 | | Brown Mountain - La Canada Trailhead - Monday, May 20, 2013 | | |
| | | | Brown Mountain - La Canada - Los Angeles County
The Brown Mountain trails are basically the same as the Lower Arroyo Seco. Take 210 West and exit Arroyo Blvd. and turn right. Go straight until you see a parking lot at the bend in the road. Find parking in the lot or locally. The parking lot overlooks Jet Propulsion Lab. There should be a road leading to a swinging gate. Go pass the gate and follow the road. This is where everyone parks, and the crooks know it, so car break-ins is quite common. So don't leave anything valuable looking in view. Thomas Guide page 535
GPS: Latitude: Longitude: Elevation: |       |
| |
| | | | |
|
|
| | | | | | | |
 |
#80
A Little Rutted - Rode the trail today. It seems a little more rutted, and washboardy what with the recent rains. It's all good though.
climber1  a 58 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Specialized Carve(Pro) from Alhambra, California
Posted on 12/05/12 
#79
A Little Narrow - Have ridden this trail forever. Not as much as I used too. The single track is fun. Just wish is was a little wider on the blind curves.
climber1 a 58 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Specialized Carve(Pro) from Alhambra, California
Posted on 07/28/12
#78
Brown Mountain: best ever! - Here is my post almost exactly one year later and Brown Mountain is the best I've ever seen in regards to scenery and fun factor.The wildflowers are near as good as last years' exceptional display.How cool to be riding with all the colors (and scent) towering over you on both sides of a single track corridor!The relentless uphill is still a burner but less so psychologically.In the past when it was a wide open road, you could see the long uphill stretches way out in the distance.Now you can't see them until you're right in them since you are in the middle of a tight singletrack fenced in with vegetation.All you can do is concentrate on twenty feet in front of you.A big thanks to CORBA for cleaning up the wash outs from the saddle to the tank.It is all rideable now and a single track heaven.As we transition into the heat season your best bet to beat a sweat fest (and dodging uphill traffic) is to start at 7:30 am.Do it on a week day and see wildlife while having the place to yourself.It doesn't get any better than this in the San Gabriel Valley.
Michael L a 62 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Yeti ASR from Pasadena, Ca.
Posted on 05/16/12
#77
Latest News re. the "Fire Road" - This fire road is now mostly a singletrack, all the way to the top of Brown Mt. above the saddle, all of it much more fun than plain old fire road. There are some bee keepers who are trying to get permission to buldoze half way up the lower fire road so they can keep hives up there, but that is not a certain thing.
The upper "fire road" is technically closed though heavily used and a blast to ride. The Forest Service recognizes how much it is being used and allowed CORBA, to organize a trail work day to make it safer and a little easier for multiple users to use at the same time (wider). This was just done today and will help make the Forest Service happy to keep it as it is; a singletrack. Currently they say that as long as there is no fire, they do not have plans to bulldoze the upper "fire road".
Banner Moffat a 56 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Superfly 100 from La Crescenta
Posted on 04/07/12
#76
Bob R, and I rode the LOwer Brown Mountain Road this morning. The road has for the most part become a single track as it is pretty overgrown(especially near the top). There are a few ruts, and a couple of corners where falling would not be a good thing. Rumor has it they are going to run a bulldozer up it, and clean it up in a couple of weeks. It was a little tough going up, but pretty fun coming down.
climber1 a 57 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Specialized FSR XC Comp from Alhambra
Posted on 06/03/11
#75
Brown Mountain open - Brown Mountain fire road is now legally open and it has become a single track.How do we now avoid all the newbies going up on the wrong side as we go down?You would never know that the whole place burned nearly two years ago as it is grown in lush.Best wildflower displays up there in a dozen years,now in May.Very intense erosion in the arroyo as well as up Brown Mt. There is still a road closure sign up at the saddle for the upper half.It looks like a completly new ride.Enjoy while like this.
Michael L a 61 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Yeti ASR from Pasadena, Ca.
