California Mountain Bike Trails, One of the best ways to discover more about California and this part of the United States is through mountain riding. We’ve analyzed all of our mountain bike routes to select the top 20, so you can enjoy the finest that the area has to offer. Any of the routes listed below to view actual advice and images posted by other mountain bikers, find out what they enjoyed most about these Tours, and choose the best mountain bike route for your upcoming ride.
California Mountain Bike Trails
The mountain biking genre originated in California. The landscape and choices in this state are essentially endless, ranging from southern California and Mt. Tamalpais in Marin to Santa Cruz, Downieville, and Tahoe. Numerous trail systems and riding parks include a variety of terrain, including smooth routes, flowy fun, rocky drops, perilous gnar, and severe tech. The Golden State has plenty to offer everyone.
California Mountain Biking Locations
California Mountain Bike Trails. The state that gave birth to mountain biking, California, has developed from a teething stage to one that is brimming with world-class MTB trails. Prepare for some of your favorite West Coast rides.
Where in California can you find the best mountain biking?
The Bay Area, San Diego, and the Sierra Nevadas are the areas of California with the best mountain biking. California allows you complete freedom when it comes to MTB activities, depending on your objectives and preferences.
Do you desire intricate technicals?
Visit Santa Cruz. How about a steep descent that will have you at the top of your lungs, followed by a relaxing sail to cool off? Lake Tahoe is suitable. We asked local experts to provide their ideas for the best mountain biking locations in California because the Golden State only offers the best.
1.) Fairfax
There was Fairfax before the internationally known trails in Moab and Colorado were a byword for mountain biking in the United States. In the 1970s, the group from Marin County was inspired by California’s well-known concoction of relaxed vibes and adrenaline, and lo and behold, MTB was created. They traveled these now-famous tracks on clumsy, homemade bikes with balloon tires. The early riders essentially created the modern mountain bike by modifying their rides with thumb-operated derailleurs and knobby B.F. Goodrich tires. New tools opened up new opportunities, which naturally led to the first race down Mount Tamalpais in 1976. This local pastime quickly gained popularity and evolved into the beloved sport we know today.
2.) San Diego
San Diego, located near the Pacific, offers a variety of outdoor activities. While biking around San Diego is wonderful in and of itself, mountain biking is truly the best. The City’s more than 200 canyons and the hills that divide its numerous mesas are not to be overlooked; all of these geographical characteristics provide for superb MTB terrain. The combination of hundreds of kilometers of trails and more than 260 days with sunshine, or mostly sunshine, gives the area the characteristics of a top mountain riding destination.
The surf n’ turf is another intriguing reason to ride your bike to San Diego. Sure, you can get that at just about any restaurant, but how many cities do you think you can actually live in? You may go mountain biking in the morning and surfing in the water in the afternoon in San Diego.
3.) Lake Tahoe
One of the most impressive mountain riding locations is situated around the Sierra Nevadas, which are home to the second-largest alpine lake in North America. There are paths for every skill level, but the downhill sections are where it really shines. You may enjoy well-stationed lift access to return to barreling downhill time and time again because nearby resorts, like Northstar, invested heavily in infrastructure.
In the Lake Tahoe region, there are several mountain-riding destinations. Regardless of where you travel, the terrain is varied. There will be a lot of height gain and flowing downhill parts on the alpine terrain. You can also find amazing woodland paths, roots, berms, and even the occasional waterfall somewhere.
4.) Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake is the bicycling epicenter of Southern California and is located in the heart of the San Bernardino National Forest, roughly 100 miles east of Los Angeles. Any motorcycle tourist won’t need much time to realize how unique the place is. While the National Forest Service and nearby resorts have worked hard to maintain the trails and construct first-rate amenities, the mild weather guarantees a long season.
A must-ride is Skyline Trail.
