Gateway to the Rim of the Valley Trail

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Unknown

Start from Haines Canyon Reservoir, and head up the trail past two gates. Both are often locked, but you can go around them to the right. Continue uphill to the fork in the road and go left. Then ride about 1/5 of a mile to the point featuring an incredible view of Sunland-Tujunga. This concludes the only true climb on this trail.

Now, head downhill and hold on. The first section of this downhill is severely rutted, so take it easy for the first few hundred feet. Once past these ruts, though, the road is wide open for about 1.5 miles. Be careful of the lefthand corners tucked into the mountain, though, for these sections must be taken slower than the rest of the trail.

On your ride you'll pass by three neighborhoods, all coming with opportunities to exit the trail early. The first of these falls around Hillrose and Summitrose streets. The second neighborhood you'll pass is called Seven Hills and is located up the hill from Kyle St. (fun fact: the first house you'll pass here (shrouded in trees) is Elliott's home in the film "The Extra-Terrestrial") The third and final neighborhood you'll pass is called Alpine Village and is located just off of Big Tujunga Canyon Rd, the road that the trail ends on just 3/4 of a mile away. If you plan on riding this trail with a buddy, consider using these neighborhoods as checkpoints or rest spots.

Along the way there are several alternate routes you might want to consider. The first of these comes just after passing Seven Hills. A few hundred feet past the "Gateway to the Rim of the Valley" sign, you'll come upon an alternate route taking you up a short but steep and technical mound. Should you take this route, you'll be exchanging a minefield of ruts and large rocks for a fun and tricky descent.

The other alternate routes are found near the Tujunga Little League baseball field, near the end of the trail. Look for the intersections on your left. The first of these will take you on a fast and rocky singletrack trail into the baseball field's parking lot. The second intersection will take you on a sandy and rocky dirt road, ending on Big Tujunga Canyon Road.

All in all, this is a great trail that anyone can enjoy. If you are new to the sport, you'll have a blast just cruising along. If you're more advanced, however, this trail can leave you hanging on for dear life in many places, especially for the mile or so after Seven Hills. In addition, the trail rides nicely in the opposite direction.