Posted on 05/23/11
#74
so I understand that Lower Brown Mtn road is closed because the Upper Brown Mountain Road is a disaster. They don't want people on Upper Brown Mtn. road. Ironic, in that you can access it from the Millard side.
climber1 a 56 year old
Posted on 05/13/11
#73
Brown Mountain - While I have seen hikers on the fire road leading out of Millard to Brown Mountain recently, my understanding is that whole area is still closed. Just this week, the forest service posted new signage at the top of Sunset Trail and Chaney Trail as it goes from asphalt to dirt. El Prieto is rumored to be opening in the Spring of 2011 at the earliest. There is some trail work happening this weekend.
theadventuresport a Cross-Country Rider from Altadena, CA URL: Trail Closures
Posted on 08/12/10
#72
open fire road yet? - Does anyone know if Brown (ride road) is open. I have heard that Millard is open again. Thought about taking Brown down to Millard and up Sunset to Inspiration Point. Is this doable without getting fined? Thanks for any info/update you may provide.
Posted on 08/11/10
#71
Ken Burton Trail - I rode this trail last Saturday, July 4, 2009. There has not been any recent trailwork on this one-time great trail in a long time. It is so narrow from overgrowth that frequently your handlebars will be grabbed and you'll inadvertantly be heading off the edge. Very low branches and foliage will have you ducking and catching your helmet most of the time. Low-side trail washouts claim your front tire and crashes are imminent. By the time you get to the creek, you'll have scratches galore on arms and legs, and probably a good case of poison oak if you're susceptible. This trail used to be fun. Now it's just an excercise in stifling profanity.
Kendog a precambrian year old Weekend Warrior riding a Jamis Dakar Expert from Venice, CA
Posted on 07/07/09
#70
Brown Mountain/Ken Burton - Ken Burton is getting closed in by brush but still passable.Wear long sleeves and glasses.Poison oak is there but it did not get us.At the bottom -water is lower-not a problem,most crossings are rideable.Uphill around falls is still a a** kicker.
Hawkeye a 54 year old Weekend Warrior riding a 08Stump from La Crescenta
Posted on 05/26/09
#69
KEN BERTON 0518 2009 - Trail Conditions are "OK hot/dry" someone (thank god!) trimmed the hedges in the beginning part of the trail but I guess ran out of chain-saw juice to finnish the rest of the way. This trail is super fun but definitely not for newbies! mid level and up. Switch backs in the middle are tricky but manageable the last few switch backs are hike a bike for many, after beating up your bike in the river a short climb awaits you and of course a gravely descent right after. Soon after you find yourself hiking your bike in and out of the river and through a few camp sight, follow the trail and your home free back to the JPL parking lot. Wear your safety gear for this one you'll need it!
PMBC Crew a 25 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Specialized Jumpstumpee from East LA E-mail:this user
Posted on 05/22/09
#68
Ken Burton Trail - Trail off Brown Mtn is in Great shape-lots of fun.Once you get down to the bottom the stream crossings were tough to ride across-we had to get off and walk most of them(deep water and lots of big rocks in the path). Did not get posion oak!! No lions seen.
Hawkeye a 53 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Specialized Stump from La Crescenta
Posted on 03/18/09
#67
FYI big ass mountain lion is hanging around this area, maybe he's always been here but I've seen him twice in 6 months, and last thursday morning it scared the shiite out of me,very close range,awesome wild beast just strolling up the road, appeared very healthy and not afraid of me by any means, don't want to cause anxiety but it certainly has in me, make noise.
dig slathig a 47 year old Cross-Country Rider
Posted on 07/12/08
#66
Ken Burton is sick!!! - Don't listen to the naysayers, KB is off the hinges. Highly recommend tis ride for any intermediate level rider and above. Start at Ventura and Arroyo (JPL lot) and cruise up the Brown fireroad to the saddle, go left and continue to Brown Mountain. Drop into the KB singketrack in the NW corner. Have a good trip. Stream crossings in the Gab add to the fun. This is a really noce 16 mile loop.
