Backcountry Bushwhack Biking (Bell Ridge)
Channel: Darshan Ahluwalia
Date: 2022-06-01

Bell Ridge is one of two difficult ridgelines that drop west from Los Pinos peak, a prominent and remote peak in the middle of the Santa Ana mountains. In normal maintained conditions and regular trail access, Bell Ridge would be considered an expert level mountain bike descent only pursued by those with a strong spirit of adventure. Currently, because West Horsethief and now Holy Jim Trails have been destroyed by fire, the easiest ways to bike Bell Ridge as a loop is either by first climbing Santiago Peak from Harding Truck Trail (clockwise) or by coming in from the south up San Juan Trail (counter clockwise) greatly raising the barrier to entry. Also, since this part of the Cleveland National Forest has been closed since the 2018 fire, the trail has likely fallen out of maintenance and become greatly overgrown (beware the toxic Poodle Dog Bush lurking in the shadows). Given the extended approach, unknown (likely poor) trail condition and threat of the Poodle Dog--on top of the generally burly nature of Bell Ridge--one must really enjoy this sort of thing to attempt this descent. Especially alone for the first time. I did it April 30th via the Santiago Peak route, summitting Modjeska, Santiago and Los Pinos Peaks on the way.

Route: https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=14.5/-117.4956/33.6688&pubLink=suIysOO9kijaTevLwUHftbeW&trackId=cd4c692657fda3ac1b30e827c7d1d810