MTB Trip to Norcal

[digitaldouble]

Great to see that the Board is alive and kicking...

Wife and I are planning on a 1 week MTB trip from Ventura to Sausalito and would like to get some suggestion for fun trails along the road (San luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Big Sur, Monterey etc...)
Preferred Trails should be scenic 1-3 hrs loop and not too technical.

Any GPX files or links to Strava and other sites for the trail will be great !

Planning on checking out the Demo Flow trail at Soquel, looks like lots of fun

 

[da big hills]

Angel Island from the Tiburon ferry. Cheap loop around the island, your round trip fare 15 bucks, your bike is one dollar more. Bring a picnic lunch overlooking the bay. There is also Chinese camp SP near by if you need more aggressive trails.
It is getting to their best season up there, on the bay October and November have the best weather.

 

[digitaldouble]

Thanks DBH, we did both a few years ago.
China Camp definitely worth another go !
I remember running into some wild turkeys in the bush...
Angel Island was different experience but not an exciting biking trail as far as I remember.

Looks like we covered at that trip also the Wilder ranch trail in Santa Cruz and Cabrillo Peak near SLO.
Wilder Ranch is another Fine trail , partly in the woods that we should definitely ride again.

 

[pinnacle10]

This isn't a "must-ride" but when we were driving down from Canada it fit our schedule perfectly based on where we were that day. If you're near Santa Rosa this was a good spot to ride and we only did a small portion of what's available. Basically, it seems like the local spot to ride.....Annadel Park.

https://www.strava.com/activities/72986200

 

[OTHRIDER]

Another good ride is http://www.boyscouts-marin.org/tamarancho-biking/4023

It is south of Santa Rosa on the northwest side of the San Leandro bridge. There is a $5/day fee that you purchase online. I've taken newbies on the trails and there are a few areas to walk but otherwise it is 99% single track. The new flow trail has good reviews too.

I'd say that Annadel is a little tougher than Tamarancho, but it is "Steppie" approved.

 

[digitaldouble]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far - keep them coming...

We decided to stay in Santa Cruz for the whole week.
We will carry our road bikes with us and rent MTB from Santa Cruz ($20 per 4 hours) Tallboy and 5010.
This way we can enjoy both Road and Mountain routes.
As far as MTB - Wilder Ranch and the Demo Flow trails.
Any other suggestions road and MTB trails in the area will be great (GPX or Strava links will be even better)

 

[dstepper]

http://www.openspace.org/sites/default/files/pr_el_corte.pdf

Go get it before they finish bulldozing the rest of the singletrack. Be careful of rangers in the bushes with radar guns. Don't be discourage it is will worth it. Big redwoods...ferns bubbling brooks. Bring your climbing legs.

You can ride from Santa Cruz bikes to Wilder ranch. If you ride Wilder Ranch go all the way to the top cross the pavement and ride the maze in the redwoods at the Campus. Just don't drop all the way down to the school....long ride back out. Endless loops up top great fun. Wilder Ranch and Corte Madra are good weekend choices as demo forest can get busy on weekends.

Annadell is Santa Rosa is maybe out of the way from you but my favorite riding up there because the scenery and fauna are so varied for a small park.

Tamarancho is in Fairfax, Marin County.

You have it all wrong rent road bikes bring your mountain bikes. Don't be one those annoying Marin riders that hog the narrow roads when you have redwoods and ferns to frolic in.


Dean

 

[digitaldouble]

http://www.openspace.org/sites/default/files/pr_el_corte.pdf

You have it all wrong rent road bikes bring your mountain bikes. Don't be one those annoying Marin riders that hog the narrow roads when you have redwoods and ferns to frolic in.


Dean

LOL... One of the fun factors will be to demo Mountain bikes we don't have... The low travel 29er on some days and the 27.5 trail on others will add some more zest.
Thanks for the tips Dean.