Martha's Grove And Vicinity - #Martha'sGroveAndVicinity

Socal - San Diego County - Poway NickNames: #Martha'sGroveAndVicinity

Go east on Poway road off I-15. Go to Garden Rd. (or street) and hang a right. Right again at Sycamore Canyon. Follow the small paved road to the end, which dumps into a small gravel parking lot. The parking lot sits on a bluff overlooking a small valley to the west.

27 Review(s)Login

• Trail UpdateSycamore Santee-As of Friday at 9:00 AM thru 12 noon.....

  All clear, just a few deer and some fast running coyotes!
  Mtbchip a 49 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a single speed tricycle from a local day care center

  Posted:03/23/2007

• Trail UpdateDick
  Large and in Charge Marge

  Posted:03/20/2007

• Trail UpdateYou want updates....... call Sarge!

  He's LARGE and IN CHARGE!!!! Go gett'em Sarge! Run 'em down and throw them in the brig! (what do they serve for dinner there?)
  Mtbchip a 99 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Sherman Tank from Lower slabovia (as opposed to upper)

  Posted:03/19/2007

• Trail UpdateAny TRAIL UPDATES!?!?

  Posted:03/19/2007

• Trail UpdateI'd like to see you ride your bike in Mozul, wuss.
  Get over it or put a target on your back.

  WHOA, you are stud. We need guys like you FIGHTING the terroist. How can you justify ANY bike riding time when there is an enemy out there with YOU in their sights? I really think you are cool.
  Mtbchip a Cross-Country Rider riding a Hummer with non bullet proof body armour from THE SAME PLACE YOU ARE FROM.

  Posted:03/18/2007

• Trail UpdateHey, MTB "Chip"-I hope your butt gets caught and tossed off the base, HARD. You sound like a big fat crybaby that's whining because he can't ride his Blur every single place he feels entitled to. I'd like to see you ride your bike in Mozul, wuss.

  Get over it or put a target on your back.

  
  Sarge a 35 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a 5 Spot

  Posted:03/17/2007

• Trail UpdatePaging All Idiots-Hey morons, keep off the military base. The marines do have better things to do than chase 30+ year old lame-ass, snot-nosed spoiled brats off government property. There are plenty of places to ride without annoying the military.

  Ungrateful idiots.

  
  Free And Grateful a Cross-Country Rider riding a Sweet bike from the USA

  Posted:03/17/2007

• Trail UpdateSycamore Santee-Well, them thar Marine are on a mission, keeping out great land free of terrorit attacks....... a serious undertaking .

  What they are really doing is hiding behind Bush (the president and schrubs) and taking a leak. I smell Marine pee and I'M NOT HAPPY.

  Pay no attention to them, they can't catch you if you ride FAST ENOUGH and know the "secret trails".
  Mtbchip a 49 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Black and stealthy Blur from America, land of the gullible

  Posted:03/17/2007

• Trail UpdateLast week the marines were out on pebble beach,(trail along treatment plant from parking lot on Mast) anyway out on quads chasing riders and giving warnings that the trail is off base and bikes are treaspasing. I would think that they would have enough to do than to bother bike riders on that trail. Oh well!!!!!!!!! Watch out they are out there on the weekend and during the week.
  single speed guy a 50 year old Cross-Country Rider from santee, ca

  Posted:03/09/2007

• Trail UpdateMarine Patrols?-I heard this weekend that the Marines were out patrolling the base and stopping riders? Can anyone confirm this?
  Ridenglide a 46 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Truth from Santee

  Posted:03/05/2007

• Trail UpdateRode Martha's and the ensuing trails on the 24th. The Martha's downhill was rutted in parts, thank you Mother Nature. The trail that is right of the creek bed is overgrown with prickly plants, so be prepared for your legs to be lashed! Still ridable and still fun.
  Splack riding a Specialized FSR XC Pro

  Posted:05/27/2005

• Trail UpdateNorth --open/good. South --mud-Check out Mountain Bike Bill's site: he's got updated photos and trail conditions from last week at Goodan Ranch/Sycamore Canyon. Scroll down to the bottom of his page on that trail...

