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Lower Brown Mt.-El Prieto Loop
15 reviews
4.2 of 5
From the gate follow the paved road back toward the mountains. After a mile or so youll see a sign that will say Brown Mt. Youll go right (up) toward Brown Mt. Just follow this fireroad up for about 3 or 4 miles. Youll come to an open gate and a saddle where the fireroad forks. Left leads to upper Brown Mt. Right leads down to the El Preito singletrack. Go right. After less than 2 miles of downhill fun, youll see an unmarked singletrack on the right. That is El Prieto. Its easy to miss, so keep your eyes open. Turn right down the singletrack. El Prieto is what singletrack is all about (Its even received Zaps praise in Mountain Bike magazine. Ooooo!). Its one of those, switchback, creek crossing, downhill, under the trees kinda trails you dream about. Too bad its less than 3 miles long. But that just makes it a great after work ride. Just follow El Prieto to the end. At the end make a left on the fireroad. Youre now on the fireroad you came up earlier. Just backtrack to the parking lot and you car.
From the 210 Frwy take the Windsor-Arroyo exit and go North past the Highway Patrol Station. In about a mile youll see a small parking lot to the left, a gate straight ahead and the road will veer to the right. Park in the lot. The trail starts beyond the gate.
Summary: Trail for the most part seems in pretty good shape. I just went this weekend, and it was wicked hot. Even for this short round trip bring lots of water, one liter wasn't really enough.
Recommended Route: None
Other recommended trails in the same area: None
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Review Date October 3, 2002
Overall Rating 1 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a week
Reviewed by: MountainCycler
, from Altadena
Summary: I love the description. Park your Car? Ride to the trailhead. Trail closed due to fire. This is a good thing. The trail will need time to heal due to all of the abuse it has seen. Please do not cut or skid on the trail. If you see the need, do it somewhere else. This just ruins the trail, and really doesn't buy you anything other than poor trail handling skills
Recommended Route: -None-
Other recommended trails in the same area: Far, far, away. . . .
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Review Date February 13, 2002
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a week
Reviewed by: Marques
, from Pasadena
Summary: If you can't stay ON the trail, stay OFF of the trail! There are too many idiots out there that are thrashing this trail. It used to be much nicer! If you want to have this trail shut down to bikes, just keep sliding the rear tire, cutting new routes and being disrespectful to other users (hikers & horses)! WATCH YOUR SPEEED !!! Let's keep this trail alive.
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Review Date December 15, 2001
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Ridden Trail: Ridden Once
Reviewed by: Eric
, from Burbank, CA
Summary: Just rode this with some friends last Thursday.. just rode the fire road up a bit.. looking for the single tracks off El Prieto but didn't have good directions. Anyone that can help with that it would be much appreciated. Nice area, crossed 3 streams and had much fun for about an hour. Fairly easy climb if you're not a smoker :) Otherwise you can walk a bit with me :)
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Review Date October 15, 2001
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a month
Reviewed by: atomkinder
, from La Crescenta
Summary: This is a great trail! (as echoed by Dan Koepel from Mt Bike magazine). It offers a variety of terrain: sharp switch-backs, steep descents, a few steep ascents, a sprinkle of water crossings, narrow trail footprints, some stair drops, and rocky/rutted sections. It does a good job of keeping an advanced rider entertained and a beginner on his/her toes. Whatever your skill level, this trail will remain in your mind as one of the good ones. I cant recall how many times Ive ridden it, but it still leaves a grin on my face each time. In fact, on some days it seems just way too damn short! I have noticed the technical sections have become much less so over the past year. Not sure if it is a result of trail maintenance, natural weathering or what. It used to be a bit more challenging. Feeling too advanced? - shave 5 minutes off of your time or clean the entire trail without dabbing. Yeah less-precise riders have cut some switchbacks short. Thats life Everybody is entitled to share the trail and enjoy what it offers. I ride both DH and FR-XC so I dont have opposition to one particular riding preference, as expressed in some of the previous posts. Most folks seem to forget that DH and XC and FR all involve the same thing riding a bike. Shut up and ride! and spend less time worrying about who is wearing a full-face helmet or day-glow spandex. Pay attention to the shoulders of the trail if you are highly sensitive to poison oak. There is plenty of it, more so in the summer months. If you havent ridden this trail do so! You will have blast.
Recommended Route: As stated
Other recommended trails in the same area: If you like El Prieto, try the Ken Burton trail. It is accessible farther up the Mt. Brown fireroad (keep to the left at the initial clearing - about 2.4 miles farther up the fireroad)
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