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MAP of Southern
California Venues -|- Road map of Griffith Park
Follow the 'O' sign. 
and these links to spectacular spots
Big Bear, San Bernardino Mountains. elev 6000'
Mostly open pine forests with some undergrowth on advanced courses.
Beautiful view of the lake with meadows and streams.
- Black and white map, scale 1:10,000, contour interval 40
ft.
- Courses may be a little shorter than normal due to the amount
of vertical gain.
Take I-10 east to Redlands. Go north on the 30 to Highland. Watch
for "Mtn Resorts" and go north on the 330. At Running Springs, go
east on the 18 to Big Bear Lake. Turn to the south side of the lake
at the dam. After about 4 miles (after Boulder Bay and Metcalfe
Bay), turn right at Tulip Lane. Turn right again onto Mill Creek
Road, just before the Aspen Glen picnic grounds. [sometimes the
picnic grounds are the start area, see event notes] From Big Bear
City, turn left onto Mill Creek Road (just west of the Alpine Slide
at Magic Mountain). Either way, follow Mill Creek Road southerly
until the end of the pavement. Turn left and continue 0.6 miles to
the start area and park along the road.
Allow about 75 minutes driving time from San Bernardino (depending
on mountain driving conditions, of course).
- Parking is limited; carpooling is encouraged!
- Cars parked at the event must display a National Forest
Adventures, available for $5 (day use) or $30 (annual fee) at any
local ranger station.
- news 7/10/03 - NFS Adventure Pass
not needed for Golden Age Passport holders! Just hang your
GAP on your rear view mirror
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Bonelli Reg Park
Frank G.
Bonelli Regional Park
120 Via Verde Park Road
San Dimas, CA 91773
(909) 599-8411
(1,980 Acres)
This park has a 250-acre lake for swimming, water skiing, wind
surfing, and sailing. The lake is also stocked with trout, bluegill,
catfish, and largemouth bass.
Raging Waters, water theme park, is at the south end of the lake.
There are boat rentals, hot tubs, an equestrian center and even a
wedding chapel to rent! Other recreational amenities include:
recreational vehicle camp sites, trails for hiking, biking and
horseback riding, play equipment, gazebos, and group rental
picnic areas. Food and beverage concessionaires are provided.
HOURS:
Sunrise - 10:00 p.m. (March 1 - October 31)
Sunrise - 7:00 p.m. (November 1 - February 28)
Directions: Bonelli Park is east of Los Angeles, before you get to Pomona.
It is north-east of where the 57 Fwy crosses I-10.
From LA take I-10 E, turn onto 57-N.
From Orange County, take 57-N.
From Pasadena take the 210 East, then follow the 57 Freeway South
ALL THEN TAKE the "Raging Waters Drive/Via Verde" exit ramp from the 57
and (from either direction) turn left on Via Verde. Go straight through one stop sign (At
Raging Waters Drive) to the Park Entrance.
The Entrance fee is $7 per car (as of February 2005), so car-pool if possible.
Follow signs to registration.
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CampScherman
This is a GSA camp. Its 700 acres lie in a beautiful hidden valley at an elevation of 5,500 feet in the San Jacinto Mountains, SE of Mtn Center (and Idyllwild), off Rte 74. It is on Morris Ranch Road, which leaves Rte 74 about 5 miles south of of Lake Hemet. It is 3.7 miles up Morris Ranch Road to the Thompson
road turn -off into camp.
Airports: Ontario International and Palm Springs (smaller and more costly)
Los Angeles int'l and John Wayne in Orange County are also options
google map |
weather
From Ontario Airport
* Take the I-10 east towards Palm Springs
* In Beaumont, exit the I-10 at the Hwy 79;
turn RIGHT (south) at the end of the offramp towards Hemet.
Begin mileage.
* After 7.6 miles (Mile 7.6): Turn LEFT onto the Ramona Expressway.
* After 2.4 miles (Mile 10.0): Continue STRAIGHT on the Ramona Expressway
(Hwy 79 goes south here).
