretches coming up from the Ramon trailhead that I could see riding, but there's a lot of stuff there that would be impossible for me. After the picnic tables, I'm not sure there's much fun to be had on a bike.

If you're local, I would recommend the Jedi in Loma Linda or Area 51 out of Hannah Flats above Fawnskin. The Jedi trail is fine right now, but the Area 51 trail probably has snow at the moment.

If you do try out Skyline, I hope you'll post and let us know how it goes.

z

[Rick F]

Are bikes allowed on the Skyline trail? You've got my interest. Is there a State/National Forest or Park boundary beyond which point bikes are prohibited?

I've bike-n-hiked White Mountain peak, rode up "Poop-out Hill" enroute to San G. and pedaled up to the Baldy notch from Manker Flats. It's a lot of work going up but great fun coming down.

[ajwoodzy]

That would be quite the interesting downhill. I have never hiked on the trail, but anything downhill sounds fun. I wonder if you could find a way to take the tram up, hike all day, and then send your gear down and do the downhill section. That would be cool...

[kd]

I want to put together a trip this spring. Hiking Skyline up to the tram, then trail run across to Idyllwild, Humber Park, then mountain biking down Bee Canyon on the other side.

Let me know if you are interested.
Kevin

[Rick F]

I've never seen the Skyline/C2C trail so I don't know what the terrain is like or if its even navigable on a bike. The idea is definitely worth exploring. Some of the downhills I've done on a bike have been roads or at least jeep trails. For instance, the service road from Manker Flats to the Baldy Notch, Poop-out Hill (Gorgonio), Maple Springs/Main Divide (Santiago), Nate Harrison Grade (Palomar), and the road to White Mountain Peak. Although its a road, the first part of the descent from the top of White Mtn. Peak is really rocky and somewhat technical. The most techical descent I've done on a bike was coming down the Holy Jim Trail from Santiago. There were some sections and some of the switch backs that we had to get our feet out of the pedals for a few steps.

The first two basic questions are:
1. How does the terrain on the Skyline Trail compare to other routes in Southern California?

2. How far up the Skyline Trail are bikes allowed?

My USGS San Jacinto topo map doesn't include the area where the Skyline trail is. I'll order the Palm Springs quadrangle today and start studying it.

[AlanK]

You will not find the Skyline trail on any published map that I am aware of. It is not an official trail.

[Marknhj]

You will not find the Skyline trail on any published map that I am aware of. It is not an official trail.

I recently bought a Trail Map of the "Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument". Skyline is marked on the map with mileage and elevation gains described in the trail ratings.

The blurb says, "This publication was produced and funded by The Wilderness Society, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, City of Palm Desert, Southern California Edison, and Palm Springs Life in coordination with the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, Tahquitz Group of the Sierra Club, Friends of the Desert Mountains, Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, and California State Parks"

It's a great map and can be bought at the Desert Map & Aerial Photo store in Palm Desert or at the visitor center on the 74.

btw - a couple of weeks ago Tina said she was on Skyline in February and saw a guy lugging a mountain bike up. My reaction was

[AlanK]

You will not find the Skyline trail on any published map that I am aware of. It is not an official trail.

I recently bought a Trail Map of the "Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument". Skyline is marked on the map with mileage and elevation gains described in the trail ratings.

There's an exception to every rule!

[kd]

Skyline is a great hike.
Not the place to mountain bike.
Very steep in places and very remote.
Not the place to break a collar bone.