Big Bear Today Magazine November 2020

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Page 8—November 2020Maple Hills Trail Complex now openBig Bear TodayAfter a decades-long drought thatsaw no new trails in Big Bear, nowthey seem to be springing up everywhere,like Sawmill Pebble Plains EcologicalPreserve (October 2020 Big BearToday) and Rathbun Creek (story page 9)among others.The newest trail is actually an entirenetwork of paths winding up and downMaple Hill next to the high school in BigBear City. And this is just the first of threetrails that will comprise the Maple HillsTrails Complex, open for hiking and bikingwith multiple trailheads accessing 213acres of forest land immediately next toBig Bear Blvd.School Loop is the primary path in thecomplex, about 3.2 miles long as it essen-tially circles the property’s perimeter. Yetthere are multiple connectors and variationsthat lead to the different access pointsplus other variations so there’s a lot of waysto vary your route.The property was donated by RCKProperties in 2018 and title is now held byBVUSD Education Foundation, so MapleHills Trails Complex is on private property.Southern California Mountains Foundationand its Big Bear Trails program cutmiles of trail by hand and with machineryin creating the trail system.One access point to School Loop,aptly named since it traverses right belowthe high school for a stretch, is at the topof the ridge. There’s a little dirt parking lotjust north of the high school parking lotand like at theother trailheadsthere’s awesomesignage with fullmap detailing themany options.Each junction iswell marked withdistances betweenpoints. In shortthis is a trail complexdone right.Head west onSchool Loop parallelingthe highschool and at firstthe trail feelspretty urban withWilderness-worthy hiking, biking on new Maple Hill Trails, between Big BearBlvd. and the high school west of Maple, but a world aparttraffic noise in the distance. But it doesn’ttake long to transform from city as thedouble and triple wide track twists andturns along the ridge, descending slowlyas it goes downhill. The only hint of civilizationis the fence above the trail as sprawlingviews emerge and sounds dissipate.As it traverses ridge lines School Loopwanders through pine forest, exposed manzanitaand more. The trail doesn’t feel likeit’s close to town even though it is. Signpostsmark junctions with routes that leaddirectly to trailheads and access points onShore Rd. or the boulevard, or just stay onSchool Loop as it passes both.Plus there’s more challenging variationsthat go straight up and down MapleHill. Amazing that there’s so much hikingand biking in just a couple hundred acresright above the highway!After reaching the boulevard SchoolLoop works its way back uphill, windingback and forth on the complex’s east side.Trail junctions are spread out every thirdto half a mile so users remain engaged andconnected.Just as incredible, on a Saturday in lateOctober as I hiked School Loop, there wereonly two others using it, both mountainbikers. One was a girl who was loopingthe loop, riding three or four circumnavi-gations of the property, and then anotherguy. That’s it. Pristine new trail that hasjust opened, all to ourselves. It won’t takelong for the word to get out, especially afterMountains Foundation held its “Treatsand Trails” event on Halloween showcasingthe area, introducing the new terrainin hopes of luring volunteers to work onfuture sections.That’s because more’s coming. SchoolLoop passes a marker showing where trailcoming down from near Baldwin Lane Elementarywith another trail network and athird is in the plans too. Not just hikers andbikers will benefit either; it’s ideal terrainfor high school cross country runners andbike team members to train on and willafford field-based learning opportunitiesgalore.“We are excited to participate in buildingthis trail, said Stacy Gorin of SouthernCalifornia Mountains Foundation. “Ourteam of Urban Conservation Corps membersand volunteers worked alongside staffto create a safe and picturesque trail in theurban Big Bear center.”Maple Hill Trails is located betweenBig Bear Blvd. and the high school westof Maple in Big Bear City.—by Marcus DietzVisit bigbeartrails.org for information.
