Best Trails in California

Big Bear

5 resourcesArticle · Trail

ArticleMountain Biking Big Bear Lake: Snow Summit Mountain Resort ArticleEpic Big Bear XC Ride with Gavin Burke ArticleTraveling to Big Bear Lake: Lodging, Eats, and Drinks TrailCougar Crest TrailHanna Flat

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Bishop

2 resourcesAdventure

AdventureDiscovery Trail, Schulman Grove, Ancient Bristle Cones AdventurePatriarch Bristle Cone

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Crescent City

3 resourcesRoute

RouteStout Redwood Grove RouteSimpson-Reed Redwood Grove RouteFern Canyon

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Downieville

4 resourcesGuidebook · Article

GuidebookRide 7 of the Very Best MTB Trails near Downieville, CA Guidebook5 of the Best MTB Shuttle Runs in the Lost Sierra ArticleShredding the Classic Downieville Downhill in California Article25 Mountain Bike Trails in the USA to Ride Before You Die

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Eureka

3 resourcesAdventure

AdventureWaterfront Trail Adventure“Beach”Adventure“Chill paddleboard, turned into a bit of an adventure”

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Fremont

4 resourcesTrail · Adventure

TrailGreenbelt Park TrailCoyote Hills Regional Park AdventureAnthony Chabot Regional Park AdventureHayward Plunge

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Graeagle

2 resourcesGuidebook

GuidebookEscape the Crowds on These Top Hikes in the Lost Sierra GuidebookSierra Grandeur: Beautiful Hikes in the Lakes Basin

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Humboldt

2 resourcesRoute · Guidebook

RouteBig Trees Loop GuidebookTrail of the Giants: World’s Tallest Trees Road Trip

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Kings Canyon National Park

1 resourceGuidebook

GuidebookEscape the Crowds in Kings Canyon National Park

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Laguna Beach

1 resourceRoute

RouteAliso Creek and Woods Canyon

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Los Angeles

6 resourcesGuidebook · Article · Route · Trail

GuidebookThe Best Singletrack MTB Gems near Los Angeles, CA ArticleMTB in SoCal: General Impressions + Turnbull Canyon and Fullerton Loop ArticleThe Wild West of Mountain Biking: Los Angeles, California RouteTurnbull Canyon RouteFullerton Loop

All 6 resources

TrailFrank G. Bonelli Regional Park

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Lost Coast

2 resourcesRoute · Adventure

RouteParadise Royale Loop AdventureMattole Point

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Mammoth

3 resourcesRoute · Article

RouteMammoth Rock -> Panorama Lollipop RouteHorseshoe Lake Loop ArticleOver a Beer: Mountain Towns Don’t Always Welcome Mountain Bikers

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Marin County

3 resourcesArticle · Route

ArticleVisiting the Birthplace of Mountain Biking: Marin County, California RouteCamp Tamarancho RouteChina Camp State Park

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Monterey

2 resourcesTrail

TrailGoat Trail / #41 TrailTrail #47

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Morgan Hill

1 resourceAdventure

AdventureHenry W. Coe State Park, Morgan Hill, CA

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Mount Shasta

2 resourcesRoute

RouteGateway Trails: Pig Farm Loop RouteFairy Falls and Ney Springs

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Oakland

3 resourcesRoute · Article

RouteJoaquin Miller Park RouteRedwood Regional Park ArticleThe East Bay: Anti-Mountain Bike Stance Relegates Riders to Doubletrack

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Orange County

3 resourcesArticle · Route

ArticleMTB in SoCal: The Luge, Whiting Ranch, and Mountain Lions RouteThe Luge RouteWhiting Ranch

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Palisades Tahoe

1 resourceAdventure

AdventureVia Ferrata!

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Pasadena

5 resourcesGuidebook · Article · Route · Adventure

Guidebook5 Epic Mountain Bike Shuttle Runs in the San Gabriels ArticleShuttle Runs in the San Gabriels: Mount Wilson and Mount Lowe RouteEl Prieto ArticleRiding the Locals’ Favorite: El Prieto, Altadena, California AdventureChantry Flats

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Quincy

3 resourcesArticle · Route

ArticleMt. Hough is poised to become California’s next MTB mecca with a 38-mile expansion ArticleA new top-to-bottom shuttle on California’s Mt. Hough will soon be ready to ride RouteMt. Hough Shuttle

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Redding

1 resourceGuidebook

GuidebookThe Perfect Weekend Getaway to Redding, California

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Redwood City

3 resourcesArticle · Route

ArticleMountain Biking Beneath the Redwoods of El Corte de Madera Open Space RouteEl Corte de Madera Creek Open Space RouteEl Corte de Madera: Outer Reaches

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Redwood National Park

2 resourcesGuidebook · Route

GuidebookTallest Trees in the World: Redwood National & State Parks RouteTall Trees Grove

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Santa Barbara

2 resourcesRoute · Adventure

RouteRomero Canyon Loop AdventureSan Antonio Creek Trail

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Santa Cruz

5 resourcesArticle · Route · Adventure

ArticleTrail Tuesday: Soquel Demonstration Forest, Santa Cruz, California RouteSoquel Demonstration Forest ArticleThe iconic Demo Forest Flow trail near Santa Cruz, CA, is being rebuilt this spring ArticleThe Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument unit near Santa Cruz, CA, is home to a brand-new MTB trail system AdventureWilder Ranch

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Santa Monica

1 resourceAdventure

AdventureBackbone Trail

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Sequoia National Park

2 resourcesGuidebook · Article

GuidebookTowering Trees & Mountain Peaks in Sequoia National Park Article10 of the Most Famous Hikes in US National Parks

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Simi Valley

1 resourceTrail

TrailHummingbird

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South Lake Tahoe

2 resourcesGuidebook · Article

Guidebook10 Best Mountain Bike Rides near Lake Tahoe ArticleMr. Toad’s Wild Ride: One Classic Trail that Still Packs a Punch

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Yosemite National Park

1 resourceGuidebook

GuidebookYosemite National Park’s Best Hikes: From Easy to Epic

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About these guides

Definitions, in descending order of detail:

Guidebook: A collection of recommended routes on a particular theme, with an overview of the destination.

Article: Article that I’ve written about a destination.

Route: Recommended route with a detailed written overview.

Trail: Trail listing in a database.

Adventure: A lived adventure that I actually went on, but have not yet expanded with additional information to create a route.

I haven’t listed every single resource that I’ve published for each destination. For even more routes and guidebooks, be sure to visit FATMAP.com. And for more articles, be sure to visit Singletracks.com.

Big Bear

Bishop

Crescent City

Downieville

Eureka

Fremont

Graeagle

Humboldt

Kings Canyon National Park

Laguna Beach

Los Angeles

Lost Coast

Mammoth

Marin County

Monterey

Morgan Hill

Mount Shasta

Oakland

Orange County

Palisades Tahoe

Pasadena

Quincy

Redding

Redwood City

Redwood National Park

Santa Barbara

Santa Cruz

Santa Monica

Sequoia National Park

Simi Valley

South Lake Tahoe

Yosemite National Park

At least one human-powered mile outside, every single day. No matter what.