Does anyone know if the road/trail leaving from Wild Cat Canyon Rd and going up the west side of El Cajon mountain is open to mountain biking? The "Afoot and afield in SD" claims the trail is suitable for mtb, but I found on old webpage claiming that this old mining road is closed to bikes. Looks like an interesting 4k climb.

_________________
strava:instagram:activejunky

I have been threatening hiking this trail to see what its all about. I hear its an ass kicker of a hike let alone a ride. Not sure if it is legit to ride but I will post up some pics of the hike next week.

_________________
“Alright Brain, you don't like me, and I don't like you. But lets just do this, and I can get back to killing you with beer.” Homer

I thought about checking out that area a bunch of times, but everytime I head out that way I end up at ATT

_________________
www.MountainBikeBill.com

MMMMMMM ATT.

_________________
If you have any Real Estate questions, or looking to buy or sell a home, PM me.

Been there, but it was many, many years ago. It is pretty cool how you will eventually end up at the face of the mountain. It is a beat down fire road (from what I can recall). You start from just south of the Casino and then head east. It is very steep in places and rutted. Not all that unlike Iron Mountain. I would wait until it drys out there since it will be muddy and full of clay. Not sure about the legality though. I think it is tribal land.

I'd trust Schad that it's legal for MTB. It's now an Open Space Preserve, former BLM. But here's a phone number from SD County website listrd under "preserves" if you want to check. El Capitan (Lakeside) 13775 Blue Sky Ranch Rd, Lakeside, 92040, Ph: 619-561-0580. I have been to the bottom a few times rock climbing, but never to the top -- I've been meaning to check out that trail to the top for about thirty years!

_________________
Thus, if we are to understand the world, we should live somewhere between judgement and amazement — Alfredo Lopez Austin

I have been up this trail a dozen times or so. I don't feel that it is reideable at all . . nor is it allowed. the first half or so could be done on a bike, but not the second half. We have hiked in and camped on the plateau right before you head down teh face sever times. we enter off of wildcat canyon adn come down teh face and end up right at teh entrance to el cap resevoir.
Directly opposite teh entrance to this trailhead, or teh west side of wildcat canyon is "oak oasis". this is some fun easy riding.
check it out if you haven't allreeady. i believe that this can hook up to san vicente resevoir, and then to sycamore canyon for a really fun epic.

_________________
I Blame Barcy.

Rap down the face to climb on it?

_________________
Thus, if we are to understand the world, we should live somewhere between judgement and amazement — Alfredo Lopez Austin

Rap down the face to climb on it?[/quote]


If from the plateau you head to the east side of the face, there is a spring, and a route down without repelling.
Aftet the fires up there in 1995 / 96 (somewhere in there), we were able to come down the direct southward facing slope. this was the dumbest thing we have ever done. We met some climbers heading up on our way down and they told us we were pretty dumb for attempting this without proper gear. At some points the first in our group would have to take his pack off, hug a rock and 'slide' down to a landing point, we would then slide him his backpak and the next guys pack, then the next guy would slide down, etc etc. I would not recomend this to anyone that does not have allot of climbing / packing experience. COming down with the southward face or the eastward side is not do-able with a bike in my opionion

_________________
I Blame Barcy.

Plenty of great info in the posts above. Here are some photos of the fire road and scramble to the "summit" . In my opinon, its a knee buster hike worth doing but wouldn't make for my kind of mountain biking. Its basically a steep rutted fire road followed by a short unrideable scramble to the top.

_________________
“Alright Brain, you don't like me, and I don't like you. But lets just do this, and I can get back to killing you with beer.” Homer

Very cool pics. I actually have the manufacturing plates, and vin numbers off of that old jeep. My dad used to take us up there all the time as kids. . . again great pics, brings back allot of memories.

_________________
I Blame Barcy.

can someone post the directions to the start of the hiking trail? is it off of wild cat canyon road?
thanks

http://www.sandiegohikers.com/Hiking-Tr ... ntain.html
this is a good map. you actually park at the lot at the intersection of Wild Cat Canyon, and Blue Sky Ranch. you then hike up blue sky ranch to the end that is where the trail really starts with a set uf switchbacks that takes you to a bench with a good view, and the trail continues from there.

Cisco,
Is the lookout area still there with the railing about half way up?

_________________
I Blame Barcy.

Kevmortensen,

If it is, I didn't notice it. Is/was it in an obvious place?

_________________
“Alright Brain, you don't like me, and I don't like you. But lets just do this, and I can get back to killing you with beer.” Homer

I rode this today - some of the uphill and all of the downhill.
It is not as bad as I expected from the earlier posts here. Technically, >90% is rideable, even climbing. But it is really long and very steep - think Cowles Mountain on steroids. So for much of the uphill it was hike-a-bike for me. Certainly among the most scenic and fun fireroads I know. And since it is quite rutted in many places also some interesting and challenging descends.