Gabrielino Trail, Angeles NF

MacLeod Ale Brewing Co.

Every now and then you “find” a trail that immediately has you thinking: why haven’t I heard of it?

That happened to me when I rode Gabrielino Trail in Angeles National Forest, north of Pasadena. It’s a National Recreation Trail, officially, that runs some 26 miles east/west through the spectacular San Gabriel Mountains. A few years back, local organizations (read as mountain biking association volunteers) and the forest service cleaned up The Gab, making it more easily accessible to mountain bikers.

I parked at Switzer’s and rode it both ways as out-and-backs. Things to know: currently, the area east of Red Box Ranger Station is closed due to past wildfires. From Switzer’s to Red Box is a much different ride than Switzer’s going west, which I loved.

From the parking area/picnic grounds going west, Gabrielino is wide and easy/mellow and then the rocks come into play, an almost instant change in the character of the trail. I could not have been more satisfied than I was when rolling, power-moving, hopping, darting, dashing, holding on through the stones/rocks/boulders of various shapes and sizes.

The oak forest was splendid on a warm/hot summer morning, the thought of coming back in winter/spring when the stream would be running and the waterfall actually falling popped into my head. As the trail ascended up from the riparian zone and narrowed, single track was defined and there wasn’t much room for error. Precipitous and sometimes rocky, the focus was a few feet in front of the tire.

A few pauses to take it all in:

going back down

There are ways to add Gabrielino into longer rides/loops, or as I’ve said for a long time: out-and-backs are like 2 rides in one, the trail “changing” when you turn around and ride it the “opposite” way. Park at Switzer’s, pack some food/beer/cheer for the post-ride down time, ride as far as you want/can/have time for and then back at your car, you have a beautiful setting for relaxing.

While in the area, head on over to Van Nuys and check out MacLeod Ale Brewing Company. It’s tucked away on a back street, offering all kinds of beer styles. There’s grub, too, pizza being the primary food item.

Lost in London, an Oatmeal Stout, was way more on the roasty side versus the sweeter side, which is exactly what the bartender said. I was quite pleased.

P.S. — you like to climb? From Switzer’s, climb up the paved switchbacks and ride over to the junction at Clear Creek and then connect into Josephine forest road and climb up to the saddle. You get a total of 1600+ feet in a little over 3 miles, with 2 sections that are a grunt!