Review Date
April 11, 2012

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Reviewed by: The Rookie ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Its the mother trail in Los Angeles if you haven't ridden this your weak sauce!

Great for strength training due to a annoying 3 mile climb. But once your up the fun begins almost immediately. Once you start peddling down what once was a fire road turned single track you'll embark on a series of tight and sketchy switch back, river crossings and exposed ledges. Best of all your under a canopy of beauty all around you and while the mountain lions are use to us mtb'rs they have attacked before but its rare.

Weapon of choice for this trail - light weight all Mountain - 4 inch travel trail rig. A DH bike would be a bit much and a hardtail XC bike would have your ass complaining.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Middle Merril can be considered El P's evil cousin considering the climb is twice as long and twice as steep, take some snacks and G'ade because you might want to rest up at half way point.

Keep an eye out for the trail it will be on your right, although the trail is posted you can easily miss it.

This is a make it what you want trail. if you want to shred your DH bike on this and make it dangerous you definitely can, if you want to take it easy ala cruising it style you can also. breath taking views and fun chundery trail.

Review Date
September 25, 2010

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Reviewed by: Yasmin Quezada ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
This a great trail, however we heard some growling and heavy foot steps in the bushes. On September 25th at 915am halfway through el prieto trail.

Review Date
April 28, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: tasset ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I love this trail and try to ride it once a week. It is a decent cardio workout going up and a rewarding playful single track going down. Every turn is a new set of obstacles. If you go before 7am during the week, you might be the only one on the trail.

Recommended Route:
I typically climb the fireroad up and the single track down. The fireroad uphill isn't bad and you're at the top before you know it. The single track (El Prieto)is tricky to find if you don't know where to look. It is off the fireroad on your right about a mile from the top.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
If you stay on the flats and NOT climb the fireroad, you'll continue into the canyon and there are some wide water crossings that are a blast to ride through. You can continue for about 3 miles through some single track and white oak until you'll finally get to a trickling damn (some call a waterfall, but I wouldn't call it that). This is a very easy trail, but pretty fun. I usually ride about half of it when I finish El Prieto.

Review Date
August 6, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: onlyliveonce ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I plan on continuing to hit this track...anyhow...I am a beginner...but I work out so the road up to this trail wasn't so bad but you definitely need to be in shape to make it...First time on this track was 8/5/08..(also first time mountain biking)....fairly technical...I had to get off my bike in a couple spots coming down El Prieto cuz I wasn't sure if I could handle all the rocks with the dropoffs...Track was fun though...I'm sure after a couple more times i'll be able to hit it without hoppin off...just take it easy...Didn't see any wildlife on this ride either...

Review Date
July 27, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Reviewed by: vaildownhiller ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
For the newbies to the area like me. At crossroads of Ventura and Windsor ave just north of 210 freeway. Parking lot with 50 or so spaces. Sign at trailhead says San Gabrielano park, not el prieto. Ride about 1.5 miles on paved road to real trailhead. I rode / walked up the trail which i would not recommend especially with full suspension unless you wanna get an idea of the terrain which was nice to do. Couldn't find fire road to ride to top but trail ends / begins up top at fire road.

For a intermediate rider like myself this trail really challenged with the frequent switchbacks and especially the ones with technical areas. Otherwise was a blast and great ride, love the water crossings. Very dry right now, easy to skid out in sandy areas. Watch out for beehives and a couple low trees. Saw only one other rider and a couple hikers...3-5 PM.