Joplin Trail - #JoplinTrail

Socal - Orange County - Modjeska NickNames: #JoplinTrail

This trail is best accessed from the top on Main Divide road(which runs the atop the spine of the Santa Ana's), between Modjeska peak and Santiago peak. That section of Main divide may be reached by Harding truck trail(o.c. side), Indian truck trail(riverside co. side), or several other roads a little further away.

This is an advanced trail. Be prepared for rocky terrain, loose conditions, heavy overgrowth, poison oak, and no help for miles. Bring plenty of water and a riding partner, this trail is extremely challenging. The trail leads you down to a place called Old Camp, where you then do a short climb to Santigo truck trail to continue your ride. I would not recommend climbing Joplin, although technically it is possible.

27 Review(s)Login

• Trail UpdateDid Joplin today, never been on it before, but it reminded me of Cables run on the East side of Snow Summit. Just not as steep as Cables. I was glad I had a full faced helmet, goggles, gloves, shin guards and my 661 pressure suit on due to the vegetation hanging over the trail. We were constantly getting smacked by weeds and branches. Whether there was poison oak or not, I don't know. I was going too fast to look at plants. There was a tree down with no way over it except to pick up the bike. I thought it would be cool to have a jump built off the front of it, but who in there right mind is gonna go down the trail with a shovel. I thought it was a lot of fun, just didn't like the couple climbing sections. But for the most part, the trail was downhill and a blast. We took The Luge down to Live Oak, and then to Cook's Corner where our ride was meeting us after dropping us off at the top. Don't know when, but I'll be doing this run again.
  jkcrazyjim2 a 27 year old Downhiller riding a Giant DH TEAM from Fullerton

  Posted:08/12/2006

• Trail UpdateRidden 02/26-No worries about snow because the trail is dry. I just got back from a solo venture up there and didn't see anyone from the drop-in off of Divide until the flagpole on STT.

  I'm not a *serious downhiller* and rode it clean. Imagine that.
  Notorious MTB a 42 year old

  Posted:02/26/2006

• Trail UpdateWent tdown this trail recently from the main divide. This trail is quite a technical challenge with many rutted sections until you get to old camp. I do not recomend this trail if you are not an experienced downhiller or love to get your but kicked.
  adamNaz riding a trance

  Posted:05/15/2005

• Trail UpdateWe did joplin Sunday 2/13. Only a few sections of the trail were not rideable. Overall the trail is in good shape and fun as always.
  arrrkelly

  Posted:02/14/2005

• Trail UpdateJoplin Trl-Joplin is clear perfectly ridable. This trail rocks.
  Go baby.
  Tom the bomb Cosgrove 12-01-04
  Tom the bomb Cosgrove a 46 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a turner 5 spot & spec s works enduro from Alta Loma, ca.

  Posted:12/19/2004

• Trail UpdateThat was not only cow-shit, but BULL-SHIT! Yes, you read that correctly, actually bull-shit, we ran up on a big ol' BULL.

  Arrkelly and I were coming down Joplin on Saturday, and that last technical switchback, about half way down, had a suprise for us.

  Stuart was ahead of me and he was halted by something. When I came up there he was, a big-ass Bull with horns. ???!! He had one cow friend as well.

  We had a stare down, he looked at us, we looked at him in amazement. He actually had room to turn around on the singletrack and head back down. We gave him a little time/room because we didnt want to run up on him again. There was that moment though, of "what do we do if he charges, run like madd" during our stare down.

  And yes, lots of dookie everywhere. The point where the dung starts on the trail is where we met the bull and the cow, and it trickles out to old camp, and up to Santiago Truck Trail. And, we are not talking one or two piles, these escapees had a crap-fest. So you have technical riding with piles the size of a Marie Calendar double-fudge pies to avoid.

  Good thing we were not wearing red.

