Photos from Michaux SF Pennsylvania

I was riding from Forest Rd to White Rock Rd, from there I wanted to head down to Oak Rd. For some reason Mr. Garmin thought Bricker Clearing Trail would be the right way to go... :huh

<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Q6sZ0WFJ6po" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="720" width="1280"></iframe>

Bad choice!

Isn't Garmin great for discovering new roads?

Anyway, I don't ride alone when doing this kind of exploring.

Fred

Looks like it may be time for me to head back over to Michaux. That trail looks interesting, and maybe even legal.

Edit: Found Bricker Clearing Trail on the SF map. According to the map, it is a drivable trail and legal for use.

May try and do this...

I was curious about this trail too, and yesterday drove by its southern start at Rt. 233 near Oak Road and the PSU Mont Alto campus. All gated and closed unfortunately; Lupin 3rd must have gotten lucky and hit it when the gates were open.

Pulled a similar stunt on me when I was in WV near Great Cacapon, on Mountain Rd (renamed get-lost-gully by the locals).

Same here, I was really tempted but unfortunately I had to turn around: 1.8 miles of mud on a 400lbs bike pushed by a fat ol' turd? Ehhhhh, not going to end well!

It looked OK from the South end, if I had entered from there I might have tried the whole trail... And you know, with a group of riders... that could be fun!

Unless I missed something obvious, there were no signs or closed gates on the way. Saw a few people but didn't get any WTF-are-you-doing-here looks or GTFO before I call the cops... must be because I'm such a nice guy!

Might be extra access because the Enduro is next weekend

I hate to bust everyone's bubble but I asked Neal Mishler the Michaux Assistant District Forester in an email about the Bricker's Clearing Trail and below is his response. They need to change the map because it is confusing.

Neal
<?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o> </o>
Is it ok to drive on Bricker’s Clearing Trail?
<o> </o>
Thanks
Denny Mann


No motorized, only bikes or horses. The trail also crosses private land.<o></o>
<o> </o>
Neal Mishler<o></o>
nmishler@pa.gov<o></o>
Phone: 717-352-2211<o></o>

FYI, both Garmin and Bing maps show Brickers Clearing Trail as a "drivable" road. Google maps only shows the southern end. I had not set the trail as a waypoint on my GPS, and my route was set as "Driving", not walking or anything else.

My main reference is the Michaux Public use map, linked to by TowPro. PDF document "D_000828.pdf", it shows Brickers Clearing Trail as a "DRIVABLE TRAIL". It is not listed on the Snowmobile Trail maps for Michaux South.

I'm pointing this out for two reasons:
1. because I saw other vehicles at the north end of the trail. The white Range Rover at the beginning of my video who had probably followed his GPS and had to turn around, and a couple 4x4s that came by while I wasn't recording.
2. if it hadn't been for the mud pools (and my limitations ) I would have definitely ridden the trail and would think about going back again.

Denny, thanks for posting correct information. Hope this helps other riders.

Note to self:
leave earlier.
I got stuck in Shippinsburg traffic (forgot that shippinburg road is called Queen street in town).
Pulled in Big Flat parking lot, GPS said 6:05. guy in parking lot said "Denny left 1 minute ago". I did not pass the group coming into parking lot, and there is 100's of miles of roads up there, no way to try to catch up.

Oh well, next trip back up to the area with a bike is 10/19

Conflicting info needs to be addressed, and the real world prohibitions need to be clear. imho The powers that be must make the closed roads/trails OBVIOUSLY closed.

Strike out on your own.

I did. Its easy to find an hour of nice back country twisty roads between Big Flat and where my RV is parked.

another reason I went for the LC4 over an EXC. They are just as happy on the blacktop as they are on the stone/dirt roads.

TowPro Sorry!!!

I have a meeting in the fall after our Enduro with the Michaux District Forest people and I will discuss the issue of maps stating Drivable Trail when they are not. I can not see how they could ticket anyone for driving on Bricker's Clearing Trail as long as the map shows it as a Drivable Trail.

I knew you would.

I ended up on Bricker Clearing Trail the first time I wandered around in Michaux just over a year ago. Nice little trail, but I had a feeling I wasn't supposed to be there even though the Garmin led me to it.

How's it goin' Jack?

The official Michaux SF map (the foldable one you can pick up at the Caledonia SP visitor's center) doesn't show gates at either end of Bricker Clearing Trail either, but as I posted earlier I found there was indeed a gate at the southern end. That gate being closed was the only thing that kept me from heading up the trail last weekend as I didn't see any signs posted about no vehicles allowed. I agree the maps need corrected.

Gate openings: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/deer/openroads/

Fred

Here you can find a list of State Forest roads, normally closed to vehicle traffic, which will be open to hunters between the dates indicated for 2012-2013 hunting season.

remember, there is no hunting in PA on Sundays

This week we are back to 5:00 starting at Caledonia Power Sports.