Activities
Learning the San Gabriels at Strawberry Peak
A bike shop I CANNOT recommend is Helen’s — I have never had a good experience there. But when they brushed off my question about local group rides (‘go check Facebook’), it actually got me in touch with a crew called Over the Bars. Such a cool crew, and my doppelganger by name (and Facebook profile picture), Carson Blaker (I wish I were making this up), took me under his wing and showed me the area. I spent most weekends driving from Santa Monica out to the San Gabriels to bike with these fine folks, often passing Strawberry Peak. This was my second home — including the much longer drive back to the West Side.
If you ride it
Strawberry Peak sits in the front range of the San Gabriels above La Cañada, and the riding up there is the classic SoCal mountain mix: long paved climbs on roads like Angeles Crest and Angeles Forest Highway, with dirt and fire roads branching off. You’ll need an Adventure Pass to park at most trailheads in the Angeles National Forest. Go early; the canyons bake and the descending traffic picks up by midday.
And if you’re new to an area, the accidental Helen’s method works: find the local group ride. The fast crew knows the roads, the closures, and which descents get sketchy after a storm.
Route