  
  Lagwagon a 29 year old riding a Rootbeer blur bullit from Aliso Viejo

  Posted:12/29/2003

• Trail UpdateCowsh*t Everywhere-How in the hell did all these cows get up to the joplin/ old camp area??? There's got to be more than one cow up there, no one cow can account for all of the cow pies in the trail. Be careful.....

  ps are the cows even allowed to be up there?
  Asian Fury a 27 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Ellsworth from Irvine

  Posted:12/28/2003

• Trail UpdateCowsh*t Everywhere-How in the hell did all these cows get up to the joplin/ old camp area??? There's got to be more than one cow up there, no one cow can account for all of the cow pies in the trail. Be careful.....

  ps are the cows even allowed to be up there?
  Asian Fury a 27 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Ellsworth from Irvine

  Posted:12/28/2003

• Trail UpdateCowsh*t Everywhere-How in the hell did all these cows get up to the joplin/ old camp area??? There's got to be more than one cow up there, no one cow can account for all of the cow pies in the trail. Be careful.....

  ps are the cows even allowed to be up there?
  Asian Fury a 27 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Ellsworth from Irvine

  Posted:12/28/2003

• Trail UpdateWhiting/Harding/Joplin/Luge-On Saturday, I did a pretty fun loop. We started at Whiting Ranch, rode the usual Borrego/Mustard climb to Santiago Cyn. Then, Modjeska Grade to Harding. About half way up Harding, misty clouds descended on us and we rode in a light rain the rest of the way to Main Divide. The original plan was to climb to Santiago Peak, then return to Joplin. However, some in the group weren't dressed for cold rain, so we just took Joplin without the peak bag.

  Joplin was in great condition (for Joplin). It was pretty clear of excessive brush the whole way down. The trail surface (helped by the misty rain) was very tacky and not as loose as it has been in the past. There's still a lot of loose rock in some stretches, though. Overall, it was an awesome run down. One rider endo'd and split open his elbow. Another bailed out of a potential endo and saved his skin. I was able to clean more than I had in the past, so I was happy.

  We climbed out of Old Camp and cruised down Santiago to the Luge. The Luge was in primo condition. Smooth and fast. We rode back to Whiting and returned to the cars.

  Other than it being a little cold and wet above 3,000 ft, it was a great ride. If you want to ride Joplin, I'd say now is the time to do it.
  Ride rating: Advanced
  Ride distance: 34 miles Elevation change: 5,500 ft
  Singletrack=40% Dirt Road=50% Paved Path=10%
  SS a 35 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Chumba Wumba Mamba from OC

  Posted:12/22/2003

• Trail UpdateJoplin...-I think I first heard of this trail from this website and a while back someone had posted some pictures of it as well which looked pretty incredible. Thought I'd give it a shot so I followed the Harding Truck Trail (Does the word "truck" really need to be in this trail's name...same thing with Santiago...). Anyway, I coasted down to the Jopper and the first things that come to mind are bouncy, and loose. I think in an earlier post someone mentions bike skiing which is an apt description however, as long as your bike handling skills are up to par there is much fun to be had along this baby. Mine are ok. I dabbed three times and one of the dabs was due to a nasty blind corner transition that was certainly rideable but suddenly thrusts UPWARD out of nowhere. Next time I'll be ready to shift to the little ring. The other two I MIGHT have attempted if I had brought my shin guards along but this was a long ride and I wanted to keep the weight LOW. Then again, I couldn't help but think that a heavier freeride type rig (ie: dual crown fork, at LEAST 6" travel, etc.) would have been ideal for this killer descent. Also next time I will probably park at Cook's corner so I can finish up with the Luge but then again, descending Santiago is fast and fun as all hell...oh yeah, one more thing...when is gnat season OVER!? These little suckers were SWARMING around my juicy, salty noggin' like there was no tomorrow. Still, it's a small price to pay for this ride...
  Ride distance: miles 24 Elevation change:
  Eck see a 33 year old Die-hard Enthusiast from Long Beach

  Posted:10/10/2003

• Trail UpdateWatch Out For Sun-dudes watch out for SUn too. I had SArs and took off my new fox shirt and thE sun got me. Ouch.
  Ride rating: Advanced
  Ride distance: 26 Elevation change: 5000
  Chirs a 35 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Ellsworth JOker from Freedom

  Posted:05/19/2003

• Trail UpdateJoplin-The trail has taken a beating due to the last few storms. The top section has alot of loose rocks and ruts from rain runoff. The trail is hevily overgrown in some spots, but is still passable. Also, watch out for the oak!
  shoodes a Die-hard Enthusiast from behind the orange curtain

  Posted:04/21/2003

• Trail UpdateJoplin-The top of Joplin is basically a long rain rut courtesy of the latest storm. Very rideable, just be prepared for it. Otherwise, the brush is not an issue at all, nor is the Poison Oak this time of year. Get out there and ride it.
  
