Santa Ysabel Truck Trail Recon

Start of Lower Santa Ysabel Truck Trail

I planned on catching the FLEX Bus from Escondido to Ramona and getting off at Bandy Canyon to start the next recon portion of a possible new rando route in the dirt. However, not to be! As I got to the Transit early, 2 bikes were already stacked up on the small bus. That's it. I pondered my situation for a bit and then cranked out to ride over to Bandy Canyon on Hwy. 78. I stopped at Ysabel Creek road to take a pic and a bike van pulled up for a chat. She said they have a storage warehouse on Ysabel Creek somewhere. Heck, I thought there was just one farm along that desolate road.

I checked out the San Dieguito Trailhead area and set off climbing up Hwy. 78 towards Ramona. Stopped at the Clevenger Trailhead to chat with Ranger Tom. He had some whoppers to tell. Gave him a rando card and continued up the road, looking around and taking pictures. Only 2 short sections of Hwy. 78 had no lane for bikes to this point. Another 1/2 mile up the road was my turn onto the unmarked Truck Trail with a big yellow gate. This looked real good.

Lower Santa Ysabel Truck Trail

I slipped around the gate and proceeded along the overgrown trail. At 1.3 miles, the trail splits at a "Y". Left goes up Orosco TTr and right is the Lower Santa Ysabel TTr over to Pamo Road, north of Ramona. Right. I stopped to roll up my knee covers(warmers) and my arm warmers. Tick protection. I needed it after checking my knee high wool socks. Creepy crawlies there already!

This is a great single track following ravines through the hills. No big climbs here. Several miles down the trail there is another gate with a more defined road on the other side. Here is where hikers come up from the Pamo Trailhead. More defined truck trail here with a trail junction and shooting signs nearer to Pamo Road.

Serine riding here!

North on Pamo Road. Hard surfaced for the first mile, then gravel. No cars here. One farm house. All this land is owned by San Diego and they operate a ranch here. Up the road a bit is the Upper Santa Ysabel TTr. This is a whole different ride.

Upper Santa Ysabel is dirt road that starts climbing from the start. I figured the first 3 miles are up. Some of it is up to 11-13% grade. Traction is good, with a few loose rocks. Up on the mesa, the road turns to rollers and has more rocks and erosion in it. Great views here and you can look NE and see Black Canyon Road coming down into the valley. Mostly downhill next with sections of eroded road. Nice little climb up to Black Canyon Road at the end.

USYTTr on right, Blk. Mtn. Road far ahead

Excellent route for a MTB/Fargo type  Rando bike with nice wide tires. This will make a fine middle section for the longer route up to Lake Henshaw and back. Lots of pictures on this recon. Better take lots of water if riding in the warm weather. In spots, you can hear water rushing along in the ravines below, This is good stuff!

Preview video at: http://youtu.be/_Z2v5YDL_78

Happy Trails  -randorides