Guide to ride Hanna Flats to Grays Peak!

Hanna Flat to Grays Peak is a 18.5 miles out and back trail located near Fawnskin, California that features a great forest setting. The trail is rated as moderate and primarily used for hiking, camping, and mountain biking. Dogs are also able to use this trail.




Hopefully you are enjoy to watch it enjoying the video as I really enjoyed riding it. Fun trail!

 

Great vids as always! Never ridden that side of Big Bear before.
Thank you!

 

Love that trail.......It's my avatar pic!!!!

 

Why have I never heard of this one? I'm so sheltered.

I admit it... I skipped around in the video. But what I saw was pretty cool! The riding looked fun, but I really like the group picture you guys and gals did at 9:21. Very cool.

 

I'll be leading a few out of towners through there next weekend. It's been a while but oh yes, it's a fun one!

 

Because you don't ride on the North side of the lake. There's also Cougar Crest trail, with it' techy sharp rocky sections on the North side.

 

Hanna Flat to Gray's Peak, back down to the Grout Bay picnic area is a great loop from Fawnskin. I park at the Fire Station. Ride up the fire road (3N14 or Rim of the World Drive) to Hanna Flat (it feels like a long way).

Nothing technical, and nothing very difficult except dodging hikers on Gray's Peak and on the finishing section of the Grout Bay Trail (between the base of the Gray's peak climb and the Grout Bay picnic area). The few switchbacks on that section add a little character to the finish.

The trail surface on the Grout Bay Trail from Hanna Flat to the Gray's Peak is decomposed granite, so it can be a little soft in the turns, and it's a hiking trail, so there have been no attempts to add berms to make it a little more bike friendly. Easy gradient makes it a good choice for neophytes - although they will want to walk a creek crossing or two.

Gray's Peak is an out and back that you can skip if you are showing beginners the beauty of MtB. It's a fairly easy gradient, but to people such as my wife, the climb feels long and the altitude takes a toll. Fun photo spot at the top, as you saw in the video.

 

Meh.......done it a few times. Don't think it is all that great. The out and back on Gray's Peak is not that long and not that difficult. You do it more for the view at the top. You can't bomb back down due to the uphill traffic, especially on weekends.

Hanna Flats feels like you are climbing the whole way....both directions.

 

Fun video, thanks! Really good sized group there. Do you have a Strava or similar showing the route you rode?

 

Mikie, you should try it my friend. It's an XC ride, fun ride tho!

 

Yes. The Strava link is on the video description.

 

Thanks my friend! ☺️

 

Herzalot...yes, we parked at Fire Station parking lot, from there we climb up on fire road til Hanna Flats campground to get in to the Hanna Flat Trailhead.

I agreed with you, going up to Grays Peak is a lot tougher due to thin air and high altitude for beginners. But the view from the top is endless breathtaking. So Beautiful up there!

 

It's fun indeed. Btw, trail is in good condition now. Enjoy!

 

Let's plan an imtbtrails group ride through there!

 

Thanks. It doesn't work for me... just directs me to my dashboard???

 

Starting from Grey Peak trailhead for an out and back, you avoid that FR. You can start with bagging the peak first , then doing Hanna flats then back. Not sure of the mileage. ALL ST!!

 

GREAT idea, thanks! That's probably what we will do this weekend.

 

I did that route so many times.
Now I’d still start from Grays peak TH ride to Hanna flats CG and then instead of climbing Grays peak I go to Butler peak. It’s all fire road but it a unique fire tower overlook.

 

SAturday morning??

 

Dunno yet. Depends on my guests.

I'm thinking of doing that one on Friday so that we can haul ass coming back down from Grays Peak with less foot traffic since it will be a weekday. Probably do Skyline on Saturday.

 

That is how we have done it.

 

That's how we've done it before but I've noticed GP to HF route is not for everyone.

It's tougher coz the climb from GP trailhead is steeper. It won't be a problem if you ride with a group of riders who has strong cardio and stamina. Unfortunately, few riders from our group were bonking too soon and they weren't able to enjoy the rest of the ride.

HF-GF route is more enjoyable for everyone. The fire road climb is mellow. It's similar with the beginning of Blackstar climb. Imho, it's good for warming up to get used to it with high altitude. ☺️

 

You make a great point here.

 

Rode this last year. It definitely feels that way. I thought it was just because I'm fat and slow. I was doing car support for a hiker friend who was on the SOT and I snuck in the Hannah Flat out-n-back between the Delamar Mountain and Holcomb Creek SOT stops. For a quick "stolen" ride, it was pretty good. I feel the need to go back and ride it faster, (And do Gray's Peak,) but Skyline is a lot more fun.

 

But the view from the top is endless breathtaking. So Beautiful up there!

Agreed! Well worth the climb up.

 

I'm so glad you went my friend. The view always amazing there. That's why we always cameback!