One of the greatest trails in the entire state is this 15.2-mile singletrack. The path crosses the mountains behind Snow Summit resort on the south side of the lake, where numerous tourist attractions are situated, and offers a picturesque landscape.
It can be taken either way as an end-to-end journey. Starting at 7,351 feet and moving west to east, you’ll start your journey to Snow Summit right away. Once you’ve reached the summit, you’ll have some stunning ups and downs for a little over ten miles before your rapid and flowing descent comes to an end at Metcalf Creek, which is located close to the community of Big Bear Lake.
5.) San Francisco
You won’t have to go very far from the busy streets in the City on the Bay to find heart-pounding mountain biking. Unbelievably, Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve, a 61-acre paradise, is located right in the middle. There, the riding is a little more sedate but ideal for a dash after work. Locals concur that the real adventure is beyond municipal limits. Want to turn the volume up a bit? The surrounding mountains are as enjoyable as they appear.
Use the Summit Trail to ascend Mount Diablo.
Here, you may expect a magnificent descent and a horrific rise. The 7-mile journey is full of breathtaking views, but resist their allure and only pause when you need to regain your breath.
California’s Must-Ride Mountain Bike Trails
1.) Pasadena’s Mt. Wilson Trail
Downhill mountain biking enthusiasts are well-known for loving Los Angeles’ Mount Wilson Trail. The best trail in Southern California for enduro mountain biking is Mt. Wilson, which features a 5,000-foot vertical down in less than eight miles.
Take the shuttle up to the top of this trail to start your adventure. Your mountain bike talents will be put to the test on the higher and middle portions, which contain some extremely narrow spots and wild turns. You may expect to spend between 1.5 and 2.5 hours on this course, traveling through a variety of singletrack tracks with breathtaking scenery and difficult terrain.
For experienced bikers with good handling skills, this route is challenging. Michal Kollbek is a seasoned mountain bike racer who frequently visits Mount Wilson, and he has some advice for riders who are considering riding this course for the first time. You may reserve a guided ride down the mountain and view his guide profile on the Adventure I.O. app.
2.) Santa Monica’s Westridge Singletrack Loop
The Westridge Singletrack Loop, one of Santa Monica’s most well-known mountain bike routes, is a fantastic local ride that’s not too challenging and doubles as a wonderful exercise with Instagram-worthy scenery. You start your mountain biking trip with a brief climb up Sullivan Canyon, and then the loop, which is 11.6 miles long and weaves its way through shady sycamore trees and past rushing water, starts. Although there are singletrack sections that cross the bigger path, the primary trail is a double track.
Bikers travel to the breathtaking perspectives close to the Nike Missile Base Site after navigating the Sullivan Fire Road and Mulholland Drive Fire Road’s unstable rocks. Because the Westridge Singletrack, a favorite of the locals, is coming up next, here is the ideal place to cool off, fill up your water bottles, or use the restroom. This trail’s descent offers quick, steep rises from the Westridge / Mandeville Fire Road, followed by swift, flowing descents with a maximum decline grade of 23%.
3.) San Diego’s Los Penasquitos Canyon
The biggest urban park in the United States is Los Penasquitos Canyon in San Diego, which spans more than 4,000 acres of the Penasquitos and Lopez canyons. Within the well-known state park is a vast network of trails with just the appropriate amount of technical terrain and singletrack riding.
The bulk of the preserve’s pathways is accessible via the Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve’s East-West track. Bikers will find a waterfall, a duck pond, and a variety of wildlife here. Riders can also travel to Tunnels, a completely enclosed trail network lined with native California Manzanita trees.
4.) Santa Barbara’s The Elings Loop
Elings Loop is a flowy, downhill trail loop that is almost 10 miles long and includes a few challenging climbs. The loop is but one of Elings Park’s numerous cutting-edge attractions, which make up the biggest privately sponsored park in the nation. Elings Park is the ideal location for beginning mountain bikers and seasoned riders wishing to get in a short exercise because it is just a few miles outside of downtown Santa Barbara and overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
5.) San Clemente, Hairline, and Dia Loop
The Hire Line and Dia loop is a multi-loop network of trails that begins on Hairline and is situated close to the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base in San Clemente. This challenging singletrack path incorporates berms and jumps along with twists and turns.
