This short ride is suitable for Beginner riders. It is 100% pavement. This ride requires a shuttle drop off at the Catalina Airport in the Sky.
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Blog Archives
Airport in the Sky > Little Harbor > Middle Ranch > Cape Canyon > Avalon Vista
It’s not the longest route you can do on Catalina Island, but it’s up there. So you may be thinking why start at the airport? Well, because taking the shuttle up to that point saves A LOT of climbing and puts this ride in range of the Strong Intermediate that wants to try something more difficult than ever before,
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Aliso and Wood Canyons
Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park offers riding opportunities from beginner through advanced routes on a combination of easy fire road climbs and great single track descents. Continue reading
Tags: aliso viejo, beginner, fall, fire roads, flowy, half day, intermediate, laguna beach, laguna hills, laguna niguel, loop, ocean views, OCPARKS, orange county, quarter day, rocky, scenic, single tracks, smooth, spring, strong beginner, summer, winter, xc
Anaheim Hills / Weir Canyon Loop
This loops winds through the local trails and connects with Weir Canyon. Continue reading
Tags: cross country, fall, fire roads, intermediate, loop, orange county, quarter day, scenic, single tracks, smooth, spring, strong beginner, summer, winter, xc
Cahuilla Hills Figure 8 Loop
If you don’t have all day to ride the Palm Canyon EPIC and are looking for something a little easier than the Art Smith Trail, then this figure eight loop may be just what you need. Intermediate level riders should be able to finish this ride in about four hours.
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Tags: advanced, half day, intermediate, loop, palm springs, rocky, scenic, single tracks, strong intermediate, technical, winter, xc
Caspers Wilderness Park
Caspers Wilderness Park contains 25 miles of possible mountain biking rides ranging from short, relatively flat rides to steep technical inclines and descents. Continue reading
Tags: creek crossings, cross country, fall, fire roads, half day, intermediate, loop, meadows, orange county, remote, rocky, scenic, spring, stream crossings, summer, technical, winter
Catalina Island Mountain Biking
Catalina Island is located about 22 miles off the coast of Southern California. Most people only visit the small town of Avalon, which is tiny compared to the rest of the island, especially at 1,500′ above it!
Catalina Island offers 75 square miles of open terrain where you’ll be lucky to spot many others on bikes.
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Tags: all day, avalon, beginner, catalina island, cross country, fall, fire roads, intermediate, ocean views, remote, scenic, smooth, spring, strong beginner, strong intermediate, summer, winter, xc
Chantry to Mt Zion Loop
The Chantry Flats / Mt. Zion / Gabrielino trail loop is not for people who are afraid of heights nor those who don’t enjoy hiking. Continue reading
Chilao / Charlton Area
The Chilao / Charlton area ride consists of easy fire road climbs and single track descents down mostly smooth terrain. It can be done all year round so long as long as there is no snow. Even in the hottest days of summer, the temperatures here are typically 10 degrees cooler than anywhere else.
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Chilao Area to Arcadia
This ride requires a drop off near the Angelus Christian Camp deep within the Angelus National Forest. It is a 26 mile all-day adventure with about 3,300′ of varied terrain including single tracks, fire roads and some pavement sections. It is truly an EPIC ride by any standards,
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Crystal Cove State Park
With scenic coastal views and deep canyons, Crystal Cove State Park is a classic California ride. This park is a climber’s delight with some some seriously steep fire roads and offers up a few fun single tracks as well. Combine this with the neighboring areas of Laguna Coast Wilderness,
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Eaton Saddle > Mt Lowe > Sunset Trail
This is a downhill ride requiring a shuttle service to get you to the Eaton Saddle near the top of Mt Wilson. It’s a nice alternative to the Mt Lowe Loop that cuts out most of the climbing of that ride that you would otherwise.
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El Moro: No Name – Deer – Rattlesnake – Moro Ridge – Fenceline
Tags: fall, flowy, intermediate, irvine, laguna beach, newport beach, ocean views, orange county, quarter day, rocky, scenic, single tracks, spring, strong beginner, summer, winter, xc
Fullerton Loop
The Fullerton Loop is an easy ride, good for beginners, in an urban setting Continue reading
Tags: beginner, cross country, fall, fire roads, loop, orange county, quarter day, single tracks, spring, strong beginner, summer, winter, xc
Irvine Regional Park
Irvine Regional Park is a Beginner-friendly area for mountain biking and also a good starting point for longer rides, such as the adjacent Santiago Oaks Regional Park. If you are parking within the park, bring $5.00 for parking. Free parking is available outside the park as shown in the map below.
