Best Place to Ride in SoCal

[MtnBikerBamBam]

ok take the poll and if you choose other then post your fav spot

[TheFarLeft]

Will Rogers Backbone

where else?

[pshloss]

Most of these are long with about 4000-5000 feet of climbing. But they are really fun if you are in condition. All of the parks in the polls are great during the week, but they tend to be too crowded on weekends. Chino Hills singletracks tend to be overgrown most of the time.

My favorites in OC are (all of these except the combo in #3 are in the "Mountain Biking Orange County) green book:

1) Loops including Holy Jim Trail. Up Holy Jim, down Trabuco is sweet.
2) San Juan Trail
3) Whiting Ranch/STT/Luge is a great after work ride - about 16 miles with lots of singletrack. Very busy on weekends.
4) Black star canyon- Silverado Motorway loop and Maple Springs-Silverado Motorway loop
5) Harding TT to MainDivide to Joplin trail to STT loop when Joplin is not overgrown.

San Gabriels:
1) Mt Wilson Toll Road (closed right now due to washout) to Mt Wilson Trail loop (need to shuttle or do 5 miles of road)
2) Mt Lowe Railway up, Middle Sam Merril and Sunset trails down
3) Mt Wilson Toll Road to Gabriellino Trail loop (need to shuttle or do 5 miles of road)

San Gabriel Backcountry:
1) Strawberry Peak loop including Josephine peak, Gabrielino.
2) Charlton-Chileo-Mt Hilyer-Vetter Lookout- Silver Moccasin

Up off the Grapevine:
1) Mt Pinos

San Bernadinos:
1) Santa Ana River Trail (SART)

Santa Monicas:
1) Backbone Trail (many segments)

[mtnbikerdude87]

Dont have the mine listed. My favorite places so far are:

Santa Ana River Trail - which I will be doing a lot of over the summer
San Juan Trail - awesome single track/switchbacks
Snow Summit - Used to be fun when it was still open to Dh-ing

Every place I've ridden has it's own unique characteristic in which I enjoy riding there. I can't really put my finger down and say that one trail is by far my favorite. Out of all the trails I've ridden I'd say one of the most fun singletracks has been the Silverado Motorway.

I do want to checkout the Backbone and the SART.

[ArrrKelly]

Favorite local loop is Harding to Joplin

Then you got Noble Canyon down by San Diego

San Gabriel's: Only did one ride there but it was awesome. (Toll Road to Upper/Middle Merril to Sunset to El Prieto)

Of course you cant beat aliso/el moro/wilderness

[Jawbreaker]

For me it depends on the time of year. El Moro can't be beat in the Summer so thats what I picked.


haha, fullerton.

[project_d]

I picked Aliso because I feel it's best all around. Best DH would probably have to go to Santiago Oaks.

[JamR]

Viejoland...............as coined by VLander gets my vote.

Consists of Aliso-Woods, Laguna Coast and El Morro since all three are technically connected and ride-able in one continuous ride.

The three combined have probably the best overall variety in So Cal.

[ocrider]

i AGREE WITH jAMR

[pshloss]

How do you get in/out of Aliso from Laguna Canyon Rd?

[EBasil]

Well, I don't have much experience at most of those trails, but I'm pretty sure they're in one teeny little section of SoCal, somewhere behind the Orange Curtain...

For great places to ride, I'd include:

--Cheeseboro/China Flat/Ahmanson Ranch network in LA/Ventura.
--The Hub in LA
--SART in Berdoo
--Big Laguna Trail/Nobel Canyon in San Diego
--Venice Boardwalk with baby oil and tank top on rad DH bike, in LA.

Originally Posted by pshloss

How do you get in/out of Aliso from Laguna Canyon Rd?

I believe "Stairsteps" (ALISO) is the most popular trail used when connecting the 3 parks, I could be wrong though.