The circle transforms into a simple cross-country route after crossing the stream, making it the ideal warm-up or cool-down ride before proceeding down the Dia jump course. Dia is quite entertaining because it has a lot of variant lines.
Best California Mountain Bike Trails
Mount Hough
The network of trails that Mt. Hough is a part of in Quincy, California, is comparable to that of its neighbor Downieville to the west. The Lost Sierra has been transformed into a recreational destination for all outdoor enthusiasts, including mountain bikers, thanks to years of hard work by the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship.
Their most recent accomplishment is the Mt. Hough trail. Ten miles from the summit of Mt. Hough to Spanish Creek, this bomber descent weaves its way down. For individuals who are yet ready for the challenging aspects of the Downieville Classic, families and children will find the majority of the path to be smooth and buff.
Downieville Classic
Every summer, hundreds of mountain bikers travel to Downieville to ride one of the state’s most famous mountain bike paths, the Downieville Classic (there is also the Downieville Classic cycle race, but here I’m referring to the real route).
This region, known as the Lost Sierra, has seen an explosion of new, equally great routes over the past few years (see Mt. Hough above), and it’s well worth a visit for anyone wishing to enjoy a traditional California bike path.
The Tahoe Twirl
The Tahoe Twirl is a 190-mile bikepacking loop around Lake Tahoe and into the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. It is equal parts magnificent adventure and major suffering fast. The loop starts in Reno and travels for 5+ days through the backcountry on a mixture of fire roads, singletrack, and easy bike trails. Riders can look forward to stunning scenery along the Flume Trail, arid Jeep roads south of Reno, vintage Tahoe Rim singletrack, and a variety of crystal-clear, chilly mountain swimming holes.
Temecula Valley Biking Trails
Cycling enthusiasts looking for an exciting challenge while on vacation can find a unique adventure in the undulating hills of Temecula Valley in Southern California’s Wine Country. Biking through town and through Temecula’s picturesque Old Town, which is dotted with independent stores and artisan restaurants, can be done more gradually and gently. Consider bringing a lunch and biking to the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve for an entire day; there are paths for every skill level, from challenging mountain biking terrain to easy-breezy trails with views. In Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country, there are more than 20 extra miles and over 90 miles of cycling routes. Both new and seasoned riders will have a great time doing this.
Southern California’s Center for Biking
Mountain biking and cycling are kings in Southern California, especially around Big Bear Lake. You’re guaranteed to find the ideal ride every time, thanks to the simple to difficult singletracks and downhill trails that are available. The chairlift at Snow Summit Bike Park transports you and your bike to the summit of the mountain, where you can enjoy both on- and off-site bike paths. Choose a rental bike from one of the nearby stores if you don’t have your own bike.
Mount Bike riding
Big Bear served as a destination for downhill mountain biking in the 1990s and hosted major competitions, including the NORBA National Championship Series. Both professional and amateur weekend warriors have ridden the downhill slopes of Big Bear. With the opening of Summit Bike Park in 2012, Big Bear reclaimed its status as a mountain biking destination. Riders of all skill levels can find something to enjoy thanks to the variety of layouts, banked turns, bridges, and new trails that are continually being built. Summit Bike Park information can be found at BigBearMountainResort.com.
Road Cycling The challenging climbs and altitude of Big Bear’s road riding draw cyclists from all over Southern California. Major cycling competitions, including the 2010 and 2012 Amgen Tours of California and the yearly Tour de Big Bear, which draws more than a thousand cyclists each year, have been held in our town. Numerous bike stores in Big Bear offer everything bikers need to stay prepared, including equipment purchases and bike service.
