Bear Divide - May Canyon - #BearDivide-MayCanyon

Socal - Los Angeles County - Sylmar/Lake View Terrace NickNames: #BearDivide-MayCanyon nike missile site

You can do this trip as a long loop or use two cars to enjoy a shorter 'whole family' ride. (For the longer loop version) Drive the 210 Freeway west and exit at Hubbard Street in Sylmar. Turn left on Hubbard and then take a right on Foothill. Drive one block to Sayre Street and turn right. Drive toward the mountains. The street takes you right to Veterans Memorial Park. Park and unload your bike.

Peddle back down Sayre and turn left on Foothill. Stay on Foothill for about 4 miles. This is a more or less flat highway. You will pass the new recreation facilities at Hansen Dam. After going under the freeway overpass, take a left on Osborne Street. (You may want to reset the odometer on your bike computer because the distances are measured from this Foothill/Osborne intersection.)

A mile up Osborne the road becomes Little Tujunga Road. After several miles, you begin a moderate climb. Five miles up this road, you'll pass the Wildlife Waystation, a home for wayward wild animals. If you make this climb early in the morning, you'll hear the lions and tigers roaring for breakfast. As you continue climbing, you'll enter into some beautiful vistas.

About 8 miles up Little Tujunga Road, you'll come to a water tower. From the water tower, ride down into a valley that may remind you of the Hobbit novels. After a blazing ride down the canyon you'll begin climbing again. After 11.5 miles you will arrive at summit. At the left will be a large parking lot with some picnic tables. There will be maps posted and a sign indicating that you are at Bear Divide Vista point. If you want to do the 'non-loop' version of this ride, park one vehicle at the Sayre Street park (Veterans Memorial Park) and then drive your bikes up to this parking lot. Thomas Guide page: 482

3 Review(s)1 Photo(s)Login

• Trail UpdateFire-Closed until further notice. A big fire is blazing between Santa Clarita and Sylmar passing through a network of trails.
  Steve K a 17 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Mongoose XR-100 from Canyon Country (Santa Clarita), CA

  Posted:07/18/2004

• Trail UpdateNike Site And Fire Camp #9 Ride.-We started the ride from Mission College's parking lots. Mission College is located in Sylmar. Exit the 210 freeway at Hubbard street turn right and proceed to Eldridge ave. On Eldridge turn right and then a left turn on Pasha into the College. Speak to the College Police Officers( They Ride extensively ) and explain to them your reason for parking. They're all cool guys.
  From the college ride onto Hubbard street and head east toward the foothills, once you reach Shawblow turn left and ride about 1/4 of mile to Sayre Street.
  On Sayre turn right and you'll enter Veterans Park. As you ride through the entrance veer to the left farthest
  parking lot. At the far end of the lot there's an access/ service path that turns right or left, stay to the left and climb until you can view a fire service road with black top. Once on the black top, you'll enjoy 9 miles of non-stop climbing that'll tax your lungs. The road is clear of brush to the top with many awesome views of the San Fernando Valley. There are portions of the climb that prove difficult if your not conditioned for steep challenges. The views will diminish the pain in the quads and behind. Once you reach LA CO Fire Camp #9 you might be able to witness one of their helios land or BS with the fire crew. Ride through the camp an onto the the Nike Site.
  Total milage is 23 miles. Have Fun.
  Paved Path=100%
  Ruben Corral a 40 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Cannondale Super V-1000 from Temple City

  Posted:07/17/1999

• Trail UpdateBear Divide - May Canyon-From the parking lot peddle toward the mountain. Down on the left you see a ranger station. Stay on the upper road. You will see that it gradually climbs up the side of the mountain. Go through the gate and up the hill. The higher you climb, the more spectacular the vistas. A mile or so up the hill, you will be able to spot the Pacoima Reservoir.

  About 3 1/2 miles up this trail you come to a fire station. The views here are worth the entire ride. Facing south, the whole San Fernando Valley lays before you. Turn north and you have the Santa Clarita Valley. On a winter day, expect to see a thin layer of snow in the shade.

  Peddle another 1 1/2 or 2 miles and you come to an intersection where the May Canyon Trail begins. Turn left onto the trail. This is such a fun and fast ride. Although you can do this entire trip without suspension May Canyon has enough potholes and rocks that you will wish you had at least front suspension.

  After a three mile gallop down the hill, you are back at Veterans Memorial Park. I have done this trip several times. I've even taken my twelve year old daughter on it. It's a kick with only a fraction of the grunt effort that goes into similar vista quests.
  Paved Path=100%
  Todd Kunkler a 44 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Bianchi Dedacciai Hardtail from ucfirst(Lake View Terrace, CA)

  Posted:12/31/1998