REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Area 51 Redding

2065 Views 9 Replies 6 Participants Last post by dr.welby, Jun 27, 2006

tinger11

Discussion Starter · Jun 24, 2006

I just moved to Redding from another state to live with my fiancé. She informed me that the area 51 trail is located near my work and thought I should check it out. Problem is I can not find the trail head for the life of me. I've been on both ends by Mary Lake and by tilton mine. If someone would be kind enough to let me know if I'm on the right track it would be appreciated. Thanks.

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SPDu4ea

· #2 · Jun 25, 2006 (Edited)

Welcome to Redding -- hope you're enjoying the 110's. I'd recommend that you check out: http://www.reddingmountainbiking.com/cover.html The local club is fairly active with saturday rides (meeting at Sunset market). I also suggest checking out the local bike shops. Chain Gang is probably closest, but I also really like Sports LTD. You'll find maps & trail books to help you explore more.

Anyway, back to your original question. I've never ridden that trail system (its length makes it more of a neighborhood trail IMHO), but according to the local trail guidebook: On the backside (west side) of Mary lake you'll find a paved trail leading to Kilkee Dr. Follow Kilkee to the other side of Mary Lake Dr. and enter a paved path leading to the trailhead. Start exploring from there...

Aerial photo from terra server:
http://www.terraserver.com/imagery/...0.57473393&res=8&provider_id=310&t=pan&OL=Off

If you go to Globexplorer ( http://imageatlas.globexplorer.com/ImageAtlas/view.do ) and type in this lon/lat it'll give you a little closer view:

40.578 -122.439

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SPDu4ea

· #3 · Jun 25, 2006

Found an online image from http://www.visitredding.org/trails4.html

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tinger11

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jun 25, 2006

Thanks for the info and the links! I've been wanting to join one of the redding mountain bike clubs saturday rides, but I work weekends. Half hour left at work then I'm going to check it out! Thanks again.

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Trabso

· #5 · Jun 26, 2006

Besides Area 51 Swasey Rec area is faily close on that side of town. And you can ride into Whiskeytown from there. PM me if you want to ride sometime.

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LemurianGuy

· #6 · Jun 26, 2006

SPDu4ea said:
Welcome to Redding -- hope you're enjoying the 110's. I'd recommend that you check out: http://www.reddingmountainbiking.com/cover.html The local club is fairly active with saturday rides (meeting at Sunset market). I also suggest checking out the local bike shops. Chain Gang is probably closest, but I also really like Sports LTD. You'll find maps & trail books to help you explore more.

Anyway, back to your original question. I've never ridden that trail system (its length makes it more of a neighborhood trail IMHO), but according to the local trail guidebook: On the backside (west side) of Mary lake you'll find a paved trail leading to Kilkee Dr. Follow Kilkee to the other side of Mary Lake Dr. and enter a paved path leading to the trailhead. Start exploring from there...

Following the above directions will get you to the Westside Trail, which is a very nice trail network, but is NOT Area 51. You really need to go with someone who has been there before if you want to ride Area 51, its pretty hard to find. The BLM off Swasey Dr suggested below is pretty good too. Hook up with RMB on their evening ride if you can't make the Saturday rides, you'll learn all kinds of new trails.Oh yeah, welcome to Redding!

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Loki

· #7 · Jun 26, 2006

Welcome to Redding

Area 51 is a great place to ride. I don't know what SPD is talking about, some of the best local loops incorporate going into one side of area 51 and coming out the other. Also while in there you can have a lot of fun connecting all the little loops together. Like others said it would be best to ride with someone.

Nate

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SPDu4ea

· #8 · Jun 26, 2006

My apologies for confusing the Westside trail with Area 51.

As for the BLM area off swasey, I would caution people about the rifle range directly across swasey from the archery range. I don't know whose bright idea it was to put a trail (and geocache) on the ridge behind one of Redding's 3 outdoor shooting ranges, but that trail ought to be closed before someone gets hurt

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Trabso

· #9 · Jun 26, 2006 (Edited)

I really don’t think that there is a safety issue with the shooting range. I know that Lake Chabot in the east bay has an outdoor shooting range and they have tons more traffic on the trails and at the range. I’ve never been to either range but I have to believe that they are safe.

Welcome to Redding tinger11

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dr.welby

· #10 · Jun 27, 2006

Lots of Area 51 info here: Shasta Resources Council

The BLM is trying to trade away the Area 51 trails to a land developer. The swap was approved about two months ago but legal protests have been filed.

There's a nice map available here.

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