  Basically, the north side is open and rideable, but the south end from Medina is a very muddy, sticky mess.

  
  EBasil

  Posted:03/11/2005

• Trail UpdateAny word on the condition of the trails?

  Posted:03/04/2005

• Trail UpdateAll this rain should be doing some nice damage to the downhill portion before the grove. Right on.
  Poway Woway a Die-hard Enthusiast

  Posted:01/04/2005

• Trail UpdateMartha's Grove And Vicinity-I rode the trail last week before the rains came, and while I appreciate the work the rangers and volunteers have done on the trail, they totally emasculated it (is that a correct term for a trail with a female name?). The drop near the bottom is now a smooth transition instead of something that needed at least some attention paid to it before you dropped in. Hopefully over time the character of the trail will return...
  Ride rating: Intermediate
  Ridenglide a 44 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a a battered but faithful Specialized S-Works FSR from Santee, CA

  Posted:01/03/2005

• Trail UpdateMartha's Grove-The rangers have done some excellant work to reopen Martha's Grove. The trail is in great condition and a lot of fun.

  Enjoy!
  Ride rating: Intermediate
  Ride distance: 10+ miles Elevation change:
  Singletrack=90% Dirt Road=10%
  a 28 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Giant NRS1 from San Diego

  Posted:12/13/2004

• Trail UpdateFor cryin out loud, they treat this place like it's some kind of hallowed burial place or something. Open the damn park and let people in. Geez!

  Poway

  Posted:11/30/2004

• Trail UpdateMartha's Grove-Because of the recent rains Martha's Grove is closed. And due to some bikers riding the closed trail repairs are taking longer than expected.

  But the rest of the area is in great shape. The recent rain has knocked down a lot of the dust and firmed up the sand. All of the single track I found is in great shape and a lot of fun.
  Ride rating: Intermediate
  Ride distance: 5-8 miles Elevation change: minimal
  Singletrack=90% Dirt Road=10%
  a 28 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Giant NRS 1 from San Diego

  Posted:11/29/2004

• Trail UpdateSycamore Canyon-Rode this for the first time today, after getting directions from Greenstadt's SD Mtn Bike Guide. Unlike the book trail descriptions, all singletrack I encoutered seemed to be open to biking. That said, Martha's Grove trail had a few ruts that were obviously bike-induced, so be careful there and watch the skidding.

  The whole place looks like it took a big hit from the fires last year. When I got to Martha's 'Grove', it was a grove of charred trunks! Too bad... Nice place for a quick ride though - no large elevation gains or anything too technical.
  Ride rating: Novice
  Ride distance: 7 miles Elevation change: 500
  Singletrack=25% Dirt Road=75%
  The Seaclasper a 34 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Atomic Swahili Gumbo from Mira Messy

  Posted:10/02/2004

• Trail UpdateAll the Trails, including Martha's Grove, have been reopened. Great singletrack but watch out for all that sand.

  Also, don't blaze paths between trails, the area is still very much recovering from the fires. Any shortcuts taken to another trail are likely to become long term paths. Please hike-a-bike if you have to go between trails.
  Oscar a 45 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Specialized Stumpjumper pro from San Diego

  Posted:08/17/2004

• Trail UpdateUpdate Goodan Ranch Martha's-Wednesday morning I rode up Sycamore Canyon on the new singletrack (great bypass with no sand!) to the gate. On the other side of the 'closed section' were a few CCC guys and ranger. They were rebuilding and 'sadly' santizing the corner and drop into the dry creekbed. They said the park should open by the end of the summer, but Martha's would be several months after that. When I asked if they could and would SAVE the rock drop on Martha's I got rolled eyes and dropped heads.

  While I REALLY appreciate the trailworkers, it is sad when their focus is to sanitize the trails. It is the drops, rocks, gullies, and obstacles which makes the ride fun. Sand though...get it out of there!!!

