Through the yellow gates, you will find the Taj Mahal of staging areas. More than 50 individual and separated pull-throughs, each with two well-designed tie rails, provide a safe place for rigs, horses, and riders. The area also features separate picnic areas with several tables, fenced off from the horses, portable toilets, at least one water spigot, and large trash cans for manure. I've never seen any equine staging area designed with this much thought – more than a little bit of overkill.
When we rode in the winter, the sky was clear, the temperature about 68, and winds non-existent. It couldn't have been better, which was a good thing: the entire trail is completely exposed and a blistering summer sun will boil blood of both horse and rider. Definitely save this trail travel for the late autumn, winter, or spring.
I've also never seen trails so well-marked with useful and clear signage. At the trailhead, on the north end of the staging area, a large sign spells out the rules, and an iron ranger asks for $5 per person. The sign gives a warning about the “difficult trail” with “steep segments” and “loose footing.” Fortunately, we neglected to read the sign as we passed, and proceeded in ignorant bliss.
For the first mile and a half, the trail travels alongside an aqueduct – not terribly exciting, but safe and easy. But first, you must ride on a narrow concrete bridge to cross the aqueduct. The entrance to the bridge is not immediately apparent; head for the gap between concrete abutments and make an immediate left turn. It will be obvious by then, but watch for the concrete apron on the other side – probably the most dangerous footing on the entire trail.
As our horses moseyed along the wide trail, we observed myriad varieties of birds; we were riding through the 13,000 acre Southwestern Riverside County Multi-Species Reserve. Even though cars cruised along Domenigoni Parkway less than a half mile away, it appeared that wildlife was thriving along this trail.
The trail crosses another wider bridge, and good signs direct riders to a double track trail that skirts the foot of the hills on the north side of Diamond Valley Lake. Pleasant and easy, the trail goes for another mile – half-mile markers are posted to keep riders aware of their time and distance – to a rest area with picnic tables, restrooms, and two ridiculously unstable tie rails. At only 2.5 miles into the ride, we hardly needed a rest, so we moved on at our blistering pace of three mph.
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