Ride Dates and Format

Ride Dates:
Aug. 20th
Sept. 3rd
Oct. 1st CANCELED
Oct. 15th CANCELED

Landpath's Willow Creek State Park Orientation, Occidental Community Center: 4:30-5:00
This is mandatory for all riders who have not already attended an orientatation.
Ride from Occidental to locked gate at top of Willow Creek road: 5:00-5:30
Ride begins 5:30-? All riders must begin in Occidental. No parking on Willow Creek!

All riders must sign a waiver and pay $10. The ride will be timed for those who wish to use the ride for training. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to take their time, stop and enjoy the land. There will be no water, food or first aid on the trails. Bring all necessary tools including spare tubes, pump, patch kit etc. The loop should take between 1 1/2 to 3 hrs. and can be shortened for those who wish to ride a shorter loop.
See map for route.
Turns will be marked with pink and orange ribbons. All four rides will follow the same route. Yield to hikers and equestrians.
Decend Willow Creek and turn right to Upper Old Barn Trail. Climb 2-3 minutes then left and down Bypass Trail. Fast descent to Willow Creek. Rt. on Willow Creek Rd. Turn Right on Lower Old Barn Trail and climb to top of Ridge. aka "Patty Glenn's Hayfield". Left on ridge past Fern Tree and Badger Hill. Rt. on Full Monty, fast single track downhill. Trail suddenly Ts into Pressure Drop. Turn Rt. Steep Climb. Climb all the way to ridge. Continue East on Ridge and descend Lower Old Barn Trail to Willow Creek. Climb Willow Creek Road to gate. Celebrate! Ride Coleman Vly to Occidental. You did it!

Logistics and additional message to riders:

o Permits are required to ride. LandPaths will lead a slightly abridged ½ hour orientation starting promptly at 4:30.

o Orientations are being advertised as specific to bikers but everyone is welcom

o Everyone must sign LandPaths liability form and additional waiver

o This is a ride as an optional, unguided part of an orientation, not a race

o This is a rigorous route, with steep grades both on Coleman Valley Road and in the park

o Everyone will stay on the mapped route

o Nobody parks at Upper Willow Creek as part of these rides

o Nobody rides on MRC land. LandPaths is working with MRC to develop permit for access program for all. If you don’t have a CURRENT MRC permit in your hand or pocket, don’t ride there. Trespassing in the next few months will jeopardize future access.

o Orientations are meant for educational purpose. State Parks has asked LandPaths to continue these orientations because State doesn’t have money to manage access and stewardship. Without these, State Parks would close Willow Creek.

o We need your help! LandPaths is not in the permit business. Our goal is a community-powered, open park, but we need to help State Parks with a trails plan in order to get there. State parks has committed to a trails plan process over the next 2 years (yes, these things take a long time). We will need your voice, your hands for trail maintenance and construction, and your $$.

o Support Prop 21 (vehicle license fee) in November to help State Parks budget (http://www.yesforstateparks.com/).