The Bicycle Club of Irvine

[BCI]

This trail runs across Northwood from Portola (underpass - but see below) just West of Jeffrey, West under Yale, under Culver and merges into PETERS CANYON between Portola & Irvine. There is a connecting spur of PETERS CANYON North along the channel and toll road North to PORTOLA Side Path.


HICKS CANYON TRAIL has a hard pack bridal path all the way from the PETERS CANYON to Portola near Jeffrey. At the West end, the bridal trail crosses to the West side & continues down stream on the PETERS CANYON TRAIL / PATH which merges with the MOUNTAINS TO THE SEA TRAIL at the BRYAN Bridge

[Bill Sellin]

Issues:

Lights on the channel before Bryan & merge with Peters Canyon Trail are blinding at night; Did not have baffels installed so the lights shine in rider's eyes. Also were installed 90° off, as they have shadows on the pavement but light up bushes / blind the riders. Lights are much better up the trail across Northwood.

Sidepath trail crosses several uncontrolled driveways;
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Most of the world is either downhill or flat...

[expired]

I am just a recreational rider, so I don't know if it is normal or not, but the tunnel under Portola to the path seemed more than a little dangerous. I heard there was some sort of an accident there last year and was wondering if anyone knew anything about it, because I am debating about taking my chances running across the road through traffic to avoid it next time.
By the way, does anyone else find it as funny/scary as i did that there are muddy truck-tire-tracks right by all three no cars allowed signs?

[Bill Sellin]

The City of Irvine agreed and as of Summer 2009 has closed the underpass at Portola to conduct a safety survey;
The turn radius on the end of the trail up to Portola is very small and with the elevation gain. a blind curve.
Evidently all the signs warning riders to slow down & stay to the right were not sufficient, so the tunnel & access to & from West-bound Portola are fenced off.

Perhaps one day the HICKS trail will run all the way to the future park at the NE corner of Jeffrey & Portola, and then better access ramps from Portola can be added... or perhaps it will cut East to the underpass under Jeffrey & connect to the JEFFREY OPEN SPACE TRAIL (JOST) that will connect to the PORTOLA TRAIL near or at Portola & Jeffrey on the East side of Jeffrey.

Current conditions are a mess; No detour is offered or posted for bikes coming east bound on Portola to the trail or wanting to get west bound on Portola from the trail;

From HICKS, If you want to go East on Portola you have an on-street Bike Lane - and some day will have the PORTOLA TRAIL, but if you want to go West on Portola or are West Bound on Portola and want to get to HICKS you have a few issues.

To get to West bound Portola you need to ride East on Portola & do a U-Turn at Jeffrey (or become a pedestrian and use the cross walk across Portola from SW corner to NW corner) DON'T RISK 'JAY-WALKING' ACROSS THE LANES & CENTER DIVIDER TO GET TO THE WEST BOUND BIKE LANE OR RIDING ILLEGALLY AGAINST TRAFFIC IN THE BIKE LANE OR SIDE WALK ALONG PORTOLA!

For west bound riders coming from Portola, turn left at Jeffrey & swing wide to get to the SW corner... or dismount, become a pedestrian and use crosswalks to get to the SW corner.
North bound Jeffrey riders should become pedestrians & walk against traffic from the SE to SW corner in the cross walk.
There is no sidewalk yet at the SW corner, so you have to walk (or ride) on the dirt about 50 feet along the wrong side of Portola before the side walk begins. Just before the trail you will have to go around the back of a "SIDE WALK CLOSED" sign that seems a bit of extreme overkill for anyone trying to walk or bike along Portola; but then you can continue to ride the sidewalk the wrong way to the trail (still a violation of California Vehicle code but safer than riding the wrong way in the street or illegally J-Walking mid block across Portola) DON'T RISK RIDING ILLEGALLY AGAINST TRAFFIC IN THE BIKE LANE ON PORTOLA OR 'JAY-WALKING' ACROSS THE LANES & CENTER DIVIDER TO GET TO THE TRAIL!

The jog is worth it or you'll miss the quiet upper end & long downhill coast of the HICKS trail ...
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Most of the world is either downhill or flat...