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Tags: beginner, cross country, fall, fire roads, loop, meadows, orange county, quarter day, single tracks, spring, summer, winter, xc
La Tuna Loop
If you’re looking for a quick ride with descent views of the Los Angeles area, this may be the one for you. It’s a great loop for beginners, but even Advanced riders will enjoy some of the technical bonus features along the trail. The loop begins with a 3.5 mile climb up a fire road.
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Tags: beginner, cross country, fall, fire roads, loop, los angeles county, quarter day, single tracks, spring, summer, switchbacks, winter, xc
Laguna Coast Wilderness
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park is part of the Orange County coastal region, seated between Aliso and Wood Canyons to the east, Crystal Cove State Park to the west and Bommer Canyon areas to the north. Per square mile of territory, it features a greater variety of single track trails compared to its neighbors,
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Laguna Meadows to Noble Canyon
This ride begins with a flowy singletrack through meadows and pine trees, includes an EPIC level singletrack through oak trees and sycamores and ends with a desert like terrain with jagged rocks, cactus plants and cliff edges over the canyon floor. Continue reading
Malibu Bowl Loop
Situated on the ocean side of Backbone trail overlooking Pepperdine University and Malibu Beach, this loop is about half pavement and half dirt fire road with impressive views of the ocean for the entire ride. Most of the climbing part is paved (first five miles), making this a suitable ride for beginners.
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Tags: fall, fire roads, loop, los angeles county, ocean views, quarter day, scenic, smooth, spring, strong beginner, summer, winter, xc
Malibu Creek State Park
Malibu Creek State Park features beautiful California grasslands, oaks, and impressive panoramic views of the coast from 2400′ above sea level. It’s also a historical site where you might see signs of native indians that lived here and more recently, the remnants of the M.A.S.H.
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Tags: cross country, fall, fire roads, half day, intermediate, loop, los angeles county, ocean views, scenic, single tracks, spring, state park, summer, winter
Maple Springs
Maple Springs is the Silverado Canyon gateway to the Santa Ana Mountains. Popular destinations from this entry include the Maple Springs to Four Corners out and back ride, Santiago Peak, and for the ultra long distance riders, connections to Harding Truck Trail, Joplin, and Holy Jim.
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Mt Lowe Fire Road via Shuttle
Tags: angeles forest, beginner, cross country, downhill, fall, fire roads, los angeles county, mt wilson, quarter day, rocky, scenic, shuttle, spring, summer, winter, xc
Mt Lowe Loop
If you like climbing up steep fire roads and descending on sweet technical single tracks, this is the loop for you. XEN MTB loves this ride! You pay for the fun first with a 2,500′ climb up a fire road. From there nearly all of the rest of the way down is single track.
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Noble Canyon
If you’re going all the way to Pine Valley, California you may as well get the most you can out of one day of riding. And that’s why XEN MTB suggests starting Noble Canyon with a gentle ride through the Laguna Meadows. You’ll dodge cow pies on the trail and absorb the beautiful high country views and air.
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Palm Canyon + Art Smith Trail
Another variation of the Palm Canyon EPIC ride, this option is even harder, covering more miles of single track trails. But along with it, you’ll also pay for the extra fun with some big climbs on the way down the Art Smith Trail.
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Palm Canyon EPIC
If you only have time for one EPIC ride in Southern California, and the weather is cool, then the Palm Canyon EPIC is the only thing you need to ride. It requires a shuttle to the top which we usually coordinate ourselves.
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Palm Canyon to Art Johnson
A different way to experience Palm Canyon, this ride ends with a single track similar to the Palm Canyon EPIC route but it easier overall.
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Tags: advanced, all day, cliff exposure, cross country, epic, expert, limited cell service, remote, rocky, scenic, shuttle, single tracks, switchbacks, technical, winter
Peters Canyon
Peters Canyon is a very popular area for hikers, runners, dog walkers, stroller pushers and yes, even mountain bikers. It’s a great ride for beginners to hone their skills. Continue reading
Tags: beginner, cross country, fall, fire roads, loop, orange county, quarter day, scenic, single tracks, spring, strong beginner, summer, winter, xc
Point Mugu State Park
The first three miles of this route are a gentle fire road as we go into Sycamore Canyon. The next couple miles we climb up a single track, somewhat steep at times. At about 5.5 miles, the trail turns into an easy paved road climb for about 1 mile.
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Quail Hill to Bommer Canyon Loop
A great loop comprised of publicly accessible trails meandering through Irvine, Laguna Beach and Newport Beach with sweeping vista views of the ocean and surrounding mountains.
