Photos and words by Dave Malwitz

The 5th annual Great Western Reroute took place on Sunday, March 20, 2022. The first installment in 2018 was my birthday ride when I asked my friend Roman De Salvo to design an epic gravel adventure route in East County San Diego. I knew the area had lots of potential for exploration, and Roman knew the roads better than anyone. That first year rode an extended mixed surface riff on the Great Western Loop, a storied Southern California route that received its name years ago from a road race that had as its title sponsor Great Western Savings & Loan. Since then, the GWR has become a Gravelstoke annual tradition, where we invite Dev Team members and special guests to enjoy a new route each year in the same region. The tradition continued in 2022 as we explored deeper into East County, in search of elusive species and the best dirt sections our region has to offer.

2022 GWR Photo Gallery

The 2022 GWR Ride Recap

This year’s GWR entailed a 45-mile gravel ride with 5000ft of elevation in a region that was further east than any other Reroute to date. We parked near the entrance of the Pine Valley County Park, where Tim from Lost Cyclery welcomed riders and helped with any last-minute mechanical needs. The forecast had predicted unusually cold weather for that day, somewhere in the upper 30s to low 40s F with potential snow in the mountains, and the prediction was correct. A number of registered participants bailed from the event as SoCal riders are not used to riding in those conditions. Those that came were mostly prepared, some adding 2 vests and a jacket for multiple layers that could be peeled over the course of the day. A turkey joined us as well as we huddled around Tim’s portable gas stove.

The route started with Bear Valley, a semi-rough OHV trail that parallels I-8 south for the first dirt section. We decided to forego that trail and head straight for the base of Kitchen Creek given the uncertainty of dirt conditions after some rainfall the night before. Kitchen Creek was the signature climb for the ride, climbing nearly 3000ft through the Cleveland National Forest over 12 miles. The road is fully paved except for near the top and is mostly an unmaintained road with 3 gates that force you to stop and climb over. We enjoyed the change in scenery from desert to pine forests and mountain views. A smooth stretch of gravel led us to the junction with Sunrise Highway that we followed north to the Mt. Laguna Store at mile 28. Riders enjoyed hot chocolate or a cup of coffee and a snack, while one rider scouted ahead to check on trail conditions in the Laguna Meadow.

With an uncertain amount of rain the evening before we wanted to be careful of potential muddy conditions on this beloved section of singletrack for San Diego mountain bikers. Based on our recon of the meadow, the trails looked dry and good to ride. Leaving from the store we turned left onto Los Huecos Rd to enjoy some premium gravel conditions, although unable to feel our fingers from the still near freezing temps. Eventually, we came to the back entrance of the Laguna Campground which sits a few hundred yards away from some of the best singletrack in San Diego county. The next sections including Laguna Meadow, Penny Pines, and Upper Noble turned out mostly good to ride, although we did encounter some small puddles that we rode through and moist dirt before quickly finding pavement again. Although we did our best to prevent potential trail damage by scouting ahead, the experience was a good reminder to always wait at least 48 hours after rainfall before riding singletrack in Southern California. We also found this great Wet Trail Rating guide that can be referenced on the SDMBA site for more information on best riding practices post-rain.

The ride finished with more stunning views from the top of Pine Creek, then a screaming descent back to the start. A post-ride BBQ followed at Pine Valley County Park, the turkey returned to see how we faired, and participants received a finisher’s pin. Thanks to everyone who joined us for the 5th annual GWR, we can’t wait to do it again next year!

The official RideWithGPS route and course highlights are below. This ride is best experienced in Spring, Summer, and Fall at moderate temps. A single resupply is located at the Mt. Laguna Store at mile 28. Do not ride for at least 48 hours after rain on the Laguna singletrack that starts at mile 30. The 2022 GWR route features Bear Valley, Kitchen Creek, Los Huecos, Laguna Meadow, Penny Pines, Upper Noble, and Pine Creek.

2022 Great Western Reroute Route

Key course highlights

• Distance: 46 Miles

• Elevation Gain: 5000 Feet

• Location: Pine Valley, CA

• Terrain: Paved, Unmaintained Road, Double Track Gravel Road, Singletrack

• Parking: Pine Valley County Park MAP

• Places Visited: Bear Valley, Kitchen Creek, Los Huecos, Laguna Meadow, Penny Pines, Upper Noble & Pine Creek

• When to Ride: Best in Spring, Summer, and Fall at moderate temps. Do not ride for at least 48 hours after rain.

• Route by: Adam Cooke

Limited Edition Antique Die Struck Pin

Everyone who rode the 2022 Great Western Reroute scored the very first Gravelstoke die-struck antique pin as a gift. We’ve been looking for a good reason to make some die struck pins and this year's GWR was the perfect occasion. The logo was first designed in 2018 after coming across a rescued White Lion on the inaugural Reroute. Unfortunately, that route is no longer rideable due to inaccessible private land, but each year we revisit east county in search of new encounters. The lion represents that search. We’ve added a few of these limited-edition pins to the online shop, you can order one for yourself or a friend here.