Blog Archives

Airport in the Sky > Avalon (Paved)

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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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


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Anaheim Hills / Weir Canyon Loop

This loops winds through the local trails and connects with Weir Canyon. Continue reading


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Cahuilla Hills Figure 8 Loop

Book Trip Now! 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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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


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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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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


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Chilao / Charlton Area

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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

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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

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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 + Laguna Coast Wilderness

Crystal Cove State Park

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El Moro: No Name – Deer – Rattlesnake – Moro Ridge – Fenceline

El Moro No Name Deer Rattlesnake El Moro Fenceline

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El Prieto Loop

Fern Truck Trail to El Prieto Loop Elevation Profile

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Fullerton Loop

The Fullerton Loop is an easy ride, good for beginners, in an urban setting Continue reading


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Gabrielino Trail: JPL to the 1st Dam

A simple out-and-back ride suitable for beginners. Continue reading


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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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Ken Burton Loop

A relatively easy climb with a dangerous cliff-edge descent. Continue reading


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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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Laguna Coast Wilderness

Book a Tour Now! 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


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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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Malibu Creek State Park

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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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Maple Springs

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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

A very easy route suitable for beginner level mountain bike riders. Continue reading


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Mt Lowe Loop

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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

Book Trip Now!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 Sunrise Highway

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Noble Canyon via Sunrise Highway Elevation Profile

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Palm Canyon + Art Smith Trail

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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

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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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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


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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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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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Santiago Oaks

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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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Santiago Truck Trail

Book a Tour Now! 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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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


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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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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


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Valley Forge to Chantry

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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

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Whiting Ranch > Santiago Truck > Luge > O’Neill Park

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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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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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Southern California Guided Mountain Bike Tours

XEN MTB Guided Southern California Mountain Bike ides

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