  BrahMa riding a Lucky 6

  Posted:11/14/2002

• Trail UpdateHarding To Joplin-I try to do the Joplin trail at least once a year, and lately its been on the 4th of July. Took off from the Wildlife center and up Harding around 6:40 in the morning. Made it to the top of Harding around 8:15. (yeah I'm slow). Harding never changes much, its a fireroad, not too much to say about it. Headed over the top of the first peak and down to Joplin. Before entering Joplin I smeared myself with oakblock.The poison oak is everywhere, and you will be exposed to it. Joplin at the moment is super loose. You will feel as if you are skiing down the trail rather than mountain biking. I would imagine that the Joplin trail would be fun ride after a rainstorm and you had some decent traction. One other thing, the Warriors Society put up a trail marker for it now. Before it was very easy to miss the entrance for Joplin.
  asdfer a 31 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Kona Bear from Foothill Ranch CA

  Posted:07/05/2002

• Trail UpdateI Love This Ride...-Up Harding is always a freaking grind, no two ways about it. After taking the Main Divide over to the entrance to Joplin, I saw three motorcyclists pointing and discussing the trail. I did my best to discourage them as it isn't a dirt bike trail nor would they make it out alive.

  Dropped the seat and then the trail. Just pure bliss of gnarly technical singletrack. There is great exposure, plenty of rock gardens (one that claimed my wrist this time), low hanging vegitation, overgrowth, loose trail crust, roots and logs to climb under/over. Yes, this is an epic if you enjoy some hike-a-bike, a little heart pounding, teeth gritting fun. I swear, this ride makes me more dirty, bloody, tired and happy than most trails in SoCal. It has also claimed more parts on my bike than any other trail as well (when you stack up here, you stack up hard due to the steepness of the trail).

  When finally at the car with wrist bandaged up, some of the guys I climbed Harding with (but they chose an alternate route down) asked if Joplin was rideable. I simply grinned ear to bloody ear and replied, "yes".

  Don't ride it alone (like stupid me), and expect the worst possible conditions here. This trail is a garden of poison oak and it hangs from branches in the trees, not to mention the dense cover on the ground. The trail is sketch because it is soooooooo loose and even if you wanted to stop, you may not. Also, be prepared to hike as some places it isn't very condusive to riding due to the steep/loose/rocky terrain.
  Ride rating: Expert
  Ride distance: 24 bumper to bumper miles Elevation change:
  Another Joplin victim a 33 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a bike now in pieces in the garage

  Posted:06/02/2002

• Trail UpdateLower Joplin (below Santiago)-First time on this section, and from the trail's appearance it was probably the first time anyone has been here for a while. Enter off Santiago Truck trail between Old Camp and Vulture Crags (about 6 miles up from Modjeska Grade road). The trail is an old truck trail reduced down to a narrow singletrack. It's rather smooth and fun, but a nasty washout 2/3rds down requires a short hike-a-bike. Just before the bottom at Rose Canyon Road, the trail reaches the Joplin Correctional Center gate with a No Trespassing sign, but having traveled so far I took my chances and crossed the barb wire and proceeded on an old abandoned asphalt road with sections also requiring hike-a-bike portions. A short time later Rose Canyon Road was reached after another gate crossing then 1.2 miles out to Live Oak Road. Summary: enjoyable primitive trail, but with the washout and barb wire gates, not recommended until a better exit is found.
  John a 40 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Specialized FSR from Trabuco Canyon

