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Hello all SD Adventure Riders. I am new here and I don't have a bike yet but would like to get one soon.

I understand that Mason Valley Truck Trail has been closed since 2003. I am troubled by this and would like to see it opened. I have made several phone calls and I have been unsuccessful in finding the responsible agency for closing the gate at the top where it connects with CA-79. I have visually inspected the locks on the gate and there are of course multiple agencies locks on the gate.

I have spoke to Julian Fire Dept, Cleveland National Forest (Descanso Office) and nobody is sure why.

Does anyone know who is responsible for the gate having been locked for so long?

Here is a picture of the gate:

DSC07902.JPG

DSC07904.JPG

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It shows up as a 2007 project by CAL FIRE Fire and Resource Assessment Program for Southern California Insect Related Tree Mortality San Diego County Hazard Tree Removal Project Maps. FRAP project site link

I know you contacted the Julian Fire Department, but they're the locals and obviously did not know the answer. Might check with FRAP (Fire and Resource Assessment Programs) office in Sac.

Contact FRAP

Phone: (916) 327-3939

Fax: (916) 324-1180

E-mail: lisa.hartman@fire.ca.gov

Webmaster: frapwebmaster@fire.ca.gov

Mailing address:

PO Box 944246

Sacramento, CA 94244

Physical address: (the US Post Office does not deliver mail here)

1300 U Street

Sacramento, CA 95818

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Hey Coke, welcome to the forums !

Hurry up and get a bike, we need more motivated people like yourself, to help fight the land closures and try to open closed trails !

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Thanks Craig and Randy.

I have contacted California's Fire and Resource Assessment Program staff offices in Sacramento and I left a voice mail for one of the Research Program Specialist. The gal I spoke to on the phone led me to believe that the map I was referring too was related to an insect / tree study conducted several years ago. That statement is consistent with the date/time stamps on the FRAP project website for San Diego County.

I am starting to wonder if Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is responsible for the gate being persistently locked. This actually makes sense to me. According to Google Maps, the most western boundary of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park appears to begin 1.2 miles from the locked gate. If the park didn't want visitors entering from this road they they would lock it. See my map here for a visual.

I am not 100% confident in Google's map accuracy... And it's rather difficult to find accurate maps these days with some of the parks recent expansion.

I have attempted to enlist the help of a Julian Realtor to assist me in obtaining detailed and accurate information about the land around the gate.

Also here is another image from the locked gate. This sign is above the sign that reads "AREA CLOSED - TEMPORARILY FOR FIRE RECOVERY"

DSC07912.JPG

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This sign is above the sign that reads "AREA CLOSED - TEMPORARILY FOR FIRE RECOVERY"

I've noticed that when that type of sign goes up, they seem to get forgotten about, maybe on purpose. :unsure:

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I spoke to an Anza Borrego SP Ranger a year or more past and he said the area was under a use study. With their budget cuts, they probably are not looking for new areas of responsibility. At the time I talked to the ranger, I identified myself as a member of a Dual Sport outfit and that we would be disposed to doing some maintenance/road work to help the cause.

The road would indeed be a great connection to Mason Valley Truck Trail & Oriflamme Canyon.

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Coke, welcome to a wonderful web site and a great bunch of people. I too am a newbee here like yourself. Here you will find a lot of good people who want to enjoy the great outdoors, like you and I. As you see, there are a lot of areas closed to most, due to a very small percentage of people, trying to represent the majority of us. You will find a lot of people with good suggestions and great help to steer you in the right direction. I have only been on a few group/club rides, but feel very welcome here. Hope to see you on the trail soon.

Kiwi

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Coke Welcome!

Here is a map I whipped up of your area of interest. The roads are from ESRI data, the parcel base is from SD County SanGIS data. The data doesn't exactly line up but it's good enough in this case. All the parcel owners are current as of today, I just downloaded it from the county.

Hope this helps.

MasonValley_TT.pdf

MasonValley_TT___North.pdf

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Sneeker, Your gift of accurate information was invaluable. It gave me the tools I needed. Thank you so much!

Here is an update. The superintendent of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is looking into why MVTT is still locked. I am working with a ranger and I’ll provide updates as they come. Cal Fire is aware that the gate is locked and have stated that they are not responsible for it. There was a bark beetle study that was performed and completed in 2007. According to my research there are no active environmental studies being conducted at this time.

California Department of Parks and Recreation is the legal land owner where the gate resides. The land has had a very interesting past. The APN I was researching was part of a complex known as “Tulloch (Cuyamaca) Ranch” not to be confused with the still operating “Tulloch Ranch” off of highway 78 in Ramona.

Here is a summary of the history of the land ownership:

• Lot M of Rancho Cuyamaca established 1879

• Private: ????-1979 Cummins Family

• Private: 1979-2002 Tulloch Family

• Private: 2002-2005 The Nature Conservancy (nature.org)

• Public: 2005-Present California Parks and Recreation

From the web:

Tulloch Ranch In 2005, another wildlife linkage was made with Cuyamaca Rancho State Park when the 2,080-acre Tulloch Ranch was added to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Funding was provided by State and Federal programs, and a private foundation grant. –Anza Borrego Desert Foundation.

I'll provide updates as they come. I remain hopeful. Thanks for all the warm welcome to the online community.

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