  For those who've ridden Cobbles in Penasquitos Canyon, you know what I mean. It's too bad, but during the next El Nino, things will be back to normal again. Is that a cloud in the sky????
  

  Buzz the Blur a 39 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Blur from San Diego

  Posted:06/18/2004

• Trail UpdateSan Diego Fires Close Trail-Sadly this trail has been closed due to the recent fires.... Everything as far as the eye can see has been burned to the ground....

  Tom

  Tom a 28 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Santa Cruz Supelite from San Diego

  Posted:11/22/2003

• Trail UpdateMartha's Grove & Vicinity-Well, with what little rain we had a couple of days ago, the
  trail was in excellent condition. Smooth & fast (the trail that
  is). Hoping that all that ride here will hold off when the
  increased rain arrives so we don't have a trail trashed by
  ruts!

  Ride often, ride safe.

  
  Ride rating: Intermediate
  Ride distance: 15 miles Elevation change: not much
  Singletrack=40% Dirt Road=60%
  Mtbchip a 43 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Catamount MFS from San Diego

  Posted:11/29/2001

• Trail UpdateSycamore Canyon-See update on Sycamore Canyon Trail.
  Joker a 32 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Gary fisher kai tai from Santee

  Posted:04/25/2001

• Trail UpdateMartha's Grove-It is best to start here at the top of martha's now. If you live on the Poway side. The Marines have issued warnings for being on federal property down towards the santee side. stop before the dry creek bed north of the powerlines and U-turn. They say that a 45 degree angle from the top of the powerlines(the dirt road crossing) is government property. don't know the regularity of the patrol though.Watch for the sycamore canyon updates.
  Keep the rubber on the trails and trash in your pack.
  have a great ride>
  Ride distance: 18-20miles Elevation change:
  voodoochildS.D. a 30 year old

  Posted:12/25/1999

• Trail UpdateMartha's: Santee To Poway-Hey, that trail is best from Santee. An 18 mile tour
  that starts at the eastern parking lot at West Hills
  High School, follows the trail behind the homes on
  Medina & Pebble Beach and continues northward through
  Sycamore Canyon to the former Model Airplane field.
  For a real thrill, ride into Marthas BACKWARD!! At the
  end turn right and go up the track to hwy 67, turn
  right and do the 1.2 miles to the "Staging Area" and go
  direct south onto the "Ridgetop Trail" which leads
  south, back down into Sycamore Canyon for the return
  trip to the school parking
  Singletrack=60% Dirt Road=39% Paved Path=1%
  RastaMTB a 41 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Catamount(what else is there?) from San Diego, CA

  Posted:03/29/1999

• Trail UpdateFun trail which varies between hillside singletrack and steep fireroads. You can also take an easy route through the bottom of the valley, which will also inlude some fun rolling singletrack and small stream crossings. Or you can take a longer loop to the top of the valley and climb some steep fire roads (and devolved singletrack) along the ridges. The highlight is the singletrack descending rapidly through the signed section known as 'Martha's Grove.' Very woodsy and twisty. Watch out for hikers and horses. Please be courteous to horseriders as I heard the Martha's Grove singletrack was close to being closed to mountain bikers because of trail conflict. I like riding a figure eight loop which starts with the singletrack to the left of the parking lot along the wooden fence. Take that down through the grove. At the bottom 'X' intersection, go left for a mile or so climbe. At the top you'll intersect a dirt road. Go left for a few miles and find the singletrack (by a small gate) to your left. Follow that up and down and explore to the top. You'll eventually come back down to the parking lot where if you still feel good you can do the Grove again but go straight at the bottom of the valley this time. Follow the singletrack in a clockwise loop, eventually hitting the dirt road back to the parking lot. THis trip is about 13 miles and lots of fun. See you there.
  Singletrack=40% Dirt Road=60%
  Mark Petersen a 35 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Balance A450 from San Diego (Penasquitos)

  Posted:03/23/1999