Riders Instructions: Recently added!!
https://www.ruts.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/GVL-Ride-Map-Instructions-1.pdf
RUTS will be having our September Club Ride in a cool place, located at an elevation of 7000′. That’s right! We’re escaping the heat of the desert and going riding, swimming, fishing, boating, and having a picnic in the quaint little town of Green Valley Lake.
Green Valley Lake, the best-kept secret in the San Bernardino Mountains, is the highest town with an elevation of 7000 feet. Therefore, it receives the most snow in the winter. It’s located about 7 miles east of Running Springs off Highway 18. Mileage-wise, it’s 28 miles from the 215/210 interchange and 37 miles from the 15/210 interchange. Take the 210 to the 330 (Mountain Resorts) up the hill. When you reach the top, turn right into Running Springs if you need to go to Jensens’s grocery store for groceries or an adventure pass. Otherwise, go left for the Lake Arrowhead/Big Bear turnoff. Head toward Big Bear. If you need bait or gas, stop in a couple of miles at the Valero gas station. After another mile or so, turn left on Green Valley Lake Rd. You’ll see a big resort sign. If you miss the turn-off, you’ll end up at Snow Valley in a few miles.
We’ll be having a picnic Saturday around noon at Julie Angell’s cabin, located at 33338 Angeles Drive, just a block from the lake. It’s on the corner of Angeles and Falling Leaf, and is the first turnoff to the right just before you come to the buildings in town. Go up that steep, little street a block, and you’ll see the white cabin with green trim. Parking is available for about 8 vehicles on the lot in front of the cabin, but additional parking is available around the cabin in various driveways too. If parking is full, get out and see Julie so she can direct you as to where else to park. Do not bring a trailer up to her cabin. Park any trailers at the lake, which is a block away and walk up up the street. We’ll find a way to get your ice chest brought up.
Bring your own food and drinks. I’ll make brownies. The cabin has a refrigerator, microwave, stove, and bathrooms, of course. I’ll have many tables and chairs set up outside on the deck.
Although the picnic is at noon, feel free to hang out at the cabin all day and enjoy the birds and squirrels feeding. You can walk up anytime from the lake. Also, there is a five mile hike that is ribboned starting at the end of Angeles Drive, and groups of people can go on the hike anytime. It is a moderate hike with a few steep spots, and suitable for children age 10 or above. Wear a hat, sunscreen, and carry plenty of water and snacks. It may be hot in places. It’s a beautiful hike. Bring your camera. If you prefer a short, flat, pretty walk, take the young kids and walk around the perimeter of the lake and across the dam.
Green Valley Lake offers fishing, boating, and swimming. The lake is stocked twice a month, and you can fish from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Bring your fishing gear! Fees are $15 for adults and $10 for children, PLUS a fishing license if you’re 16 or over. Go to ca.gov/licensing/fishing to purchase online a one-day ($14) or two-day ($22) fishing license. Or fishing licenses can be purchased at Walmart, Big 5 Sporting Goods, etc, but not at the lake. For swimming, the beach fee is $4 for adults and $2 for children. For those into boating, row boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddle boats are available for rent by the hour. See the GVL website for fees.
Camping is available at Crab Flats campground if you plan on riding your bike, 4×4, or quad. You’ll see the dirt road turnoff on your left about 2 1/2 miles after you’ve turned onto Green Valley Lake Road from Hwy 18. After that, it’s about 4.5 miles via the dirt road and a creek crossing to the campground. Green sticker or dual sport riding allowed only from the campground. Children’s riding, as well as easy green sticker, is limited to a 22 mile round-trip dirt road that sometimes has fast two-way traffic on it. It is really pretty in spots. The road is easy with gradual hills. There will be a green sticker ride planned from Crab Flats Campground sometime on Saturday for intermediate/advanced bike riders only. A deep water crossing might be included with some single track. For campground reservations, call Reserve America at 800-444-7275, or go to reserveamerica.com. An adventure pass is not required for your vehicle while in the campground, but if you drive somewhere along a trail and stop, then you’ll need one. If you have questions about this, call the Arrowhead Ranger Station at 909-382-2782.
If you want to be near town, camping is available at Green Valley Lake Campground, less than one mile from the lake. Costs are $20 per night, no hookups. Call 877-444-6777 for more information and reservations.
If you wish to rent a cabin for the weekend, call Mountaintop Cabin Rentals at 909-867-4522 or GVL Cozy Cabin Rentals at 909-867-5335.
You’ll want to bring sunscreen for during the day, mosquito repellent for the early mornings and after 7 p.m., a hat, water, and snacks. Bring a chair for fishing.
GVL Community Church, a Calvary Chapel church, is located at 648 Yukon Drive. Sunday services are at 10:30 a.m. It’s a nice little church.
The Malt Shoppe is the only place to eat in town. It has limited hours. It also sells some groceries. Call 909-867-3805 for hours. It’s right across from the lake.
For information about Green Valley Lake and photos, go to green-valley-lake.com.
To contact Trailboss Julie Angell with questions about the outing, call her at 626-303-5124 or email her at yellowjacketd37@yahoo.com
Let’s get ready for some COOL, September fun!
Click map below for larger version
