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| Geology Tour   | 
| Location: California, United States, North America Lat/Lon: 34.00543°N / 116.08498°W Trail Type: Cross Country County: Riverside Technical Difficulty: Easy Aerobic Difficulty: Easy Layout: Lollipop Elevation Gain: 200 ft / 61 m Length: 25.0 Mi / 40.3 Km
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| Page By: Cedar Created/Edited: May 2, 2009 / May 2, 2009 Object ID: 270108 Hits: 742 Loading... Page Score: 88.2% - 6 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
Overview  Watch for cars! They regularly come roaming down into the valley and may be followed by a HUGE dust cloud.
The Geology Tour Road is a wide dirt track which descends from Park Blvd. south into Pleasant Valley. Along the way, it passes by a number of interesting geological features created in the "recent" history of the land. For those with time and/or a vehicle "shuttle," Berdoo Canyon Road, which branches off of Geology Tour in the south, may prove to be a much more exciting and worthwhile trip on bike however.DescriptionThe road is designed primarily for vehicle use. Therefore, despite the note of unmaintained track and 4WD warning, it is a very smooth and easy downhill ride. Watch your speed going downhill and keep under 35MPH (according to the sign). If you have plenty of time, are interested in geology, and don't plan to head down into Berdoo Canyon, pick up a guide on the right of the road. Otherwise, just head down.
The first part is relatively flat. However, as soon as you reach the "Tanks," the road begins to descend as Pleasant Valley first comes into view. Note the strange hill to your right (Malapai Hill) and the mountain of granite to the left.
After the descent, take the left fork into a dry lake bed (or so I was told). It may be somewhat hard to tell in some seasons. Continue and cross the valley to the other side where a sign for Berdoo Canyon waits.
If you don't plan on entering Berdoo Canyon, continue on. After a short (or rather long) while, the road loops back across the valley and climbs right back the road you came down.
Berdoo Canyon
Leaving Pleasant Valley, it seems rather like Geology Tour Road (perhaps a little less maintained) but with very gentle incline. After a period of biking on nearly flat ground, the road finally makes a turn to the right and into the Little San Bernardino Mountains. Going north to south, there is very little ascent as Pleasant Valley itself is on high ground. For that matter, it's downhill as soon as you reach the base of the mountains.
The descent is very rapid on rough road. After descending nearly to the canyon mouth, there's a mining (?) camp off to the right named Berdoo Camp.
Continue down past the mouth to Dillon Road.Getting There  Heading back up Pleasant Valley.
West Entrance
Head straight on Park Blvd. past the turnoff for Key's View, Sheep Pass Campground and Ryan Mountain Trail. The entrance to the road is marked clearly. The entrance (on the right) is opposite the Queen Valley Road.
Cottonwood Springs
Head north on Pinto Basin Road crossing Pinto Basin and up into the high desert. Turn left on Park Blvd. after passing White Tanks Campground. Continue past Jumbo Rocks to the entrace on the left.When to BikeSummer may see temperatures into the 100s in Pleasant Valley. Carry water at all times as none will be available along the entire segment. Snow is very rare in winter and may not last long. Images |
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