* After 6.0 miles (Mile 16.0): Turn LEFT onto Hwy 74 (aka Florida Avenue).
(Note: Hwy 74 is a mountain road with plenty of slow turns,
and a few turnouts and passing lanes.
Allow extra time for this next 14-mile stretch.)
* After 14.1 miles (Mile 30.1): Bear RIGHT (junction 243 to Idyllwild is to the left).
* After 8.5 miles (Mile 38.6): Turn LEFT onto Morris Ranch Road.
(Fire station 53 is at the corner of Hwy 74 & Morris Ranch Road.)
* After 3.4 miles (Mile 42.0): Turn LEFT into the Training Center parking lot at Camp Scherman.
The turn is after Thompson Road and after the
Maintenance Center driveway.
PLEASE PARK FACING OUT.
From Orange County:
* Take the 91 east towards Riverside
* Take the I-15 south toward San Diego
* Take the second 79 exit to Indio, head east toward Aguanga
* Veer left at the 371 (21 miles)
* Turn left at the 74 (3.9 miles)
* Turn right on Morris Ranch Road
(Fire station 53 is at the corner of Hwy 74 & Morris Ranch Road.)
* After 3.4 miles : Turn LEFT into the Training Center parking lot at Camp Scherman.
The turn is after Thompson Road and after the
Maintenance Center driveway.
PLEASE PARK FACING OUT.
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Castaic Lake,
Drive north on I-5 through the San Fernando Valley, then continue
past Valencia and Magic Mountain. Stay on I-5 for a few more miles
and Castaic Lake State Rec Area is on the right (east) side of the
freeway. Take I-5 N. to Parker Rd. E. Past Lake Hughes Rd. (No
closer free parking). Turn Rt at the stop sign (Castaic Lk Rd), and
then enter at the kiosk. $6 parking. So, carpool*. From the kiosk,
take second left (parallel roads), down the hill, then right.
*A good car-pool site is where all the freeways come together in
the north end of the San Fernando Valley, exit Roxford from the I-5
(just south of 210/5 junction), and park near Denny's. Please make
your own arrangements, LAOC can not be responsible for
car-pooling., we just encourage it :-))
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Angeles Crest Hwy: Charlton Flats and Horse Flats
Horse Flats is about 6 miles NE of Charlton, turn left(N) at
Three Points
Although Charlton is a picnic area, it is nothing like an urban
park. Horse Flats has a campground and some open hills. Learn what
a re-entrant is! This is a great area to teach your friends about
Orienteering. We do not have permission for events at this time.
Terrain is open forest, with clear underfooting, limited visibility
making it a challenge. There may be rattlesnakes, a small black
bear roams the trash at night, and the bugs bite in July
FOREST PASSES are sold at Clear Creek Junction en route, and
also a few miles beyond Charlton Flats at the Chilao Visitor
Center.
- news 7/10/03 - NFS Adventure Pass
not needed for Golden Age Passport holders! Just hang your
GAP on your rear view mirror
CAMPING is available at Chilao , just 2 miles up the road., and at
Horse Flats
DIRECTIONS:
A 24-mile, 45 minute drive from 2/210 junction in La Canada. Stay
on Hwy 2, the Angeles CREST Hwy (ACH) north all the way to Charlton
Flats Picnic area. (car-pooling see below)
After 9 miles you reach Clear Creek Junction where you can buy the
forest pass. Keep straight on ACH, do not turn off on the Angeles
FOREST Hwy which would take take you to Palmdale or the Upper
Tujunga canyon or Mt Wilson Rd.
Another 5 miles brings you to Mt Wilson Rd and Red Box Junction
where there are restrooms. Stay on ACH to Charlton Flats Picnic
area on the left, about 12 more miles. If you reach Chilao, turn
back 2 miles.
You can also come in the opposite direction from
Wrightwood
CARPOOLING: meet at 2/210 by 9am. Park on the right past the
traffic lights and arrange between yourselves at that spot.
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Claremont - Harvey Mudd College
Harvey Mudd College. Located in Claremont, an hours drive east of
Los Angeles.