James Seidner a 23 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Merlin Works 4.0
Posted on 06/12/08
#65
Down in Jungleland - Rode this yesterday in the cool of the morning. Absolutely choked with bush, branches and Poison Oak. The bottom 3 switchbacks before you get to the Gab are pretty much HAB stuff. Looks like the whole hill down there is almost ready to turn into a landslide with the next big rain. Seems like every few years, the whole area down there gets rerouted, due to the trail being unsustainable. Feels like there's more trails to maintain than there is workers to maintain them?
Ride at your own risk and be prepared to break out in rashes from the PO, it's inevitable with the condition it's in now.
ConArtist a 44 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Titus Switchblade from The OC
Posted on 06/08/08
#64
Ken Burton - Whoooaaaa Nelly!!!! Bushwacking, hike a bike, crawling through poison oak up to my eyebrows, and a little riding mixed in between would describe my latest trip down Ken Burton on 5/17. The foilage has completely erupted since CORBA (OTBMBC's founder Hans Keifer and crew) last worked on it. I would urge those individuals who are sensitive to poison oak to steer clear of this trail. There is plenty of oak down along the Gab as well on your ride back to JPL.
Have Tecnu on hand as you will surely be using it or itching up a storm
Posted on 05/17/08
#63
Brown is going off - The recent high winds and rain have made for EPIC conditions on the fireroad up to the Burton saddle. Take Brownie fireroad all the way up and then drop in on the Ken Burton down to Oakwilde and the Gab. Be careful as there are lots of newbs on their new X-Mas bikes as well as equestrians and hikers. Share the trail and be respectful of others please.
nomadca a 39 year old riding a Santa Cruz Nomad from La Crescenta
Posted on 12/27/07
#62
Oops... closed until 11/05/2007
Jason
Posted on 10/29/07
#61
Closed due to the fires - I called the ranger station and they said Brown will be closed at a minimum until 1/05/2007
Cheers
Jason
Posted on 10/29/07
#60
I agree with BillyGoat, the saddle sometimes looks like a Home Depot parking lot. Please pick up after yer trash and if u see any, and have room put it in yer plastic bag. Thanks y'all.
Mongoose a 67 year old riding a spider
Posted on 10/06/07
#59
Hotter than hell - I rode to the Brown saddle then on up to Ken Burton yesterday mid afternoon as I do several times a week. OMFG it was hot! No wonder I only saw a few other guys. Lot's of trash at the Brown saddle. I wish everyone would protect the faorest and haul their trash out.
Billy Goat a 47 year old Weekend Warrior riding a 2007 Foes FXR 2:1 E-mail:this user
Posted on 10/03/07
#58
Dawn Mine Trail is Hard to Pass - Hey, hikers: the trail up from Dawn Mine to the Mt. Lowe Road has a pretty precarious landslide blocking the way towards the top. 3 out of 4 people on Saturday didn't want to try crossing it.It's especially tempting if you come up from the bottom, since it's 9/10ths of the way up. But be careful, that whole slide could go down and take you with it.
schnitz
Posted on 07/01/07
#57
Grading on Lower Brown Mtn - Bob and I rode this wednesday, June 27th, morning.
encountered a forest service crew grading the road about a mile below the saddle. we were headed up, they were headed down. the graded road was a little soft in the turns, but I've seen worse.
a 53 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Cannondale from Alhambra
Posted on 06/28/07
#56
Ken Burton - I rode Brown Mountain to Ken Burton down to Gabrieleno/JPL today. Ken Burton is a great ride, but the lower part of the trail (beginning from about .5 miles before it connects with Gabrieleno) needs to be maintained a bit because certain parts are overgrown and the last switchback has washed out (though I'm sure some prefer it that way). Also, the trail has become more technical because the singletrack is uber thin at certain spots. Oh, and there was a small tree down halfway down the trail, but no big deal. I went back up Brown Mtn. to El Prieto. El Prieto is as awesome as always.
KayGee a 29 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Specialized Stumpjumper from Glendale, CA
Posted on 04/13/07
Next Page | |
| | | | |
|
|
Content-type: text/html
|
