| Statistics: |
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| Difficulty: 2
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Route Finding: 2
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| Distance One Way
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1.08
miles |
| Trailhead Elev
890 feet |
Elev Gain 599 feet |
| Avg Time One Way
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30 minutes |
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| Waypoints: |
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| Trailhead |
N 34° 08.866 W 118° 50.914
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White Horse Trail
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N 34° 09.211 W 118° 51.730
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Trailhead/End of trail
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N 34° 09.211 W 118° 51.730
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Topographic Route Map |
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Elevation Profile |
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By Scott Legal
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The Bridgegate Trail is an old fire road that has worn down to become an unmaintained single track trail. The COSCA Los Robles Trail map says that there is no trailhead at the bottom, but there is. The trailhead is at Bridgegate Street near Valecroft Avenue. The trail runs along Triunfo Creek before bearing to the right and heading uphill. There are no “No Trespassing” signs and no fences to keep you out, so that means that the trail is open.
The trail begins its ascent next to an upscale neighborhood that I wish had never been built. To truly appreciate what I mean you would have had to see this canyon before it was developed. There were mature sycamores along the bottom and the further back you got the more away from it all you felt.
Despite the loss of a pristine canyon below, the Bridgegate Trail offers many beautiful vistas, particularly to the south and east. As you travel up the ridgeline the White Horse Trail parallels the Bridgegate Trail along the side of the ridge to the south. Beyond that ridge are views of Lake Sherwood, Organ Pipe Mountain and Table Top Mountain. The higher up you get the better the views of Boney Mountain become.
When you are about two-thirds of the way up the trail the trail somewhat flattens out. If you’re feeling a little winded this is a good place to take a breather and take in the views. As I said before, the views improve as you near the top.
After a short distance of moderately flat terrain the trail steepens again as you head toward the western end of the trail. After a short steep climb the trail ends at the junction with the White Horse Trail.
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Near the bottom of the trail with Westlake Elementary School in the background |
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Organ Pipe and Table Top Mountains |
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Zoomed in shot of Lake Sherwood |
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The top of the trail |
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