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This area has an interesting criss-crossing of single track and fire road trails, with many possible turns. Not to discourage exploring, but to follow this proven route exactly you will have to pay attention to the directions at every junction. Given the number of turns/junctions I’ve used a slightly more concise ‘list’ format for the directions and verified them a number of times before posting. Every junction is documented, so if you don’t have a way of tracking milage just pay attention to the descriptions. Hope they work for you, but hey if you deviate you might find an even better route!
The 0 mile marker is set by passing through the chain linked fence at the North West corner of the parking area at the very end of Mills Avenue. From here you begin by climbing Cobal Canyon
0.06 miles: stream crossing (except late summer before winter rains)
0.13 miles: continue straight past Burbank Canyon on left (we will be returning that way)
1.49 miles: bear left at junction, following CHWP sign (right goes to Potato Mountain)
1.98 miles: reach first apex, begin descending
2.11 miles: turn right at gated fire road (sign shows Claremont city limit) to begin descending again
2.54 miles: turn left off fireroad onto Marshall Canyon Trail single track
2.82 miles: cross stream
2.96 miles: at junction with fire road, go sharp left to stay on single track, and begin a short but steep climb
3.35 miles: pop out onto fire road - go right
3.51 miles: bear right where the road forks, following sign for Marshall Canyon Trail. This is another single track that steeply descends back down to the stream bed
4.07 miles: right at end of descent (don’t bother going left; it soon leads to a fence and private property)
4.18 miles: left
4.38 miles: left on single track - more descending, although not as steep or technical as prior sections, as you are following stream bed
4.95 miles: round corner to right and begin climbing - it’s another steep one
5.01 miles: go left (narrow path takes off to the right)
5.07 miles: can’t miss the large water tower on your right and the chain linked fence on the left. Keep right to go around the water tower
5.14 miles: pass through gate after tower
5.38 miles: now on a flat open area - continue heading towards the fence straight ahead
5.45 miles: pick up (unsigned) single track on left - this is easy to miss so look for break in the bushes just before reaching the fence
5.66 miles: go right
6.16 miles: pass gate, stay right following fence around picnic area
6.19 miles: cross paved access road to connect with bridle path
6.52 miles: go left onto fire road at sign for equestrian camp
6.70 miles: continue straight on the same fireroad, past a single track on the right, a fire road on the left and another trail shortly afterwards on the right
7.31 miles: bear right right onto single track (reconnects with the fireroad in just .16 miles, so you could stay on the fireroad if you prefer)
7.47 miles: turn right back onto fire road
7.86 miles: pass by shaded picnic area
8.41 miles: pass through gate and turn right (or if you’ve had enough climbing you could return the way you came up by going left here, and heading back down)
8.58 miles: take the single track on the right for a short detour with good views
8.79 miles: continue straight
9.36 miles: turn left onto the fireroad
9.60 miles: sharp left at the three way junction, to being final descent through Burbank Canyon
11.13 miles right at end of descent, onto fireroad
11.28 miles: pass through gate and continue back to parking
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