toolbear

Hi,

Down for the winter and looking at the OC rides - nice paved bike trails suitable for a Geezer. You can have the San Juan Islands from November to May. There is a reason they are green. Water. Lots of water, falling from the sky. Actually - usually blowing sideways. Moab in October, then in for the winter works for me.

@@@

I am wondering if the Mountains to the Sea Trail is all Class 1/ No cars from start to finish.

Looking at the OCTA map on line, it appears to be that from the Back Bay into Tustin, then share the ride. I know it's paved up to Bill Barber Park. Just road San Diego Ck to 133.

Not sure how up to date the map is. The one on the bike must be 5 yrs back.

@@@ A loop...

The map indicates I can take the SDC trail to Jeffrey, then head back towards University on a bike path, thence to rejoin SDC. Truth?

Condorita

You watch too much television. No one outside of that TV show actually calls it "The OC." No one. Certainly no one who actually lives in Orange County.

There's no way to do any kind of loop without going onto the streets. Part of the Mountains to the Sea Trail is blocked and you'll have to divert onto streets to continue along. Part of it is MUP alongside streets, so you're dealing with cross streets. And, of course, the Back Bay portion(s) are shared road.

alicestrong

Condorita is it a nice ride?

azncarbos

well there the Santa Ana river Trail.... which is really nice ride....
https://www.nearfield.com/~dan/sports...r/sa/index.htm

Pamestique 

Mountain to Sea trail... It's an interesting combination of mountain bike trail to bike path with some street thrown in but frankly is one of my favorites especially if you start say in North Irvine, get on the trail around Bryan or Irvine Bld and take it down and around Back Bay (which basically becomes the San Diego Creek Trail). The basic bike trail goes by alot of nice ecenary, is a favorite of many riders (so watch out for riders and pedesterian traffic). If you need some direction let me know.

Here's a photo from Back Bay:


To extend the ride you can connect at some point to the Shady Ridge trail:


Edited to add: No way to totally avoid cars because some street is involved (they have not yet finished the entire bike path) but the streets are quiet. Back Bay allows some car traffic but it si one way and speed limit I believe 15 mps. Bikes go faster!!!

toolbear

[QUOTE=Condorita;9919209]You watch too much television. No one outside of that TV show actually calls it "The OC." No one. Certainly no one who actually lives in Orange County.

@@@

There is always an exception. Been paying property taxes to the OC tax collectors since 1962.

Remember Bob Citron? OC Bankrupt, etc.? When John Wayne was a sleepy little airport. I do. Good ole days.

toolbear

Got to do that one or parts thereof. I am planning to park at Costco, FV. Nice trailhead, that.

Did the beach ride from NB to Sunset Beach. Went to park at a state beach. They wanted $15 day use fee. @#$% that. For that I expect a campsite. Did not get the money. Went down to NB, took the first beach access sign, parked for free alongside a park. Yes, I know: Try that (1) on a weekend, (2) during summer, etc.

No wonder this state is bankrupt. No brains on high. If I had miles of underused parking space, I'd be running winter rates, discount days, coupon books, what ever it took to get more cars in the lot. It's like an air line. If that seat or parking space is empty, that is money you will never see. However, your fixed costs will continue.

toolbear

Nice pix. Winter in the back bay? Shady Ridge Trail looks interesting. Have to look that one up. (I did. It's back east. This must be a long lost cousin.) Where does it start? Where does it go. Looks like up in the hills.

Pamestique 

Shady Ridge - out of Turtle Rock. Either starts at Sand Canyon (Quail Hill) just south of the 405 or from Culver/Bonita Canyon to Shady Hill, take the bike path through Bommer Canyon and connect to the bike path (shady Ridge) behind the gated community. I took that photo Christmas day two years ago. It's a beautiful rolling ride behind Turtle Rock to Irvine.

The Back Bay photo was in November.

Captain Insano

The Mountains to the Sea Trail is indeed a beautiful ride, and at least the southern portion (near the sea) is dedicated bike trail. That doesn't mean it's without its hazards, however. I came upon an accident on the trail this weekend, where a kid (maybe 6 or 7) pulled onto the trail from behing a hedge, without looking, causing the guy heading northbound to take evasive maneuvers and fly ass-over-teakettle onto the tarmac. The rider did his absolute best not to get mad at the kid, or his grandfather, who was trying to help in the aftermath. Bravo, rider, whoever you are.

Let's be careful out there.

obie

This is an idea that has some merit. However, if you ask around you'll find that Bolsa Chica has been underfunded for years. The state really doesn't give a damn about upgrades here. They did the bathrooms a few years back, opened the inland side to the ocean and put some new lights in...that's about it. I surfed there for 15 years. The crowds are there in the summer and weekends year round. It's making some money without the slightest improvements. Notice there are no palm trees, bushes, plantings etc. except around the lifeguard headquarters. Check the condition of the concessions. Old, crappy. In fact, a lot of the concessions are closed in the summer. People who come to Bolsa don't expect much and that's the problem - 'Tin Can Beach' as it used to be called was a place to surf, party, toss your beer bottles and cans and just hang out. A lot of the old timers there are unfazed by how bleak the beach is.

