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
Blog Archives
Aliso and Wood Canyons
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
Arroyo / Trabuco / Tijeras Loop
The Arroyo / Trabuco / Tijeras Loop runs through O’Neill Regional Park and the surrounding communities of Trabuco Canyon, Rancho Santa Margarita and Ladera Ranch Continue reading
Big Bear Area
XEN MTB provides guided mountain biking tours in the Big Bear, California. Whether you’re looking for a casual family cruise around the lake or some serious cross country climbs and awesome single track descents, there’s a little something for everyone here. Big Bear can pretty much be ridden year round and it’s especially nice during the spring when all the flowers are blooming!
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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
Cannell Trail
The Cannell Trail is a truly EPIC all day ride covering about 26 miles of high elevation terrain ending with about a 6 mile single track final descent back down to the Lake Isabella area. It requires a shuttle service to the top.
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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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Chino Hills State Park
XEN MTB provides mountain biking tours throughout Chino Hills State Park for riders at all experience and fitness levels. Whether you’re interested in a quick and easy ride up Telegraph Canyon to Four Corners, or a grand tour of the entire park, there’s a ride for you.
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Chino Hills: East Side Loop
XEN MTB provides mountain biking tours throughout Chino Hills State Park for riders at all experience and fitness levels. Whether you’re interested in a quick and easy ride up Telegraph Canyon to Four Corners, or a grand tour of the entire park, there’s a ride for you.
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Chino Hills: North Ridge and South Ridge
XEN MTB provides mountain biking tours throughout Chino Hills State Park for riders at all experience and fitness levels. Whether you’re interested in a quick and easy ride up Telegraph Canyon to Four Corners, or a grand tour of the entire park, there’s a ride for you. In Chino Hills you’ll find classic California terrain: beautiful rolling hills,
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Chino Hills: Rimcrest Loop
XEN MTB provides mountain biking tours throughout Chino Hills State Park for riders at all experience and fitness levels. Whether you’re interested in a quick and easy ride up Telegraph Canyon to Four Corners, or a grand tour of the entire park, there’s a ride for you.
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Chino Hills: Telegraph Canyon to Four Corners
XEN MTB provides mountain biking tours throughout Chino Hills State Park for riders at all experience and fitness levels. Whether you’re interested in a quick and easy ride up Telegraph Canyon to Four Corners, or a grand tour of the entire park, there’s a ride for you.
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Chiquito Trail via Blue Jay Campground
The Chiquito Trail may seem like a short route down from Blue Jay campground, but don’t let the mileage fool you. And don’t think that just because this a shuttle ride that it’s going to be an easy downhill ride. It’s not! This trail has some of the most Advanced technical features of the entire area.
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Chiquito Trail via the Upper San Juan Loop
This route combines the upper section of the San Juan trail with the Viejo Tie and Chiquito trails. Although only 14 miles, it will feel like double that. This route for Advanced and Expert riders only. Count on 3-4+ hours of riding on 100% single track trails with plenty of rocks and some cliff exposure.
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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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Cuyamaca Rancho Singletrack
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park features a blend of singletrack trails and fire roads meandering through deep canyons and panoramic views. Continue reading
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 Loop
A fun loop near Noble Canyon that can be ridden by most strong beginners and more experienced riders with options to extend or shorten mileage and difficulty Continue reading
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 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
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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Mt Pinos Downhill
Mt Pinos is a shuttle-assisted downhill ride that almost anyone can do. It’s easy enough for a strong-Beginner, but has enough technical features to keep even the most experienced riders entertained. This ride requires a shuttle service to the top. It is usually done with multiple trips to the top on the same day for maximum enjoyment.
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Mt Wilson Area
XEN MTB provides guided mountain biking tours all around the Mount Wilson area. There are many mountain bike rides to enjoy in the Mt Wilson area. Some, like the Mount Lowe Loop can be climbed as up and backs and some can be done as loops.
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Tags: advanced, altadena, angeles forest, cliff exposure, cross country, downhill, expert, fire roads, flowy, half day, intermediate, limited cell service, loop, los angeles county, pasadena, poison oak, poodle dog bush, remote, rocky, roots, scenic, shuttle, sierra madre, single tracks, smooth, stream crossings, strong intermediate, tree cover, xc
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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Noble Canyon via Pine Creek Road
If you prefer to earn your downhills, this loop is the way to go for Noble Canyon. It starts with a somewhat steep paved road for five miles with 1,665′ of climbing, followed by five miles of pure bliss down the best parts of Noble Canyon single tracks.
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Palm Canyon (Pine View) to Dunn Road
Another variation of the Palm Canyon EPIC ride, this option starts off with a more aggressive single track. On this map, you also see the bailout option down Dunn Road.
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Palm Canyon (Pinyon Flats) to Dunn Road
This is a variation of the traditional Palm Canyon EPIC route. It starts as a less technical option at the beginning than the Pine View Drive option. If you’re out of water when you reach the top of the sand wash at around mile 18,
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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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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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Redbox to JPL via Gabrielino
San Clemente Singletracks
The San Clemente Single tracks, also known as “The Weed Patch” are official part of the San Onofre State Park system. So many people visit San Onofre for camping and surfing year round that the wait list for camp spots opens up in February for late summer camping and is sold out within an hour.
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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
San Juan Trail
Whether you ride up San Juan trail or down as a shuttle option, there’s plenty of steady technical riding to be had here. This trail surface is smooth in most parts and extremely fast. The dirt grips amazingly well to your tires,
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San Juan Trail: Up, Around and Down
For most people, this is the traditional San Juan Trail route. You ride up to “cocktail rock”, then around the upper loop in either direction (each way has its advantages and disadvantages), and then come right back down the way you came. Getting to the rock is the easy part to navigate.
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