Any easy trails in Aliso or Crystal cove?

[Dirt Diva]

Does anyone know what would be easy beginner level trails to ride in Aliso woods and/or Crystal cove?

[Hanzo]

I dont know how easy you want it and I'm sure others will have suggestions. At Aliso you can take the paved road Aliso Creek Trail and hang a right on Wood Canyon and take that all the way to the bottom of Cholla(theres a bench and bikers are usually there) and take the same way back. We took my friends 11 year old daughter there a couple years ago.

If you want something more challenging you can go up Cholla and when you get to the top go left over to Mathis and come down Mathis, which will take you back to Wood Canyon.

[Waldo]

Originally Posted by Hanzo

At Aliso you can take the paved road Aliso Creek Trail and hang a right on Wood Canyon and take that all the way to the bottom of Cholla(theres a bench and bikers are usually there) and take the same way back. We took my friends 11 year old daughter there a couple years ago.

I took my wife on that loop a few weeks ago, but instead of going quite to Cholla, we turned onto Coyote Run and took that back. It may well be the perfect route for a true beginner, especially if they're just starting to exercise. It's about 8 miles total with no real climbing needed. A few miles to get comfy on the bike before hitting the Coyote singletrack, which has a couple very short ups & downs that might require walking for a newbie. A few fun turns and some nice scenery along the way too. It gives a newbie just enough taste of real mountain biking to get excited to try more, without anything to scare them away.

El Moro/Crystal Cove has plenty of beginner/low intermediate stuff too, but to go very far will require a bit of climbing. Nothing technical, but a little base fitness makes the place a lot more enjoyable.

Peters Canyon in Orange is another great beginner spot, though definitely a bit warmer this time of year El Moro or Aliso.

[project_d]

I've not done Crystal Cove, but at Aliso, the easiest trails would be Woods Canyon fireroad, and Coyote Creek. When my son started riding, I would park at the lot off Alicia Pkwy, ride the fireroad that runs through the bottom of Aliso, make it to the bottom of Cholla, then turn around and connect with Coyote Creek. It's nothing too difficult or long, and now he's hooked.

[Pilas]

I took my wife for her first taste of mtb at Cristal Cove/Laguna Coast. If you park at the Ridge Park entrance, you can hit the fence line single track and then connect with Bommer Ridge. This is a rolling fire road that goes all the way towards the coast. There is not a lot of climbing involved, and the views are very nice.
You can also take El Morro Ridge all the way towards the ocean and turn around before you start going down to PCH.
Morro Ridge has a few steep hills here and there, but they are very short.

[LBmtb]

My first ride ever was at el morro and man was that a reality check as far as fitness AND skill was concerned. Still hooked me, though. Aliso has some fun singletrack with minimal climbing required. Morro isn't bad at all either but will require some climbing as waldo mentioned.

[Fired Yo Momma]

I don't know I would rather climb at El Morro compared to climbing Mathis. Mathis to top of the world is a big B, I would have to say at least with Cholla its short and to the point.