  Posted:12/09/2001

• Trail UpdateOUTERBODY EXPERIENCE-DID THE GRINDER UP HARDING WITH FULL GEAR AND ENOUGH STUFF FOR CAMPING(IN CASE OF A CRASH I CAN SPEND THE NIGHT)ALONG WITH THE BULLIT.ALL THE WAY TO OLD CAMP THE TRAIL IS VERY LOOSE,THICK,LOOSE DIRT WITH A SMALL RUT SHOWING IT SELF WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT.LOWER THE SEAT AND LEAN BACK ONLY FEATHER THAT FRONT BRAKE IF AT ALL.WHAT A RUSH THIS TRAIL IS ROCK GARDEN,SINGLE TRACK HEAVEN!
  THE THING THAT REALLY BLEW MY MIND IS THAT ON THE LAST CLIMB UP TO MODJESKA PEAK TWO GUYS WITH SINGLE SPEED RIDGIDS FLEW UP THE TRAIL WITH NO GEAR EXCEPT A WATER BOTTLE!!!!!!!! BE SAFE ON THE TRAIL
  Ride rating: Expert
  Ride distance: 20 miles Elevation change: A MILE
  Singletrack=50% Truck Trail=50%
  BUNGLE a 27 year old Downhiller riding a SC BULLIT from LA MIRADA

  Posted:11/24/2001

• Trail UpdateHoly Jim To Joplin / Vulture-Single track heaven. I started up Holy Jim at 6:04am today, it is in excellent condition. Holy Jim is an great up. I took it to the main divide and continued to Santiago Peak, loose gravel and steep about 8 miles bottom to top 5000ft. climb, killer deal. That was a haul. It got hot about 8:30am. I brought 100oz of water and 70oz of Gatorload in a Camel pack ( put two bladders in it) also two frozen tall bottles in the racks. It got to about 1010 around 12:30pm . I continued over the Peak to Joplin Trail, very hard to find, over shot it the first time by about 3miles not fun doubling back. It is unmarked and is almost half way between twin peaks. Joplin was well worth the extra miles it is outrages this down hill was very cool lots of fun and extremely technical. I think it was in very good condition. Stopped at old camp watered up and continued down Santiago Trail to Valture Crags (the looge). I took Live Oak to O’Neill Park got a ride back to my truck at the base of Holy Jim. Total ride time 5hrs. Distance about 28 miles. Gotta do it.
  Ride rating: Advanced
  Ride distance: Elevation change: 5000
  Singletrack=80% Dirt Road=95% Paved Path=5% Truck Trail=20%
  Cybrbaer a 40 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Trek Fuel from Lake Forest, CA

  Posted:08/26/2001

• Trail UpdateDEFY - resist the sierra club - REFUSE AND RESIST THE SIERRA CLUB,THEY WANT TO CLOSE ALL THE BEAUTIFUL SINGLE TRACK IN THE CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST.THIS CAN NOT AND WILL NOT HAPPEN!!
  E-MAIL CALL ANNOY ALL LOCAL ,STATE AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.GO TO THIS SITE AND BE HEARD!!!
  http://www.warriorssociety.org/sierra_club_seeks_wilderness.htm
  BUNGLE a Die-hard Enthusiast
  

  Posted:08/15/2001

• Trail UpdateThis trail could soon be closed to mountain bikers. Check the posts below and take action.

  http://www.mybikesite.com/socal/messages/messages/22764.htm#22844
  a Cross-Country Rider

  Posted:08/14/2001

• Trail UpdateHarding To Joplin-Hit this trail on the fourth of July. Started up Harding about 7 in the morning. Hot and humid already. Took us almost 2 hours to the top. I guess if I want to go fast uphill I shouldn't use the Bullit. If I had the multicolor tights that chirs from french is talking about, I am sure that would cut off at least 20 minutes. Never been to the Joplin train before, but luckily a guy from the warriors society showed us where it was at. That guy was sick, riding a rigid Bianchi single speed all the way over to Holy Jim.. Anyways the Joplin trail is pretty nasty, lots of poison Oak as you get close to Old Camp. In places the trail is very narrow, and loose! Fantastic. Also came up on a rattler who was enjoying some shade.
  Ride rating: Advanced
  Asdfer a 29 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Santa Cruz Bullit etc.. from Foothill ranch

  Posted:07/13/2001

• Trail UpdateJoplin Trail-This trail is a steep loose tunnel of Poison Oak straight to Hell.
  Ride rating: Expert
  Ride distance: 23 mi Elevation change: 2500'
  Singletrack=20% Paved Path=10% Truck Trail=70%
  Spartan Head a 32 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Bat out of Hell from Hades

