NorCal MTB Rides

The birthplace of mountain biking! What is not to love? Well, most of the supa-fun singletrack is now illegal so that’s a bummer. Still, the views are awesome and you can ride your mountain bike to the ocean. Trail Map

Mount Tam is a classic local ride, particularly the railroad grade climb to the highest point of Marin County, the summit of Mount Tamalpais. You will be rewarded with views to the ocean, the Bay, the city by the Bay, the Berkeley Hills and more! Trail Map

The closest singletrack to San Francisco. Trail Map

All trails drop from Skyline down to the heart of the forest. There is no lollygagging here – you are either climbing or descending.

A personal favorite of this author. Skegg’s is simply a great escape from it all. Lose yourself in marvelous swoopy singletrack amid giant redwoods on Resolution Trail, North Leaf and Manzanita. Beat the summer heat under the canopy of the forest. Suggested Rides: Northern Loop & Central Loop. Check out our trip report.

A bit of something for everyone. A handful of preserves link together to create what is referred to as South Skyline. The options are endless from after-work jaunts to full day epics connecting fireroads and singletrack that weaves in and out of forests. Check out individual trail maps for: Russian Ridge, Saratoga Gap, Long Ridge and
Coal Creek.

It’s good. Easily accessible from the South Bay.

If you live in the mid-peninsula (San Mateo, Belmont or San Carlos) you must check out Waterdog. This is a gem of a park in the middle of residential Belmont. There’s mellow fireroad and some supa-dupa fun singletrack that even gets pretty tricky and steep in spots. Trail Map

A local’s favorite in the South Bay. Trail Map

Again, high author bias. Fantastic sweeping singletrack with plunging descents and amazing views over the Henry Coe wilderness await you. Huge opportunities for epic riding abound. Super tricky stuff comes in limited doses and can be easily avoided. There are some unfortunately steep fireroads, but don’t let that turn you off. Take this suggested ride or ride one of these trails: Far West side of Coe Park, Western Region of Coe Park, Western Ridges of Coe Park. Read the Bella ride reports:March 2003 & November 2003

An East Bay classic. Trail Map

Another East Bay classic. Trail Map

Yet another East Bay classic. (O.K. so we haven’t ridden much in the East Bay) Trail Map

It’s hard to describe in words, but here goes: sweeeeeet! Demo is what mountain bikers dream about when they fall asleep. Singletrack is massively fun and challenging in spots. Trail Map Check out the Bella ride report.

Nisene is known for the classic climb to Sand Point, as well as being a gateway to Demo if you’re feeling ambitious. There’s some other stuff too, but we can’t talk about it.

Wilder Ranch

Swoopy, dreamy trails can be found at Wilder along with plenty of fireroads. Drop into Ecalyptus Grove and it’s another world. Or head over to UCSC and keep riding all day long. Trail Map

Oh my! A mountain biker’s playground. How can the university students that ride ever get a thing done? You can ride from the campus itself up to the fireroad that link to all the singletrack descents to highway 9. Trail Map

A hometown favorite for our Monterey Bellas, fondly referred to as the Happy Trails. Home to the CCCX mountain bike races, Bella University clinics, and even cross racing of days gone by. Also, a gateway to the Sea Otter trails if you want it. Trail Map

Home to the Unabashed Celebration of the Bicycle held every spring. Need I say more? Classic Northern California mountain biking. Trail Map

The “other” Demo Forest, north of wine country. Works well in combination with a few vineyard visits. Trail Map

Excellent riding to be had here with views of Vineyard valley below. Trail Map

Rocky, rocky, rocky Rockville. Get out and test your rock-handling skills. Check out the Upper Trail Map & Lower Trail Map.

World-renowned! The climb is so long you can pay a shuttle bus to drive you up. Seemingly endless epic descents from Sierra peaks. Trail Map

Another Downieville epic and another Bella 3-Kitty ride! Need I say more?

A 20+ mile loop near Donner Summit. This ride has a real sense of journey. You climb a peak, you visit lakes, you venture far into the Tahoe wilderness. And you do it all in a day. A classic in every sense of the word. Trail Map

Perhaps one of Northern California’s most famous ride? Words cannot do the views justice. Trail hugs the Tahoe hillsides with vistas over the entire lake. There’s plenty of amazing Tahoe singletrack on either end of the Flume to complete your loop. Trail Map

Wild Ride it is indeed! Hang on tight! A classic Tahoe descent with lots of rocks, roots and tricks. Trail Map