A Great place for beginners! A very interesting map showing
buildings and sidewalks
From the 10 Fwy in Claremont (between the 15 and 57 Fwys) exit
north on Indian hill. Travel north on Indian Hill about 3 miles,
past the tracks and "downtown" Claremont to Foothill Blvd. Turn
right (east) on Foothill Blvd. After a few blocks, you will pass
Dartmouth Ave and Harvey Mudd Colleges will appear on your right.
Turn right (south) into the second driveway past Darthmouth into a
parking lot. Parking should be available to your left and right. Or
park along right-hand side of Foothill Blvd. The start will be in
the courtyard on the south side of the entrance.
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Elysian Park, LA
Directions: Note- Dodger Stadium is in the southern part of Elysian
Park. The O-area currently mapped is to the north end of this park,
closer to I-5. From north-bound I-5 fwy exit "Stadium Way" actually
Riverside Dr. After going under the 5, turn left onto Stadium Way.
Look for O-signs. From south-bound I-5 exit Stadium Way. From other
entrances (Morton Pl, Academy Way etc) head north on Stadium way.
Look for O-signs.
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Firestone BSA
Located near Diamond Bar and Brea, about 40 miles east of Los Angeles.
The park is roughly three square miles in area with a
variety of terrain, including stream bottoms, hills, forest, thickets,
and patches of poison oak. There's about1000 feet of difference between
the minimum and maximum elevations in the camp,with a bit of "lively"
topology.
Directions: The camp is located off of the Orange
Freeway 57.
From the North and Freeways 210, 10, or 60, go south
on the 57 and exit Brea Canyon Road. Go south to Tonner Canyon Road.
Turn left under the freeway (the 57) and proceed 2 miles to the camp
entrance. Drive slowly through the camp and look for O-signs.
From points South, Fwy 91 or the I-5, go north on the 57 and exit
on Tonner Canyon Road. Turn left from the off ramp and proceed 2 miles
to the camp entrance. Drive slowly through the camp and look for O-
signs.
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Holcomb Valley/Gold Mtn, San Bernardino Mtns. elev
7000'
This is the LAOC venue for ROGAINES (score-O events with typically
24,12 and 6-hr categories) The map a color 1:24000 USGS revised
topo map A runable pine forest of the San Bernardino Mountains,
only a few miles north of Southern California's famous Big Bear
Lake. an area rich in the history of the colorful and often violent
gold rush days of the San Bernardino Mountains.
Directions: From Interstate 10 in Redlands, go north on
Highway 30. In Highland, follow signs to Running Springs (Highway
330); turn east on Highway 18 to Big Bear Lake. Go to the north
side of the dam on Highway 38 and proceed straight on Highway 38
through Fawnskin and into Big Bear City. Turn left (north) on Van
Dusen Canyon Road and proceed north 4 miles to the end at Holcomb
Valley Road. Turn left (west) on Holcomb Valley Road. Travel 1 mile
and turn left, as Holcomb Valley Road proceeds southbound. Go
another mile to camp entrance on right. Turn right into Holcomb
Valley Scout Camp to parking lot. (note start area may vary by
event)
- Cars parked at the event must display a National Forest
Adventures Pass, available for $5 (day use) or $30 (annual fee) at
any local ranger station.
- news 7/10/03 - NFS Adventure Pass
not needed for Golden Age Passport holders! Just hang your
GAP on your rear view mirror
History: Holcomb Valley was
discovered in 1859 by Bill Holcomb while on a bear hunting
expedition. While tracking a wounded bear, Holcomb found a quartz
vein bearing gold. After miners in the nearby Big Bear Valley heard
the news, Holcomb Valley was swarming with prospectors who were
making $5 to $10 per day. A boom town, Belleville, sprung up, and
as many as 2,000 people lived in the valley. Gradually, the placer
deposit gave out and the miners drifted away to new diggings. By
1870, Belleville was a ghost town and Holcomb Valley's hectic era
was history.
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Malibu Creek State Park
Orienteering in this fine park near Malibu--the former Century
Ranch that is the site of many movie shoots, past and
present,including "MASH". Visitor center, picnicking, etc.
afterwards.
