Category: Trails

Gold Mountain 3N69

Posted on by
Gold Mountain 3N69 Trail Head
Gold Mountain Trail Head

The Gold Mountain 3N69 Trail can be found in the San Bernardino National Forest near Big Bear Lake. The favored direction of travel is from South to North starting on Hwy 18 near Baldwin Lake. Starting immediately from the trail head, the trail climbs steeply up the mountain via a series of switch backs. Amazing views offer those who choose to drive this trail.

The trail is available to street legal vehicles only.

The US Forest Service rates the Gold Mountain 3N69 trail a black diamond most difficult trail. This trail is not recommended for stock SUVs. There are bypasses including one around the talus slope that will allow slightly modified vehicles to traverse the trail. Elevation ranges from 6700′ to over 8100′ and during the winter months snow and ice add to the difficulty of traversing the trail.

A Forest Service Adventure Passes are required if you plan on stopping along the way. As of September 2016, forest visitors parked in standard amenity recreation fee sites in the four southern California national forests must display a valid recreation pass. This includes sites on the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres and San Bernardino National Forests. Such is the once great state of California.

Gold Mountain Trailmap

Jacoby Canyon 3N61

Posted on by
Jacoby Canyon 3N61 Trail head
Jacoby Canyon 3N61 Trail head

Jacoby Canyon 3N61 is a trail which can be found in the San Bernardino National Forest near Big Bear Lake. Jocoby Canyon was originally named Chipopee Canyon on U. S. Forest Service maps prior to 1965. The favored direction of travel is from North to South starting on Hwy 18. The bumpy dirt trail is available to street legal vehicles only but reasonably higher clearance is recommended.

The US Forest Service rates this trail a blue square more difficult trail. There is one creek crossing near the middle of the trail that will put a squeeze on full size vehicles.

Elevation ranges from 6000′ to over 7200′ and during the winter months snow and ice add to the difficulty of traversing the trail. This one way trail starts near the Holcomb mine and slowly winds down through a small narrow side canyon. The canyon offers some enjoyable scenery and in general the trail and route are quite fun.

Jacoby Canyon appears to have some smaller single space campsites near the bottom of the route. The trail releases onto Highway 18 near Cactus Flats. The short trail offers prime opportunity to see wildlife and to get away from it all in the back-roads of Big Bear.

A Forest Service Adventure Passes are required if you plan on stopping along the way. As of September 2016, forest visitors parked in standard amenity recreation fee sites in the four southern California national forests must display a valid recreation pass. This includes sites on the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres and San Bernardino National Forests. Such is the once great state of California.

Jacoby Canyon is currently closed following a wild fire by a forest order of the Forest Service.

Jacoby Canyon Trailmap

Resources

Alamo Road

Posted on by
Alamo Road and parts beyond
Alamo Road and parts beyond. Photo by James L Rathbun

The Alamo Road is the central route north through the Desert National Wildlife Refuge north of Las Vegas.  The Route leaves from Corn Creek and winds north over Sheep Pass and into the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge.  There are many spur trails to explore and several primitive campsites to spend the night.

This road travels just along the eastern boundary of the Nevada Test & Training Range.  Entry into this area is prohibited, so do not travel west from this trail. There are several other shorter trails which leaves Alamo trail toward the east to several side canyons.

The trail is very remote and covers a good distance. The last time we did this trail, cell service died rather quickly outside of Corn Creek. So, be prepared and pack appropriately. I have a CB and a 2M ham radio in the jeep for just such an occasion.

Alamo Road offers access to the following Las Vegas 4×4 Trails:

  • Joe May Road
  • Cow Creek Road
  • Hidden Forest Road
  • White Rock Road
  • Dead Horse Road
  • Sheep Pass
  • Cabin Spring Road

The Mormon Well Road also starts from Corn Creek.

Alamo Road Trail Map

Pine Nut Road

Posted on by
The turn off to Pine Nut Road off the Mormon Wells Road near Las Vegas, Nevada
The turn off to Pine Nut Road off the Mormon Wells Road near Las Vegas, Nevada

Pine Nut Road is a 6-mile long, bumpy dirt road on the east side of the Sheep Range that runs north from the Mormon Well Road to a traditional primitive camping area. This camping area offers several campsites with one which overlooks the valley below and would be a nice place to cool down on a hot summer trail ride.

Pine Nut is just inside the Pinyon-Juniper Woodland zone, which means the campsites are shaded by Single-leaf Pinyon and Utah Juniper.

The road usually requires only a high-clearance vehicle, but it can get troublesome crossing the first large wash; call the refuge headquarters for current conditions.

A nice place to camp at the end of the trail.

The primitive campsite offers no services and although the area is under Junpiter Trees, firewood should be brought to the site for campfires. There are a few fire pits outlined with rock and offer nice small clearing to keep the fire hazard down. The campsites are separated from each other with Jupiter trees.

A flowering cactus blooms in the spring
A flowering Mojave Mound Cactus blooms in the spring, found on Pine Nut Road

Mormon Wells Road

Posted on by
Entering Peek-a-boo Canyon on the Mormon Wells Road.
Entering Peek-a-boo Canyon on the Mormon Wells Road.

The Mormon Well Road is a long, rough, dirt road that runs across the Desert National Wildlife Range from Corn Creek to Highway 93. The road runs across the desert and over the mountains through some spectacular country, including towering limestone cliffs; broad, flat valleys; and narrow, winding canyons. The road runs through several desert vegetation life zones, starting in the very dry (stunted) Mojave Desert Scrub Zone and climbing to the Yellow Pine (Ponderosa Pine) Zone.

The sign post points the way to the Mormon Well Road and parts beyond.
The sign post points the way to the Mormon Well Road and parts beyond.

There are primitive campsites at the top of the Pine Nut Road. This location offers a wonder view of the valley, and there are three distinct large camping spots and perhaps one smaller site which is probably only used as an overflow.

A Beavertail cactus about to go into a full bloom.
A Beavertail cactus about to go into a full bloom.

The variety of life zones provides many different habitats for birds and other wildlife.

The Wildlife Refuge used to maintain their roads, but in recent years, funding for maintenance has been directed towards other things (for example, building an unnecessary and expensive new visitor center). As a result, all roads on the DNWR are deteriorating, and during the summer of 2010, the north end of the Mormon Well Road suffered flooding. From the campground north, the road is quite rough, but passable in a 4WD vehicle.

Watching the sunset while we air up after a long day on the trail.
Watching the sunset while we air up after a long day on the trail.

Mormon Wells Road Trail Map