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Harding Truck to Joplin Trail
10 reviews
4.8 of 5
Head up 9.5 miles of fireroad. Keep going up and east 2.5 more miles and go right onto the Joplin Trail for singletrack back to the car, 11 more miles. For 3 miles, you'll have some super sik stuff until you hit the Old Camp. Then it's all fast and furious single/double track along the ridgeline. You end up circling the 4300 acre canyon. Then there is 2 miles of road riding, but half of that is at 40 mph down a twisty road, so even the road riding is killer.
Summary: I haven't ridden this trail since the summer and was wondering about the trail conditions. Especially, since, it rained a few days ago. To my pleasant surprise, the trail was in the best condition that I've seen in years. Of course, the trails were rocky, but the bushes weren't out of control and the dirt was well packed. There was even a tiny bit of snow at the top. Once again, a great ride. Good workout going up the fire road and good skills practice on the way down the singletrack. Cruised it in a little over 3 1/2 hours with one break at the top.
Recommended Route: Park at the bird sanctuary parking lot at the end of Modjeska Cyn Rd. Start up the fire road to the left of the parking lot and past the gate. Pedal up past the radio towers just a bit and keep an eye out for the Joplin Trail (marked with a short post). Blast your way down this singletrack until you hit Old Camp. There's a fireplace there. Follow the singletrack that winds up to the left until you reach the clearing. Stay right and follow it as it rolls until you hit the gate that abuts the road. Hang a right at the road and another right at the fork and follow it back to the parking lot.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Holy Jim Trail, Trabuco-Horsethief
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Summary: Well i'm not really gona describe the trail, because everyone else has, and im sure you dont want read repetitive suff...
Anyways...I've always had to the goal of riding to the top of Santiago Peak(Saddleback). Im am proud of myself for doing this long ride...and you will be too. I highly recommend this, but youll be in for lots of gradual climbing and crazy downhills! Take a camera!
Recommended Route: Harding to Main divide to Joplin to Santiago TT, enjoy!
Other recommended trails in the same area: Every trail in the Santa Ana's! Ive almost conquered em all!
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Review Date June 24, 2003
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a month
Reviewed by: Joplin Man
, from OC
Summary: Harding is 9 miles up-not very steep, but consistent grade. Pick a clear winter day-the views are enough to keep your mind off of the sometimes annoying, always monotonous climb. Harding takes the rain well. You can hike from harding truck trail down into harding canyon & hike around, same thing said for santiago canyon. Do this trail every week & you will turn into a psycho spinning hill climber in no-time, however, too much harding will fry your brain. From mile 2 to mile 5 or so it seems as though you repeat the same series of corners & climbs (kind of like a skipped record), not too much variety of terrain. There is a slight downhill prior to getting to the top of harding (junction of main divide). A good time up harding is under 1:30, my best time is 1:16. I have heard of people doing it under an hour. I have countless climbs under my belt of over 2 hours-depends on the soil, condition of the rider, heat, smog etc... Once on main divide, 15-20 minute climb up to "big bend" where you will round the corner & have a great view of Santiago Peak (Joplin trail can be seen below you threading through the canyon).Relatively flat main divide continues to the sometimes signed? joplin trail on the right. If you continue past joplin 1/4 mile to the bend ("saddle"), you can hang out on a clump of rocks which have an awesome view out to the east (Temescal valley).When dropping down joplin, the upper stretch can be a bit "thorny". The rock ditch after the first left switchback used to be VERY difficult to clear, now that someone has "sanitized" it, it is too easy. (P.S. clear brush, repair wash-outs, but DON'T change the technical aspect of the trail to suit your less than extreme riding ability!!). Also don't fight the rut. Joplin trail is all about rut management. Sometimes it is psycho rut, on it's best it is a nice rut. ride the rut,...get down in there & ride it just like you are flowing water! Down through sunny meadow & into the dark room (jamison spring area), a few very short spots to pedal up & back down again, through the boulders...down the slip 'n slide. You can clear the slip 'n slide without clipping out-it's all about controlled sliding. The last tight right hand switchback by the creek is tough-I have only cleared it once with hundreds of attempts (more of a visual distractor-just close your eyes & turn,..you'll be alright). Finish out with some high speed poison oak slappin & a tip-toe through the creek out to old camp. I've done some really fast joplin runs (15-18 minutes), but this is one of the few trails in this part of the cleveland N.F. that has a back country feel to it-so look around, stop & enjoy the sights & sounds. After coming down joplin, riding down Santiago truck trail is wide open fast ripping. Blow past the luge and rip all of the way back down to Modjeska grade & turn right and ride some steep road back down to modjeska canyon & the car.
Recommended Route: up harding, down joplin to santiago truck trail and back to car on the road
Other recommended trails in the same area: san juan.trabuco trail.holy jim.west horsethief.motorway. we actually have some cool little single tracks in OC! But don't tell anyone 'cause we want to keep it a secret so that the hordes of bikers don't clog the trails-yeah right!
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Review Date May 30, 2003
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a month
Reviewed by: curt
, from claremont
Summary: The harding truck trail is a simple fire road, but a long, steady, great climb. Wonderful for exercise and good scenery. Joplin is a narrow, rocky singletrack way to get back down, but a bit overgrown right now and TONS OF TICKS. I would avoid this trail for now because of the ticks, and take holy jim trubuco loop instead.
Recommended Route: Harding truck up, joplin down, or keep going to holy jim
Other recommended trails in the same area: Holy jim / trabuco
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Review Date January 17, 2003
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Ridden Once
Reviewed by: Captn
, from Laguna Hills
Summary: A GOOD CLIMB INVOLVED AT THE BEGINING. JOPLIN IS FOR ADVANCED RIDERS. WHEN I WENT DOWN IT THERE WAS SNOW AT THE TOP SO IT WADS A BIT COLD AND SLIPPERY,BUT FUN
Recommended Route: START AT THE BIRD SANCTUARY
Other recommended trails in the same area: TRABUCO,HOLY JIM, LUGE.......
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4.8 of 5
5 of 5
5 of 5
4 of 5
