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5S06 - Old Control Road
Idyllwild,
California
(Riverside County)
Last Updated:
07/31/2020
Trail Information
Highlights
The "Old Control Road" is the highlight of this San Bernardino National Forest trail just west of Idyllwild, California. This road was the only route to Idyllwild from the west and it was completed in 1909. This photo is from waypoint 8 "Half-Way Springs", where the tourists from Hemet on their way to Idyllwild would re-fill the radiators on their Model T Fords. The Spring would pool behind that concrete footing, now covered with leaves. It became so busy in the early 1920's that in the months of July, August and September, traffic had to be controlled with one-way travel times. You had 1 1/2 hours to complete the 6 mile trip. If unable to do so you were required to pull over and wait for the next available time slot or risk a fine or arrest. You might enjoy the 5 page history of Idyllwild here.
Trail Difficulty and Assessment
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Dennis Clark
Official Crew
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Trail Reviews
Permanently Closed
Rated
1/5
Visited: 08/03/2023
Was doing this run as a scouting for a future run for our club. Come to find out that through the website it says it’s open, but when I got here I found boulders blocking the entrance.
Open
Rated
5/5
Visited: 06/03/2023
Difficulty Accuracy:
Spot On
Ran in reverse from the trail review (uphill). Fairly rutted out but that just added some fun. Definitely passable in 2WD but still fun for my group.
Open
Rated
3/5
Visited: 03/26/2023
Difficulty Accuracy:
Spot On
Due to the recent rains a few sections of this trail are moderately rutted, with a minor landslide covering part of the road in one place forcing you to drive pretty close to the edge. I'd say it was borderline a 3/10, at least if you're coming uphill.
Other than that, it's a relatively boring trail with a bunch of trash built up at the south entrance.
Open
Rated
5/5
Visited: 12/27/2022
Difficulty Accuracy:
Spot On
This is a great trail, took our Defender up it. Great scenic views from a few of the shelf portions, and some of the ruts are getting pretty deep so it the stayed interesting. Took just under an hour to run with a few stops for photos.
Some of the deeper ruts look like they’ll continue to get worse, so while right now I’d say 2 is spot on, the coming week of rain and the rest of this winters weather might bump a couple spots up a tiny bit.
Open
Rated
5/5
Visited: 08/16/2020
Sunday morning, I started up in Idyllwild off Apella Rd/ Tollgate Rd. I used my 2020 Tacoma TRD OR in 4 Hi, 1st gear all the way, and just cruised along enjoying the great views on the way down the mountain. There are very few and far between any spots to turn around or room for two way traffic. There were some spots that seem like they would tough to do going up from the 74, along of blind corners, narrow paths, drop offs so use caution and don’t go fast. Can’t wait to do this trail again but next time I’ll start from the the highway and go up. For the most part it was clean, but I noticed a lot of trash, shotgun shells and ammo boxes next the 74. Also there’s two ways to get to the 74 if you’re going down the trail take the left before the highway, if you go right it’s a blind exit into the highway with trees on the left so it’s hard to tell if cars are coming. If you’re starting from the Hwy going up the mountain, there’s a really small clearing between some rocks painted orange, hard to see in the tree shade, I don’t recommend starting there, just drive another 30 feet or so East and you’ll see the other clearing to start the trail.
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