MtbREVIEW.com supports IMBA and responsible riding. Please submit only legal
trails to our list. If you discover a trail posted on this site that is not
open for public mountain biking, please email our IMBA friends at
info@imba.com with detailed info.
They'll help us remove the unauthorized trail from the site.
Click here for info about keeping our trails open.
If this is the correct location, click "Save Point" below or type the nearest location (country, city, Zip, or land mark) and the map will pan over to the location if the location is found.
Save Point
Go to Nearest Location:
Lat:
Lng:
Brukhart Trail-South Fork
3 reviews
3 of 5
The start is technical single track with several stream crossings. Nice lush vegetation (for So. Cal.). The first mile and a half is downhill then you have some rolling terrain. Next you start to climb (3.3) miles up to Burkhart Saddle. It's about 1,500 vertical so not a bad climb. At 5.2 miles you reach the saddle. Follow the trail and be careful after the first 100 years past the saddle, the trail looks like it goes straight but there is a swithback to the left. You'll have about 3.5 miles of fun downhill going towards Devils Punchbowl. At the bottom of the downhill you'll have a short climb to the trail head of Southfork (8.5 miles) and Devils Punchbowl. Go to the right to South Fork. Some loose climbing for a little while and then lots of nice rolling high speed single track, a litle more climbing to Devils Chair. At that point there is a technical downhill with some severe drops and tough exposures...a blast! At the base of that downhill you'll come to a dry stream bed, watch for the trail crossing the bed. The trail now starts to climb again to the last saddle. Lots of switchbacks and a few areas that are VERY narrow on the talus slopes (although ridable), be careful and continue to the saddle. The last stretch is all downhill and a ton of fun back to the car at South Fork. You will have ridden about 19 miles and climbed 3,000 vertical (dropped way more then that!)...and had a blast! The best ride in the San Gabriels that I have found.
Shuttle ride. Drop a car at the South Fork Campground located in the Big Rock Creek Area by Veyermo, about 15 miles north of Wrightwood off N4 (turn right at Mountain High Resort and continue past Jackson Lake and Mile High Cafe. From South Fork (in your other vehical)turn right going towards the Camp Fenner Correctional Facility (don't pick up any hitchhikers!), keep right and go up the forest service road (4n11), it gets a little rough, follow that road up to Vincent Gap and turn right onto Hwy 2. Exit hwy 2 at the Buckhorn Campground about 20 miles north west of Wrightwood. Trail starts at the end of the Buckhorn Campground.
Summary: Well this trail is kind of lame because most people shuttle run the thing. The climb out is long but worth it (you climb next to a stream for a while). I would recommend exploring different trails in the area, there are many trails that are much longer and alot more fun.
Recommended Route: Drop in across from the Baden Powell parking lot. Ride down the trail and then head back up the fire road to the parking lot.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Jackson Flat, Blue Ridge, Pinecone, Horse Trail. PLenty of other trails, just have to go out and find them.
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Review Date May 15, 2002
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a year
Reviewed by: mtnbikeman
, from Long Beach
Summary: A good trail for any advanced rider. There are sections that are better walked and even as up and back there are many tough hill climbs. This area is beautiful and pristine, but very rugged. Be extra careful, as there are not many short ways out of the canyon.
Recommended Route: very Rugged area for riding, take your time and enjoy the fantastic scenary, the devils chair and pucnh-bowl are worth the effort I think!
Other recommended trails in the same area: South Fork Trail
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Review Date October 24, 2001
Overall Rating 2 of 5
Ridden Trail: Please Select
Reviewed by: Pete
, from Los Alamitos
Summary: Thumbs Down! The first downhill section is nice, except there are extremely jagged rocks crying out "pinch flat" in a lot of places. So it's ride at your own risk. We were running about 40-45 psi and my buddy got two flats in the first two miles. This ride has a lot of hike-a-bike as of this summer (Summer 01). The section uphill to the saddle in particular. Extremely loose and washed out in many spots. The "technical downhill" fropping off of Devil's Chair is just a bunch of REALLY tight switchbacks with extreme exposure. This section winds down so steep that the entire trail is held together by that metal stuff with stakes. A fall here is certain severe injury. Most of the trail is extreme exposure, which you do get used to, but I do not recommend this over ANY of the other San Gabriel trails I have ridden (Mt Wilson Trail, Gabriellino, Chantry Flats, etc.). If you are mentally prepared for a lot of hiking and allocate enough time, this is a good adventure. The section near the Punchbowl (except dropping out the other side) is the best, so I would just go there.
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
3 of 5
3 of 5
4 of 5
4 of 5
2 of 5
