Cholla Gauntlet Trail

  • Description

    Singletrack through a forest of cholla cactus and up a rocky ridgeline to a dirt road, which can be followed uphill (south) to Cerro Piñon. It is hard to find this single-track off the two-track that climbs from SR 503.  Climb the two-track from SR 503 and you reach a distinct summit. The two-track goes downhill and then veers left (north).  Watch for the start of this single track on the right-hand side as it drops down gravel and rocky single track and crosses two narrow and deep arroyos perpendicularly.  After this, you are on a narrow single track with sand traps as you ride amongst a forest of cholla cactus.  Follow this until you leave the cholla area and climb a granitic base single track to Camp Frank Rand Road (County Road 123).

  • Distance

    1.60 miles (3.0 km) one-way distance

  • Elevation Gain/Loss

    +464 ft / – 54 ft

  • Connector Trail

    Connects Donner Party Trail with Cerro Pinon Road. Can be made into a loop with SR 503 and Cerro Pinon Road (County Road 123)

  • Single-Track

  • Connects With

    Donner Party Trail

    State Route 503

  • Environmental Awareness

    • Traverses cryptobiotic soils
    • Keep the Single-Track Single!
    • Leave cattle gates as you find them.  Cattle have died from bikers closing gates and cutting off their access to water.
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