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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Tags: all day, beginner, big bear lake, cross country, fall, flowy, intermediate, loop, meadows, san bernardino county, san bernardino national forest, scenic, single tracks, smooth, spring, strong beginner, summer, switchbacks, xc
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 →
Tags: advanced, angeles forest, cliff exposure, creek crossings, fall, flowy, half day, loop, los angeles county, scenic, sierra madre, single tracks, spring, stream crossings, switchbacks, technical, tree cover, winter
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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Tags: angeles forest, creek crossings, cross country, fall, fire roads, flowy, half day, intermediate, limited cell service, loop, los angeles county, poodle dog bush, remote, scenic, single tracks, smooth, spring, summer, switchbacks, winter, xc
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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Tags: advanced, all day, angeles forest, cliff exposure, creek crossings, cross country, epic, expert, fall, fire roads, flowy, limited cell service, los angeles county, remote, rocky, scenic, shuttle, single tracks, spring, stream crossings, switchbacks, technical, winter
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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Tags: advanced, boulders, cleveland national forest, cliff exposure, cross country, drops, expert, half day, limited cell service, orange county, remote, rocky, roots, shuttle, single tracks, switchbacks, technical, xc
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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Tags: advanced, boulders, cleveland national forest, cliff exposure, cross country, drops, expert, half day, limited cell service, orange county, remote, rocky, roots, shuttle, single tracks, switchbacks, technical, xc
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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Tags: altadena, angeles forest, cliff exposure, cross country, downhill, fall, fire roads, flowy, half day, intermediate, los angeles county, mt wilson, pasadena, scenic, shuttle, sierra madre, single tracks, summer, switchbacks, winter
A relatively easy climb with a dangerous cliff-edge descent. Continue reading →
Tags: angeles forest, cliff exposure, cross country, fall, fire roads, half day, intermediate, loop, los angeles county, single tracks, spring, stream crossings, strong beginner, summer, switchbacks, winter, xc
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 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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Tags: aliso viejo, cross country, fall, flowy, half day, intermediate, irvine, laguna beach, loop, newport beach, ocean views, OCPARKS, orange county, quarter day, scenic, single tracks, strong beginner, summer, switchbacks, winter, xc
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 →
Tags: cleveland national forest, cliff exposure, cross country, downhill, epic, fall, flowy, half day, intermediate, limited cell service, meadows, pine valley, remote, rocky, roots, san diego county, scenic, shuttle, single tracks, spring, strong intermediate, switchbacks, technical, winter
The best possible variation of both Noble Canyon and Laguna Meadows, this ride begins with a drop off at the Red-Tailed Roost Visitor Center. From there a mostly single track route drops into the Laguna Meadows where you can either just go straight across the meadows to begin the rest of the ride or do some loops around the lakes on somewhat flat terrain.
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Tags: advanced, all day, creek crossings, cross country, fall, meadows, san diego county, scenic, shuttle, spring, stream crossings, strong intermediate, summer, switchbacks, technical, xc
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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Tags: advanced, altadena, angeles forest, cliff exposure, cross country, fall, half day, intermediate, los angeles county, pasadena, rocky, scenic, sierra madre, single tracks, spring, switchbacks, winter
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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Tags: advanced, cleveland national forest, cliff exposure, cross country, downhill, epic, fall, flowy, half day, intermediate, limited cell service, meadows, pine valley, remote, rocky, roots, san diego county, scenic, shuttle, single tracks, spring, switchbacks, technical, winter
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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Tags: advanced, cleveland national forest, cliff exposure, creek crossings, epic, expert, fall, flowy, limited cell service, loop, remote, rocky, san diego county, single tracks, spring, strong intermediate, switchbacks
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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Tags: advanced, all day, cliff exposure, cross country, epic, expert, flowy, limited cell service, palm springs, remote, rocky, san bernardino national forest, scenic, shuttle, single tracks, switchbacks, technical, xc
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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Tags: advanced, all day, cliff exposure, cross country, epic, expert, flowy, limited cell service, palm springs, remote, rocky, san bernardino national forest, scenic, shuttle, single tracks, switchbacks, technical, xc
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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Tags: advanced, all day, cliff exposure, cross country, epic, expert, flowy, limited cell service, palm springs, remote, rocky, san bernardino national forest, scenic, shuttle, single tracks, switchbacks, technical, winter, xc
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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Tags: advanced, all day, cliff exposure, cross country, epic, expert, flowy, limited cell service, palm springs, remote, rocky, san bernardino national forest, scenic, shuttle, single tracks, switchbacks, technical, winter, xc
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
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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Tags: flowy, half day, intermediate, loop, ocean views, orange county, quarter day, san clemente, san onofre, single tracks, smooth, steep, strong beginner, switchbacks
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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Tags: cleveland national forest, flowy, half day, intermediate, ladera ranch, limited cell service, loop, orange county, out and back, remote, san juan capistrano, scenic, shuttle, single tracks, smooth, switchbacks, technical, xc
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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Tags: cleveland national forest, downhill, flowy, half day, intermediate, limited cell service, loop, orange county, out and back, remote, san juan capistrano, scenic, shuttle, single tracks, smooth, switchbacks, technical, xc
Please note: This is NOT a shuttle-assisted ride. You start at the top, drop down, climb a hill, go down again and then back up what you started at the end. This cuts about half the climbing of starting from the bottom of the San Juan trail and effectively doubles the climbing of the shuttle-assisted option.
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Tags: cleveland national forest, flowy, half day, intermediate, ladera ranch, limited cell service, loop, orange county, out and back, remote, san juan capistrano, scenic, shuttle, single tracks, smooth, switchbacks, technical, xc
This ride will give you a great workout even on the way down and features spectacular views of the San Bernardino Forest. With XEN MTB as your mountain biking tour guide, you’ll know when to push hard up those climbs, when take it easy, and when to let go of the brakes and fly!
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Tags: angelus oaks, cliff exposure, cross country, downhill, flowy, half day, intermediate, limited cell service, out and back, san bernardino county, san bernardino national forest, scenic, shuttle, single tracks, stream crossings, switchbacks, tree cover, xc
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
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
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 →
Tags: advanced, angeles forest, cliff exposure, creek crossings, cross country, expert, fall, fire roads, half day, intermediate, loop, los angeles county, remote, scenic, single tracks, spring, summer, switchbacks, winter
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
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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Tags: advanced, altadena, angeles forest, cliff exposure, creek crossings, cross country, downhill, drops, expert, fall, flowy, intermediate, limited cell service, los angeles county, pasadena, remote, scenic, shuttle, sierra madre, switchbacks, technical, winter