I've watched the City of HB plant palm trees, grass and upgrade the amenities to improve the beach area around the pier and south towards Newport. It works. The place looks like a fun place to hang out and have a day at the beach. Biking, surfing walking...it's a good place to start a day.

The state beach at Bolsa is an embarassment - and it will probably roll on as it is...bleak, but a cheap place to hang out - just don't expect much.

Condorita

When people were in an uproar because Anaheim Stadium was out in the boonies? Grunion running at Huntington? Garden Grove to Huntington Beach down Brookhurst in a matter of minutes because once you got to about Edinger there were only a couple of signals left? The helicopter collision over Mile Square Park? Riding my bicycle on the under-construction Garden Grove Freeway? When Garden Grove was more strawberry fields than houses?

toolbear

Tnx for the data. Will put that one on the list. Off to GE to take a look.

@@@

Checked the towns in S. county for bike trails. Aside from mt. bike trails, no joy. On street lanes. Credit to Irvine.

toolbear

@@@

When there were orange groves in Orange County?

toolbear

Re - Shady Ridge Trail

Believe I found it on Google E. Starts at intersection of Culver/Anteater/Bonita Cyn and wanders over to Quail Hill. Is there really a trail head at QH? Irvine bike map shows one. But an actual trail head on an Irvine trail is something I have not seen. GE is not clear. Might be something under construction. Usually, find the nearest park for parking.

When I was doing the Jeffrey Rd/University loop back off San Diego Creek, there was a bike trail heading S. along the freeway beyond the 405 overpass. Does it connect to Quail Hill? Looks like it on GE.

Anything going up Culver from Wm. Mason Park on Univ. to make a loop? GE shows something, but looks under construction.

Rumpled

There are a few off road paved trails in South OC. Aliso Ck, San Juan Ck. And some others. There's another up from Salt Creek into Dana Point.
Go to the OCTA website and find the bikeways map.

There really is a TH in Quail Hill. It's just past the first traffic circle on the right south on Shady Canyon from the 405. It's got plenty of room.

The trail from Jeffrey and the newer freeway overpass does connect to the QH TH.

From Mason park if you were to diagonally cross Harvard/Culver you hit the San Diego Ck Trail. Little entrance next to the churches. Makes a good loop connecting to all the others in Irvine.

There's also a small network of trails in Turtle Rock that connects to the Mason Park system. (And the Shady Canyon trail)

There is also the ped/bike bridge over 405 on Yale.

Lots of possibilities for loops over there.

Pamestique 

If you take Sand Canyon South, past the 405 Freeway it end in a roundabout and the trail head for Quail Hill and Shady Ridge is right there. There is a parking area and a nice restroom. The path along the freeway is an extension of the Shady Ridge trail. It's makes a nice loop around turtle rock. I do it all the time. I think there maybe some construction on Culver and 'sides Culver is a really busy street. There are nice alternative routes that are next to Culver. I forget the name - think its Oak Knoll or something like that. That will connect you back to the San Diego Creek trail. For instance, take the path along the 405 freeway from Quail Hill, there will be a bridge over the 405 - take that. Continues North to Barranca, turn right, then right right onto the sidewalk and go under Culver - you are then connected to the San Diego Creek trail...

toolbear

There really is a TH in Quail Hill. It's just past the first traffic circle on the right south on Shady Canyon from the 405. It's got plenty of room.


@@@ Sure is. Was out there yesterday. It's a lovely project. I would put it right up there with Anmar Station on the Centennial Trail (of Snohomish County, WA)

Are there any more such in Irvine? Actual trailheads with parking and facilities seem to be scarce on urban trails. The closest park seems to serve that need.



The trail from Jeffrey and the newer freeway overpass does connect to the QH TH.

@@@ Got pix of the signage. When will they extend the Sand Canyon trail down to that overpass? It is built to take a trail coming in from either side.



From Mason park if you were to diagonally cross Harvard/Culver you hit the San Diego Ck Trail. Little entrance next to the churches. Makes a good loop connecting to all the others in Irvine.

@@@ Know it. I came up it from the Back Bay. They stock that barranca with lions?

What are they doing in the wetland portion with that grading? Putting in parking? Sorta looks like that.

Went up to find the QH trailhead, then back down, over the JRd. OP to San Diego CK and back home that way.



There's also a small network of trails in Turtle Rock that connects to the Mason Park system. (And the Shady Canyon trail)

@@@ I better Google E on T Rock.


There is also the ped/bike bridge over 405 on Yale.


@@@ Went whizzing under that yesterday, thinking - doesn't look like the Jeffrey Rd OP. Need a closer look at the options there.

Tnx for the input. Irvine certainly has a fine system of Class I trails. Newport Beach - not much of anything aside from the Back Bay Loop. (I do not like to play with cars. Odds are not in my favor.) I can spend the winter exploring the Class I trails around here and then off again to the rail trails come summer.



Lots of possibilities for loops over there.