Review Date
September 21, 2009

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Reviewed by: Schwinng ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
This is one of my favorite rides in the San Gabriel Mtns. It's conveniently located about 1/2 mile north of the 210 (Foothill) Freeway -- get off at Arroyo/Windsor regardless of which direction you're driving on the 210. Head north to the mtns about 1/2 mile, and park in the parking lot at the end of Windsor (before making a sharp right-hand turn), or find parking anywhere on the street if the lot is full.

Recommended Route:
Ride starts on pavement, gently descends for about 1/3 mile, then start to gently ascend.

At the first "Y" intersection, veer right to Brown Mountain fireroad (left takes you up Arroyo Canyon - last time I rode it, it was almost unrideable, but that could've changed by now). About 1/4 mi. up, you'll encounter another "Y" interaction. The right side is the end/bottom of El Prieto singletrack, which is a bear to climb. Instead, turn left at the "Y" and continue up the fireroad. I think you climb about 2.5 miles to the first roundtop. Great vista of the San Gabriel Valley from this plateau.

If you make a "10 o'clock" left turn, you'll ascend a nice little hill that gets a little more challenging. But, rest assured that nothing is as steep for the next 2.5 miles (approx.). Stay on this fireroad and at the top you will find a water tower and the beginning of Burton Trail. Burton's probably a mess right now; it's been that way for some time now. A view of the beginning of Burton suggests to me that little to no trail work has been performed on it, and some sections were pretty hairy when trail work WAS being performed on it(!).

My advice is to turn back and descend this fireroad (Upper Brown Mtn Trail), back down to the 1st round top. From here, you can either veer right and descend what you already ascended, or veer left and ride for 1 mi. to the beginning/trailhead of El Prieto singletrack, which is about 2.2 miles.

El Prieto is one of the most fun singletracks anywhere. But, 2.2 miles goes fast if you ride fast. Try to enjoy it by slowing down a bit and enjoy some of its more challenging features. This trail is filled with switchbacks, small drop-offs, narrower singletrack around very precarious sections of the hills -- a slip-up could send you down the (steep) canyon wall.

Review Date
October 16, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: avaldez99 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
JPL arroyo seco . Went twice this month went up fire road 4 miles very tough if your not in shape its all up hill. The ride down is about 3 miles down el prieto trail which is off the fire road.

Recommended Route:
Go up the fire road by jpl will later upload gps or email me.

Review Date
September 23, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: nemnem ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I used to ride this trail before work when I worked in Pasadena. It's a great ride in the mornings before the sun is at its strongest. Riding the climb when its sunny is a real killer (bring plenty of water).

Recommended Route:
Climb up to the first junction, turn right then look for the el prieto trail back down

Other recommended trails in the same area:
el prieto, lower arroyo seco

Review Date
September 18, 2007

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: 2007FoesFXR ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
This ride is one of LA's best. It is "freeway close" to just about anyone with the trailhead just 1 mile north of I210 near Pasadena's NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory. While only about 16 miles long, this loop's demanding climbs and incredible singletrack gives this ride a feel of epic proportions. The variation in trail terrain and vegetation is remarkable as the trail switches from sun-drenched ridgeline to cool, shady, tight-canyon streambeds. The views of the southwestern Angeles National Forest are almost too much to endure during the very technically challenging and tight Ken Burton singletrack downhill.

Distance: 15.5 miles
Elevation Gain / Loss: 2,600 gain
Aerobic Difficulty: Strenuous
Technical Difficulty: Non-Technical for most of route. Ken Burton Trail and Gabrielino. Trail have short sections that are extremely technical to unrideable.
Trail Type(s): Approximately 30% singletrack, 10% paved, 60% fire road

Recommended Route:
Take the I 210 Freeway towards Pasadena to the Arroyo/Windsor Exit. Travel north from the exit off ramp on Windsor Avenue for about 1 mile. There is an unsigned parking area to the left, just northwest of the intersection of Windsor Ave . and Mountain View Street, just before the road takes a sharp turn to the right. Park in this parking lot. Ride your bike to the by going north of the parking lot where three paved roads intersect, and take the middle road around the gate .

Other recommended trails in the same area:
El Prieto, Garbrielino, Sunset, Epper-Middle-Lower Sam Merril, Mount Lowe.

Review Date
June 25, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: mimi1885 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
This is a good short workout trail with a few options coming down. Start of with pave and after a mile choose to go up toward right side and continue to climb for another 3 miles and reach the saddle. you can turn around and come back down or keep going toward Ken Burton saddle another 3 miles. Or do the El Preito check out the review on that.

The climb is not too steep but it just keep going average 8-12 percent, coming down however, be careful there are quite a few off camber turn and loose sand.