  Posted:06/25/2001

• Trail UpdateJoplin June 23-Knocked out the classic Joplin loop Saturday. El Toro-Modjeska Canyon-Harding-Main Divide-Santiago Truck Trail-Luge-Cooks Corner. Started ride at 11:00, HOT!! Broke small crank bull gear 1/4 way up Harding but finished climb in #2 bull gear. Brutal workout. Joplin is in need of bushwhack. Vines + weeds at top but trail is still awesome!!! Someone kicked all the baby heads off the slidy rock garden after the stream crossing, so it's cake to clean now. Bugs were not a problem, maybe too hot for 'em now. Enjoy!
  Ride rating: Advanced
  Singletrack=50% Dirt Road=2% Paved Path=2% Truck Trail=45%
  I-Boy a 35 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Cannondale from Playa Puerto Nuevo

  Posted:06/25/2001

• Trail UpdateI Seven Times Rider!-

  I ride this trial 7 times now. I only do harding 1 hour 20 minutes. Thats good time I know. Besides I don't wear multicolor tights this time from when I was kid in french. My solid color tights just as good but not fast as.

  Iboy gets two flats. Claims he jump log but walk rock garden. I don't believe or why he walks? I jump log 7 for 7 now. I clean all joplin sections first time. Next time I do boba clean.

  Old camp was cool this time. Like all the other times only better with fog. It look like that blair witch movie I see. No scary though.

  Watch out on Luge run back, dan point out wash-out at top. Good thing because I use clipless and always fall off cliffs.

  Next week I do nobles canyon and those 1 mile caves at carizio gorge. I won't use flashlight. Thats hardcore dude!

  
  Ride rating: Advanced
  Ride distance: many miles Elevation change: 800 meters
  Singletrack=10% Truck Trail=90%
  chirs a 32 year old Weekend Warrior riding a santa cruz from french

  Posted:05/14/2001

• Trail UpdateJoplin Overgrowth Cleared-Two teams have been going at this trail over the last couple of weeks, and all overgrowth has been cleared as of this afternoon. Two downed trees (one before the steep slidy section, and another in the shady pine canopy) will remain as motorcycle barriers.

  Get your rides in while you can--new poison oak is already appearing on the bottom section.

  
  Ride rating: Advanced
  Singletrack=100%

  Posted:03/27/2001

• Trail UpdateJoplin Update: Bad Rap?-(For those who may not know, many great reviews of Joplin can be found under Harding. This post is something of a rebuttal to Wunderkind's recent review found there.)
  I rode Joplin this morning (3-3-01) after climbing Harding, and have to admit it's still about the most fun you can have in two miles anywhere, at least with full suspension. Current conditions are as follows:
  Loose rock at start of trail: cleaned, but the trail was still a bit moist which helped traction immensely.
  Hanging thorny vines: 3 or 4 dabs, lot of ducking! Nothing my pruners won't take care of next time.
  Rock gardens: cleaned all but four (thought I missed the trail on the first one!) Two rock gardens going down to stream crossings are fairly tough.
  stream crossings: walked the small one with the ferns/boulders, as well as the real large one. Rode through one or two others.
  one downed tree: hmmm...don't hit this guy, it's there to stay
  As for erosion and all the other horror stories out there, I just don't see it. This singletrack is 99% intact and cleanable, but plan to soak up some hits in your suspension and say a few Hail Mary's on the real tight ridge/rock garden sections. Keep an eye on your gearing as well, as there are a lot of short, sneaky uphill sections you will need to exit out of your big ring for.
  All in all, it was about a 30 minute rush to get to Old Camp, but pay heed to the warning about not riding it solo. This is a fairly remote trail with both exposure and tight vegetation, so if you lock up and fall off the edge of the trail, or get knocked off/punctured by a tree limb (as I nearly did today), you may not make it out.
  Ride rating: Advanced
  Ride distance: a couple miles Elevation change: enough to make your forearms scream
  Singletrack=100%
  Caffeine Man a Weekend Warrior riding a XCR2000/4Banger

  Posted:03/03/2001