Big Pines Hwy

 

Up

The Big Pines Highway makes for some great climbing rides not too far from Los Angeles and the High Desert.  Here are a couple of loops, using Wrightwood as a starting point.

Note that Highway 138 can be busy, and it has some nasty rumble strips after Highway 18 dumps into it.  Therefore I do that part of the ride early in the morning.  

Be sure to carry enough water on the ride.  Services are available in Wrightwood, Pinon Hills, and Pearblossom.  There is also the "Mile High Cafe" on Big Pines Highway, about seven miles short of its summit at Highway 2.  It's been under new ownership for about a month at the time of this writing.

Longer Ride through Pearblossom and Valyermo, 50 miles

I like the steady climb from Pearblossom to Valyermo as a warmup to the steeper climbing of the Big Pines Highway.  Starting in Wrightwood, going counterclockwise:

bulletEast on Highway 2
bulletLeft (west) on Highway 138
bulletAt Pearblossom, turn left on Longview Rd.
bulletLeft on Avenue W
bulletAvenue W becomes Valyermo Rd.
bulletValyermo Rd. becomes Big Pines Highway
bulletAt summit, left (east) on Highway 2

Shorter Ride via  Largo Vista Road (N4), 36 miles

This loop is shorter but with almost as much climbing!  Largo Vista Road goes straight up the alluvial fan for about four miles, followed by about two miles of 8-10% grade before joining the Big Pines Highway.  Starting in Wrightwood, going counterclockwise:

bulletEast on Highway 2
bulletLeft (west) on Highway 138
bulletLeft on Largo Vista Road (N4)
bulletLeft on Big Pines Highway (if you need food, instead take a right on Big Pines Highway and go about 100 yards to the Mile High Cafe)
bulletAt summit, left (east) on Highway 2

Links

bulletFor a longer (90 mile) and better loop based on the Big Pines Highway, check out this page
bulletMy ride of the length of the Angeles Crest Highway
 
 
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Page Last Edited (though probably not for content): 14 September 2010