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Tags: cross country, fall, fire roads, half day, intermediate, loop, meadows, ocean views, orange county, scenic, smooth, spring, summer, winter
San Juan Capistrano Hills
The San Juan Capistrano Hills are a blend of single tracks, double tracks and fire roads that wind above the hills of San Jan Capistrano. Many of these trails are dead ends, as such, it’s difficult to piece together loops in the area without the experience of actually riding those areas.
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Tags: cross country, fall, fire roads, intermediate, loop, ocean views, orange county, quarter day, scenic, single tracks, smooth, spring, strong beginner, summer, winter
Santiago Oaks
Santiago Oaks Regional Park and adjacent Irvine Regional Park are a couple areas within a broader region of open spaces on the border of residential areas. Passing through both parks is the Santiago Creek which is fed from the nearby Santa Ana mountain range which is typically dry most of the year.
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Tags: anaheim, beginner, creek crossings, cross country, fall, flowy, half day, loop, meadows, OCPARKS, orange, orange county, quarter day, scenic, single tracks, spring, strong beginner, summer, switchbacks, tustin, winter, xc
Santiago Truck Trail
Santiago Truck Trail to the Luge is a Beginner level ride just outside Foothill Ranch that begins with a moderate single/double track climb, and ends with a very narrow, twisty and fun single track to reward your efforts. It is one of the few places that can also be ridden at night.
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Santiago Truck Trail and O’Neill Park Loop
A beautiful ride with great views and the most Oak Trees you’ll likely see in one area of Orange County.
Photos of this route:
http://photos.3fbc.com/Santa_Ana_Mountains/20131129_STT_to_Luge_Plus_ONeill/
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Tags: cross country, fire roads, flowy, half day, intermediate, loop, orange county, scenic, single tracks, spring, switchbacks, winter
Strawberry Peak Loop
A very strenuous and steep climb combined with technical sections and steep cliff edges makes this a rewarding, but very dangerous half-day loop recommended only for those in excellent shape and without a fear of heights. Continue reading
Trabuco to Holy Jim
The Trabuco trail is a narrow, steep and rocky climb with cliff edges in some parts that is challenging even to the most fit riders.
There’s an optional hike-a-bike short cut (West Horsethief) but XEN MTB recommends doing the whole route. Once at the Main Divide,
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Tags: advanced, cleveland national forest, cliff exposure, creek crossings, cross country, fall, flowy, half day, limited cell service, loop, orange county, out and back, poison oak, rancho santa margarita, remote, rocky, scenic, single tracks, spring, stream crossings, switchbacks, technical, trabuco canyon, winter, xc
Trabuco Wash
The Trabuco Wash is a fire road that provides access to the Holy Jim area and Trabuco Trail, following the Trabuco Creek the entire way. There is one water crossing on the way up that is usually no more than a foot deep.
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Turnbull Canyon
Turnbull Canyon is a popular spot both for mountain bikers and hikers between Whittier and Hacienda Heights. Continue reading
Tags: cross country, fall, fire roads, flowy, half day, intermediate, loop, los angeles county, meadows, scenic, single tracks, spring, strong beginner, winter, xc
Valley Forge to Chantry
XEN MTB provides guided mountain biking tours on the “dark side” trails of Mount Wilson. This ride requires a shuttle service to drop us off near the top of Mt Wilson at Eaton Saddle. It begins with a great single track followed by a gentle fire road climb and then an hour long roller coaster of a single track ride down to the Chantry area.
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Weir Canyon Loop
Tags: beginner, cross country, fall, fire roads, flowy, loop, meadows, orange county, quarter day, scenic, single tracks, smooth, spring, summer, winter
Whiting Ranch > Santiago Truck > Luge > O’Neill Park
The “grand tour” of the foothills, on this Intermediate level ride covering 20 miles of local terrain, you’ll see everything that the Santiago Truck Trail has to offer, plus Whiting Ranch and O’Neill Regional Parks. There will be plenty of Oak lined trails and if you’re lucky enough to visit here in the winter or spring,
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Whiting Ranch South
This route inside Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park avoids all the trails which were closed due to the 2020 Silverado Fire. Although short on miles, you’ll get plenty of climbing. This route can be extended by starting near the corner of Bake Parkway and Toledo Way in Lake Forest and also be combining it with the Santiago Truck Trail to the Luge ride or the Santiago Truck Trail / O’Neil Park Loop.
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Tags: beginner, cross country, fall, fire roads, loop, orange county, quarter day, scenic, single tracks, spring, summer, winter
Whiting Ranch to the Luge
This is a combination of two areas to ride: Whiting Ranch and the Santiago Truck Trail. Individually, both are great and could be done by themselves for a shorter ride. Together, they make up an endurance-testing combination that will leave you exhausted and thrilled at the same time.
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