- Terrain: Oak woodland, grassy expanses, dense river
bottom. Great wildlife. Some locations of brush and poison oak.
(see also Topanga )
- Map: edited 1998 changes to 1985 original.
- Directions: leave San Fernando Valley and LA going west
on the 101 freeway; about 4 mi past Woodland Hills turn south on
the Las Virgines Rd exit, go about 3 miles to signal at Mulholland,
continue another 0.1 mi on Las Virgines, into to the MCSP entrance,
and follow O-signs. Or can go north on Las Virgines Rd from PCH at
Malibu, then about 6 miles to park entrance.
- Parking fee should be $2 per car.
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Mile Square Park
Mile Square park is in the town of Fountain Valley in Orange
County., about 8 miles north of Huntington Beach
The area is flat, mowed grass parkland with scattered trees. Quite
shady. Bring a picnic, or get fast food or supplies at Stater Bros
at SW corner Park Phone (714) 962-5549
The 'mile square' park is bound by 4 roads - Edinger on north,
Euclid to east, west is
Broadhurst and south is Warner Ave. Orienteering is along the north
and eastern sides.
Park Entrance is $4/car. (2001)
Look for limited free street parking on Euclid or use the Euclid or
Edinger park entrances.
Take the 405 or 55 or 22 into Orange County.
From the 405, exit onto Warner and go east;
from the 55, exit west onto Warner.
Take Warner into Fountain Valley; and turn north onto Euclid.
From the 22 take Broadhurst, go south to Edinger, turn east.
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Mt Pinos (usually a 2-day event) elev 8300'
90 miles north of Los Angeles in the Los Padres National Forest.
The terrain is mostly runable forest, the air is clear. No poison
oak! This is truly wonderful orienteering country. Please bring
your own water especially if camping
Flying in? Bakersfield is closest, then Burbank, then LAX
From the San Fernando Valley and Burbank airport - North on
I-5
From LAX - North on 405 to North on I-5
From Northern California - South on I-5
From Bakersfield (closest airport) take 99 South to I-5
- approx. 60 miles from Burbank airport, 75 miles from LAX, 15
miles south of the Grapevine exit.
ALL take I-5 to Frazier Park exit and turn WEST.
At this point consider buying gas and supplies. Continue 8 miles passing Frazier Park (also supplies and gas and Lockwood Valley Road
(last chance for supplies and water!)
4 miles beyond Lockwood Valley turnoff, stay left at the fork on to
Mt Pinos road (if you reach Pine Mtn. Club, turn around).
Go another 5 climbing, winding, miles to McGill Camp on your
right
-
- Event parking and START is usually at McGill one Day 1.
On Day 2, starts are at the far end of the road at 8300' , 3+
miles past McGill, 21 miles from the I-5 exit. These are the
usual arrangements, but may differ by event, so watch
for the O signs:
Parking Permits: just heard ( March 2007) the Adventure Pass is NO LONGER NEEDED in the Mt Pinos area during summer months
When we have another ski-o we will visit this pass again. Our last Ski-O was probaly 15 yrs ago :-))
Camping: All camp grounds are first come. They are NFS and spacious with parking spurs, just no piped water. There has
always been plenty of room. Remember bring your own water,
this is a 'dry camp' area, in a dry climate! No showers. Newer type Pit toilets, almost nice!
Think of bringing Baby Wipes! Commercial showers shoudl be available at the truck stops in Lebec, just west of I-5
McGill and Mt Pinos CGs (NFS) have individual sites at $12 (2004) , second car for a fee.
Event hdqs are usually at McGill Please join us.
A free 'walk-in' camp is available from the top of the road.
Some events use a group site.
Motels (showing distance from event)
Frazier Mtn. Motel, Frazier Park, 17 mi. (661)245-3788
Flying J Best Rest, Lebec, 21 mi. (661)248-2700
Country Side Inn, Grapevine, 35 mi. (661)248-1530
Pine Mtn. Inn, 15 mi. (661)242-0144
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