The Upper Green Valley Fire Road is where the Cuyamaca Loop begins. The trail sequence of this ride is as follows. Click on the part of the ride you want to see.

The ride started in the parking area on the road into the Cuyamaca Outdoor School (6th grade camp) and Visitor Center. I made sure I displayed my Adventure Pass before leaving the car, then headed straight to the bathrooms (across the street from the Visitors Center) to take care of business.

Anyone have a key?

The signs and streets in here are kind of confusing, but I knew if I just headed downhill toward Green Valley and turned left (on the blacktop) at the bottom ... I'd be "head'n" in the right direction. The blacktop ran in between some classrooms and turned to dirt down by the amphitheater. A hundred feet further took me to an unusual gate. The Green Valley Fire Road continues on ... graded like a highway ... and it is a good thing. Once again I was overwhelmed by the beauty of this grassy meadow. The sun is shining bright, a cool breeze kept me refreshed, and birds were busy flitting around and making various calls. I was absorbed in this setting as I made good time.

No signs...Turn Left!

Less than 3-miles from the classrooms the road comes to a halt ... or at least that's the way it appears at first glance. The Green Valley Fire Road actually veers sharply to the left, and eventually transforms into single track ... then continues up the west side of the canyon. To the right was the blacktop road that leads the La Cima Honor Camp. There were no signs, just like my first time here a few years ago. Was there ever a sign? Do the prisoners steal them? I took the left toward the Soapstone Fire Road Junction.

Blank Post marks one of my favorite trails!

When I arrived at the junction I notice around 20 bike tracks turning up Soapstone Grade Fire Road, and only 2 going to Upper Green Valley Trail (this was where the Upper Green Valley Fire Road officially turned into the Upper Green Valley Trail). I was still amazed so many riders don't know about this trail! Why were most people riding up that barren, monotonous, "switch-backing" Soapstone Fire Road? I looked down at the sign post for the Upper Green Valley Trail and noticed it was totally blank. No wonder this trail is the best kept secret in these Cuyamaca Mountains.

Perfect Arch?

Shortly after leaving the Soapstone Junction I came upon a natural arch ... actually a tree with a loop in its trunk to just fit over a mountain bikers head. I wondered what would cause it to grow in this fashion.

Many dirt roads morph into nice single track.

As I was saying, the U.G.V.T. used to be a fire road but has morphed into a skinny, slowly climbing ribbon that gradually leaves the thick trees in the creek bed and winds through chaparral, and ... eventually some cactus. No switchbacks here. I'll never ride Soapstone again!

Leaving Cuyamaca...Entering Anza Borrego

Near the top of the of this trail I came across a sign, an open gate, and a rough trail along the barbed wire fence down into the canyon. I could see the trail climb the other side of the canyon and continue up over the mountain on the far side. The sign said I was leaving Cuyamaca State Park and entering Anza Borrego State Park. I was surprised that the Anza Borrego park came this far into these mountains, and ... if these are both state parks, why is there a barbed wire fence running all along the border. Is there anything either one is trying to keep out ... or ... keep in?

Cuyamaca Valley overlooked by Middle Peak

When the U.G. V. T. reaches the summit it circles around the hill to my left (parallel to the Sunrise Highway) and ends when it meets the California Riding and Hiking Trail. My choices were to follow the C.R.H. Trail east across Sunrise Highway and continue down Oriflamme Canyon to the desert ... or turn left and skirt the massive Cuyamaca Valley with its waving grasses and wildflowers.

Pedro Fages Historical Monument

I chose left, but not before dashing across Sunrise Highway to read the plaque on the Pedro Fages Monument.

Fages was an army officer chasing deserters through this area in 1772. He is credited with being the first European in the area. My thought ... if he was chasing men, weren't they the first ones?

I crossed back over the highway and started on the C.R.H. Trail when I noticed something strange out in the meadow. It looked like something I'd seen in a cowboy movie...The War Wagon? Something like that. To see this unusual vehicle ... which lies in the Cuyamaca Valley ... and read about the second leg of this ride ... click below.

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