Northern California Mountain Biking
Trail Riding And Mountain Biking In Plumas County
The county of Plumas offers three seasons of biking excursions. There are enjoyable rides for riders of all skill levels, from tricky and difficult in the Lakes Basin Recreation Area to rolling and flowing trails close to Quincy. Plumas County in Northern California has some of the best terrains for mountain biking and gravel riding, with routes that are close to campgrounds and mountain town villages where you may spend the night.
Destination Singletrack And Downhill Trails
The two most famous mountain bike trails in Plumas County are Mount Hough and Mills Peak, which both provide expansive views, difficult terrain, and quick and enjoyable descents. The South Park trail system in Quincy and the Lake Davis route west of Portola are two excellent options for family- and beginner-friendly rides. The majority of the singletrack in Plumas County is pretty elevated. The number of accessible trails varies by region and is influenced by weather and snowmelt.
Opportunities for California Mountain Bike Trails: Paradise Royale
The trail network of Paradise Royale is a fantastic way to explore Northern California’s Lost Coast. The trails were planned and constructed with mountain biking in mind. In the Paradise Ridge region of the King Range National Conservation Area, the Bureau of Land Management has been working with mountain biking enthusiasts and clubs to plan, develop, and build a demanding and environmentally sustainable mountain bike trail system. Hikers, hunters, and campers are drawn to the peaks of the King Range NCA’s Douglas fir forest, while surfers, anglers, beachcombers, and many more are drawn to the coast.
There are currently 23 miles of trails in the system, all of the varied difficulty. Diverse, picturesque panoramas, backcountry settings, and developed bike park amenities are just a few highlights. The backcountry riding experiences that have been expertly combined with contemporary trail construction methods to produce a totally unique ride experience will astound visitors.
Mountain Bike Trails in Lake Tahoe
Mountain riding originated in California, and mountain bikers have a long and illustrious history in the Lake Tahoe region. Mountain biking in Lake Tahoe is tremendously diverse, with anything from old mining trails to specially designed flow. There are many long, semi-difficult singletrack rides in the Tahoe region, but it also includes some of the state’s longest sustained technical descents and some of the best bike parks. And everything is really simple to reach. Drive from the Bay Area to Reno or take a flight there to experience some of the best ridings around. Grab a burger and a beer at any of the nearby restaurants, then cool down in the lake at the end of the day. Is there any improvement after this? In our opinion, no. Use this manual as a starting point because Tahoe has so much riding. Although we haven’t covered every trail in the region, here are some of the top mountain biking routes near Lake Tahoe, along with advice on where to eat and stay.
Questions and answers regarding California’s mountain biking routes
Which of California’s national parks feature mountain bike trails?
On AllTrails.com, hikers propose a number of well-known national parks in California. 4 mountain bike routes in Death Valley National Park have received an overall rating of 4.6 stars from 234 user reviews. Fourteen mountain bike routes in Joshua Tree National Park have had an average rating of 4.4 stars from 950 user evaluations. Three mountain biking routes in Kings Canyon National Park have an overall rating of 4.3 stars based on 62 reviews from locals.
What California mountain riding route is the longest?
The PCT: C.A. Section B – Warner Springs to Highway 10 is the state of California’s longest mountain bike path, according to AllTrails.com. The estimated length of this trail is 141.1 kilometers, and the average hiking time is 42 hours and 48 minutes.
Which California mountain bike trail gains the most elevation?
California: Of all the mountain bike routes in the region, PCT: C.A. Section B – Warner Springs to Highway 10 has the highest height rise at 4,878 m. Santa Monica Mountains Backbone Trail, which gains elevation at a rate of 3,924 m, has the next-highest ascent for mountain biking paths.
What is California’s most well-traveled and challenging mountain riding route?
With a 4.6-star rating from 6458 reviews, Mission Peak Loop from Stanford Avenue Staging Area is the most well-liked and challenging mountain biking course in California.
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