Big Bear Today November 2020—Page 9Rathbun trail done, Stanfield almostNew trails keep coming to Big Bear,like Maple Hill Trails Complex (story page8) and still more are on the horizon.Stanfield Cutoff Trail is nearingcompletion, with the installation of decorativerailings and other park amenitiesexpected to be completed in November.The project along the existing west shoulderof Stanfield Cutoff is creating segregatedtrail for hikers and bikers from BigBear Blvd. to the North Shore, a safe wayto connect to the popular Alpine Pedal Pathnext to the lake.Stanfield Cutoff has been completelyresurfaced, a new protective guardrail hasbeen installed, and new pavement mark-Veteran’s Day serviceHonor American heroes during VeteransDay ceremonies open to the publicon Wednesday, November 11.Ceremonies begin at 11 a.m. at VeteransPark, just east of Pine Knot on Big BearBlvd. The national anthem will be sung byVoice Male and Chick-A-Pells, Big Bearstudents of Diane Kubeja, who have performedat the Veterans Day ceremony formany years.Speaking will be Ed Morgan,2019 Veteran of the Year.American Legion Riders Chapter 584is hosting the event along with the City.It’s the fastest growing group within theAmerican Legion and promotes programsthrough service to the community, includingmotorcycle safety.Just completed section of Rathbun Creek Trail winds through forest beautyings have been installed. The City of BigBear Lake's contractor has also paved newpublic parking areas near the intersectionof Stanfield Cutoff and Big Bear Blvd.The total project budget is approximately$1.3 million, and is funded by Stategrants and dedicated Measure Y (transientoccupancy tax) funding. S. Porter, Inc., alocal business, is the contractor.In addition the City continues to expandRathbun Creek bicycle and pedestriantrail, recently paving an additional1,200 linear ft. of the trail. The newest segmentextends an existing 1,800 ft. segmentthat runs along Rathbun Creek (from ElmStreet to Best Western) all the way to SizzlerRestaurant on Big Bear Blvd.The sections combine to create greatbike rides, walks or runs along the creekin a wooded area. Paved and fenced, thelevel path is scenic as it traverses past willows,towering pines and a few aspens.Once complete, bicyclists and pedestrianswill be able to travel on a dedicated asphaltpath all the way from Moonridgecommercial area to Big Bear Blvd.The City is committed to expandingthe bicycle and pedestrian trail network,with future plans to extend Rathbun Creektrail north past Kmart and behind CVS andInterlaken Shopping Center. Future plansalso include the extension of the RathbunCreek trail south to the new Big Bear AlpineZoo set to open November 5 andnorthwest to the lake. There’s two-hourparking at the trailhead on Elm near Cougar,below Bear Mountain’s lower lot (turnat Bear Belly Deli).Eventually, Rathbun Creek will connectwith another new trail along SandalwoodDr. and Big Bear Blvd. (betweenSandalwood and Stanfield Cutoff) that willbe constructed in Spring 2021, the new bicycleand pedestrian trail along StanfieldCutoff that is currently under constructionand will be complete in the coming weeks,and the existing Alpine Pedal Path on theNorth Shore.The ADA-accessible Happy HillsTrail opened three years ago with trailheadat City Hall (39707 Big Bear Blvd.) with10 foot wide asphalt path. It’s lined withFull Hot & Cold DeliGroceries • Firewood & Propane • Spirits • LottoTry Our FamousRotisserie Chicken& Kabobs!We cut the highestQuality MeatsDailygravel to capture precipitation. The quarter-miletrail runs through a beautiful, treedarea following a seasonal stream beforeending at the National Forest boundary.Along the way Happy Hills passes historicallog cabins and there’s picnic tablesand bear-proof trash bins. Plenty of parkingand restrooms are at the trailhead alongwith cool renovated rustic chalet. Whilenot long the trail may eventually becomean access route to longer hikes.Click Us Up!bigbeartodaymag.comAwardWinners:1stLiquor2ndGroceries2017Chamber ofCommerceExcellencein Business!Fully-Cooked Delicious Heat & Serve Meals Like Tri-Tip,Smoked Pork Loin, Enchiladas & More! • Fresh Produce Too!(909) 585-2641 • Open 7 DaysCommunity Market100 E. Big Bear Blvd. (at Greenway) • Big Bear City1 mile east of The Convention Center
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Big Bear Today Magazine November 2020

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