Trip Date: July 2009

East Blue Ridge Road

Our July trip takes you into the cooler regions of the San Gabriel Mountains of the Los Angeles area. This entire trip can be done in a single day and is broken into two sections.  The first section explores a dirt road that runs along Blue Ridge above Mountain High and Wrightwood.  The second section is a hike to an old gold mining structure built in 1905 located on the slopes of Mt. Baden-Powell.

If you live in the Los Angeles area, more specifically the Inland Empire including the cities of San Bernardino, Ontario, Riverside and Pomona or the High Desert region including the cities of Apple Valley, Hesperia or Victorville, then you are probably looking for ways to escape the heat.  And this trip is perfect for doing just that because much of the trip will be at altitudes above 6,000 feet.

Getting There

Our trip begins in the mountain community of Wrightwood.  You get to Wrightwood by taking I-15 to Highway138 west and then taking Highway 2 west.  Read more…

Virtual Tour

Getting There (cont.)

Once you are in Wrightwood, there are several things to do.  A two block long downtown area is full of shops and cafes and is located just off Highway 2.  More shops and eateries are located on a few side streets off of the main street.  Before embarking on our trip, you can stop in at a unique market on Highway 2 near the downtown area to stock up on any snacks and supplies you may wish to bring with you.

Leave Wrightwood by heading west on Highway 2.  After a few miles you will pass by the Mountain High ski resorts.  A series of stone buildings will be seen here which is a visitor center and restrooms.  Just after the buildings, a 5-way intersection is reached.  Turning right will take you to Table Mountain.  Another right turn will take you down Highway N4 that passes by Jackson Lake.  Going straight (slightly left) will continue your journey on Highway 2.

Follow the map on the virtual tour video below to see the rest of the tour.  This tour includes just a few places to visit and explore.  However, there are several other places to see in this area too.  So after you take this trip, you may wish to return and explore places where the temperatures are cool and views are far and wide.

See a more detailed article on this trip at: http://www.backroadswest.com/MonthTrips/BreezeBlueRidge.htm

Share this post with your friends: