Tag Archives: California

Mountain Bike California

Mountain Biking
MTB New Trails, Bike Clubs, Races

single track

With a variety of terrains & scenery, California has an abundance of areas to ride bikes off road. Mountain biking was supposedly born in California between 1970-80’s (Marin County to be exact) and therefore, it is a very popular activity in the golden state.  History of Mountain Biking

California biking clubs: social, hobby or hard core! From beginner to advanced, you’ll find a new trails on here.

Many alpine snow ski centers become mountain bike havens in the summer months. They shuttle you up on their ski lifts and then you get an exhilarating downhill.

check

places NOT to ride:

NFSlogoCalifornia National Forests

San Bernardino
Shasta-Trinity
Mendocino
Los Padres
Six Rivers
Stanislaus
Cleveland
El Dorado
Klamath
Angeles
Sequoia
Toiyabe
Plumas
Lassen
Modoc
Sierra
Tahoe
Inyo

California bike trails

Mountain biking near the Grandview Mine in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, overlooking the Eastern Sierra

Real Maps: the best trail maps around are HARD COPIES = Tom Harrison Maps – water & tear resistant plastic topo maps

inyo maps small towns for mountain biking:

Downieville
Tahoe
Mineral
Angels Camp
Idyllwild
Sierraville
June Lake
Garberville
Weaverville
Bridgeport
Borrego Springs
Kernville
Chester
Markleeville
Sonora
Ponderosa
Mariposa
Santa Barbara
Santa Ynez
Arroyo Grande

redrox

Moab, Utah

Outdoor recreation mecca – MOAB, UT has so many locations to ride; from secluded dirt roads, to red rock canyons, slick-rock faces, to upper elevation aspen groves in the La Sal mountains.

Moab is a very popular destination, so make your reservations early. Or just grab a good maps and pitch a tent on any dirt road (and sleep for free).

Wheeling

close up bike

califrepublic

Mountain Bike Tours / Guides

Gravity Activated Sports
Palomar Plunge
16220 Hwy 76
PO Box 683
Pauma Valley, CA 92061
800-985-4427
619-742-2294

Marin Mountain Bike Tours
415 387-1486

Rock Industries Unlimited, Inc.
PO Box 5081
Norco, CA 92860-5081
714-448-6075

Santa Barbara Adventure Co.
PO Box 208
Santa Barbara CA 93102
888-596-6687
805-882-2096

Stoked SF
San Francisco Bay Area
519 Nevada Street
Sausalito, CA 94965
415-515-8692

mountains

California Bicycle Coalition
– transportation & recreation

Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association
multi-use trails in Santa Monica Mountains

East Bay Bicycle Coalition – transportation & recreation

International Mountain Biking Association

Pasadena Mountain Bike Club (?)
San Gabriel Mountains

San Diego Mountain Biking Association

San Diego Bicycle Club

SHARE Mountain Bike Club
– Orange County Biking Club

Silicone Valley Mountain Bikers
– San Mateo & Santa Clara counties

Southern California Mountain Biking – mountain bike club

snow

Big Bear Lake

Snow Summit Ski area
909-866-4565
Open to mountain biking with chair lift

Snow Valley
909- 867-2751
Running Springs, CA 92382
Open to mountain biking from Memorial Day to Labor Day

San Bernardino National Forest
Miles of forest roads around Big Bear Lake & most all trails allow mountain bikes. “Rim of the World Drive” Fawnskin and  Holcomb Valley with a network of dirt roads.

Borrego Springs

The Palms at Indian Head
Mountain Bike Rentals @ Hotel

Gold Country

East Bullards Bar Trail, near Yuba City & Lake Oroville

Folsom-Auburn Trail Riders Action Coalition (FATRAC) – group of volunteers educating riders and building trails. They maintain trails and have weekly rides in the area.

North Mojave Desert

Randsburg (Mining Camp)
Ridgecrest

Mammoth Lakes

Mammoth Mountain
Alabama Hills Eastern Sierra, Lone Pine, CA
June Lake dirt back roads
Inyo National Forest

San Diego

Rancho Cuyamaca on Hwy. 79 @ S-1 jct
Cleveland National Forest

San Francisco

Bay Area Ridge Trail
multi-use trail overlooking the San Francisco Bay

Napa County Bike Trails

Half Moon Campground
Half Moon Campground, Los Padres NF

technical trails

Horseback Rides Big Bear

Horseback Riding @ Big Bear
Big Bear Lake, California

Big Bear Lake

Baldwin Lake Stables
46475 Pioneertown Road
Big Bear City, CA 92314
+19095856482

Big Bear Carriages
Carriage Rides
Pine Knot Ave @ Pedder Rd
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
+19095842277

Oak Springs Ranch Riding Area
182 Fawnskin Road
Apple Valley, CA 92308

horseback

corral
Horse Corral Camp @ Mission Springs, San Gorgonio

Big Bear Lake Area
Horse Campgrounds

camping

Big Pine Equestrian Group Campground
Big Pine Flat Road
Lucerne Valley, CA 92356
+18774446777

Green Spot Equestrian Group Campground
1908 Wildhorse Meadows Road #2N23
Big Bear, CA 92314

Heartbar Equestrian Group Camp
Highway 38
Angeles Oaks, CA
+18774446777

pct

Mission Springs Camp & Corrals
PCT Camp: Sand to Snow
San Gorgonio Wilderness Trailhead
(dirt road access @ Heart Bar Campground)

Wild Horse Equestrian Campground
46620 Highway 38
Angeles Oaks, CA
+18774446777

Mountains

see also – Los Angeles Horseback Riding

California Golf Course

Golf California, Golf Resorts, Public Golf Courses, California Golf Course LA

golfing California
Palm Springs is Golfing in California

Golfing California golfing

Golf history in California began around 1920 for certain key locations. Long Beach, Pebble Beach

golfing destinations below
[listed from south to north]

California Desert Golf

Los Angeles Golf Courses LA  angeles

The Mountains (2003-2011)
PMC, Los Padres National Forest

California Gold Country Golf  oak foothills

snow

Eastern Sierra & Yosemite Golf

Mountain Golfing
Mountain Golfing

Lake Tahoe Golf California  mountains

San Francisco Area Golf

Northern California Golf

golfing in cali

golfing
Graeagle, California in Plumas NF

Pine Mountain Club
Pine Mountain Club, CA
death valley
Furnace Creek, Death Valley NP

Pebble Beach #7

Pebble Beach #10

Pebble Beach

 


Hot Air Balloon Rides California

The areas for hot air ballooning inside California are: any wine country area, Palm Springs desert and most of Southern Cal.

ballooning

Adventure Flights
19301 Jasmine Ct,
Lake Elsinore, CA
951-678-4334
951-678-6885

A Grape Escape Balloon Adventure
40335 Winchester Road
Suite E, PMB #226
Temecula, CA 92591
951-699-9987

Balloon Above The Desert
Palm Springs Area
Indio, CA 92201
760-347-0410

Balloons Above the Valley
603 California Blvd
Napa, CA 94559
800-464-6824

Balloons Over Paso
Central Coast Wine Country
Paso Robles, CA 93446
800-222-6176

balloon rides

California Dreamin
33133 Vista del Monte Rd
Temecula, CA 92591
951-468-9602

Cheers Over California
(Tethered Rides)
PO Box 661932
Sacramento, CA 95866
916-922-9253

Fantasy Balloon Flights
74181 Parosella St.
Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-568-0997
800-GO ABOVE

Lake Tahoe Balloons
2435 Venice Drive East
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
530-544-1221

Magical Adventure Balloon Rides
Temecula, CA
866-ENJOY-US
866-365-6987

Mammoth Ballooning Adventure
High Sierra Ballooning Company
Mammoth Lakes, CA
760-873-5838

Mountain High Balloons
Lake Tahoe, CA
530-587-6922

Napa Valley Aloft
6525 Washington St
Yountville, CA 94599

707-944-4400

Napa Valley Balloons
P.O.Box 2860
Yountville, CA 94599
800-253-2224
707-944-0228

Panorama Balloon Tours
2683 Via De La Valle
Del Mar, CA 92014
760-271-3467

hot air balloons

Sky Drifters Hot Air Ballooning
7000 Stonehouse Road
Rancho Murieta, CA 95683
916-244-4808

Sky’s the Limit Ballooning
2432 Railway Ave. Suite A
Los Olivos, CA 93441
760-602-0295

Sonoma Ballooning
Sonoma Skypark
21870 Eighth St. E
Sonoma CA, 95476
707-819-9223

Sunrise Balloons
PO Box 891360
Temecula, CA 92589
833-208-2629

Up & Away Ballooning
4086 Byway E.
Napa, CA 94558
707-836-0171

Vegas Balloon Rides
4390 Polaris Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89103
702-553-3039

Wine Country Balloons
Santa Rosa, CA
707-538-7359

hot air balloons

Carriage Rides California

California Horse Carriages
Horse-Drawn Carriage Service
Stagecoach Rides & Wagon Rides

Carriage in Coloma

Carriage Ride Services
Carriages for Special Occasions
California Carriage Companies

 

Big Bear Carriages
583 Pine Knot Ave
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
909-584-2277

Borges Sleigh & Carriage Rides
@ Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel
4130 Lake Tahoe Blvd
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
775-588-2953

Carriage Occasions
Wine Country
530 Irwin Lane
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
707-546-2568

Cindy Cinderella Carriages
5665 46th Street
Riverside, CA 92509
951-529-5269

Dream Catchers Carriages
17564 Santa Ana Ave
Bloomington, CA 92316
916-295-4848

Enchanted Carriages
530 New Los Angeles Ave #115
Moorpark, CA 93021
805-603-9993

Fairytale Carriage
13601 Gladstone Ave
Sylmar CA 91342
747-344-3430

Fancy Ferriage
3900 Brown Road
Oakley, CA 94561
925-679-9412

Fontes Carriages
4525 S Central Ave
Turlock, CA 95380
209-634-9297

Fresno Carriage
32263 Lockwood Lane
Prather, CA, CA 93651
559-905-6491

Villa de Amore Wedding Carriage San Diego Orange County Wedding Venue

G & F Carriages
2175 S Willow Ave
Bloomington, CA 92316
909-820-4600

Grand Carriages
San Francisco Bay Area
Livermore, CA 94551
925-344-1117

Hackney Horse & Carriage
Cityview Plaza
100 W San Fernando St
San Jose, CA 95113
408-535-0277

Harris Stagelines
Stagecoach Rides
Carriages & Buggys for hire
5995 N River Rd
Paso Robles, CA 93446
805-237-1860

Indian Valley Carriage Company
1924 Indian Valley Rd
Novato, CA 94947
415-309-8618

Jones Feed & Cattle Co
Carriage Ride Services
7031 Eastside Rd
Redding, CA 96001
530-243-3201

Julian Carriage Company
Main St & Washington St
Julian, CA 92036
760-705-7085

Noland’s Horse Drawn Carriages
Noland’s Carriage
6441 Monte Rd
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
805-544-2042

Old Town Carriage Co.
200 F Street
Eureka, CA 95501
646-591-2058

Horse drawn wagon ride in Columbia, California

Peppermint Creek Carriage Co.
Gold Country California
Sonora, CA
209-533-2599

Pistols and Petticoats Carriage Co.
11808 Main Street
Fort Jones, CA 96032
530-598-4733

Pony Land San Diego
Horse or Tractor-drawn Wagons
Imperial Beach
2606 Hollister St
San Diego, CA 92154
619-947-3152

Quartz Mountain Carriage Co
Gold Country California
Jamestown, CA
209-984-3125

Savannah Rose Carriages
Rancho Cucamonga
5819 Beryl Street
Alta Loma, CA 91737
909-238-8411

Solvang Trolley & Carriage Tours
1618 Copenhagen Dr
Solvang, CA 93463
805-794-8958

Springtime Carriages
North County San Diego
27505 Sunset Vista Ln
Valley Center, CA 92082
619-884-3982

Temecula Carriage Company
Temecula Valley Wine Country
844-369-1852

TJ Farms Carriage Co
TJ Farms Estates Wedding Venue
3600 Chico Avenue
Chico, CA 95928
530-343-2294

Top Hand Ranch
Sacramento Valley
Elverta, CA 95626
916-496-0102

Victoria Park Carriages
Lakeview & Barlett
Big Bear Lake, CA
909-584-2277

White Horse Carriage Co.
Central Coast California
2114 Ferndale Rd
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
805-296-2289

Historic Carriage
Historic Carriage, Calico Ghost Town

Horseback Rides San Diego

San Diego Horseback Riding

horses at cuyamaca

Trail Rides near San Diego, California

horseback

Bibby Ranch
19874 7th Place
North County
Escondido, CA 92029
760-503-5400

Blanco Brothers Ranch
2181 Hollister St
Imperial Beach
San Diego, CA 92154
619-991-0793

Canyonside Ranch
Canyonside Stables
12115 Black Mountain Rd #3600
San Diego, CA 92129

Carmel Valley Ranch
Meadow Star Ranch
5175 Del Mar Mesa Rd
San Diego, CA 92130
858-353-0810

Integrity Stables
2323 Farmer Road
San Diego Mountains
Julian, CA 92036
760-473-5681

horses on beach

Pony Land: Pony Rides & Petting Zoo
2606 Hollister St.
Imperial Beach
San Diego, CA 92154
619-947-3152

S&S Friendly Ranch
2105 Hollister St.
Imperial Beach
San Diego, CA 92154

San Diego Riding
2020 Hollister St
Imperial Beach
San Diego, CA 92154
619-928-1690

San Diego Trail Company
14875 Mina De Oro Rd
Poway, CA 92064
442-888-0464

Surfside Ranch
2225 Hollister St
Imperial Beach
San Diego, CA 92154
619-443-3517

Sweetwater Horses
3051 Equitation Lane
Bonita, CA 91902
619-252-5544

Warner Springs Ranch
Guided Trail Rides
Warner Springs, CA
760-920-3852

warner springs valley
Warner Springs Valley

 

Horseback Rides Los Angeles

Trails Rides near Los Angeles

Lockwood Valley

Los Angeles Horseback Riding

horseback

 

American Jousting Alliance
James Zoppe Trail Rides
Lockwood Valley
15568 Greenleaf Springs Road
Frazier Park , CA
661-245-4000

Cowgirl Tours & Training
3696 N Fair Oaks Street
Altadena Ca 91001
626-421-5749

Griffith Park Pony Rides
[PERMANENTLY CLOSED 2023]

LA Horse Rentals
Griffith Park
1850 Riverside Drive
Glendale, CA 91201
818-242-8443

Los Angeles Equestrian Center
480 West Riverside Drive
Burbank, CA 91506
818-840-9063

Malibu Horse Riding
2550 Old Topanga Canyon Rd
Topanga, CA 90290
818-225-7433

Marshall Canyon Equestrian Center
7000 Esperanza Dr
La Verne, CA 91750
909-593-8739

Montebello Barnyard Zoo
& Pony Rides

600 Rea Drive
Montebello, CA
213-718-5442

Palos Verdes Stables
4057 Viaduct Opata
Palos Verdes, CA
310-310-5178

Rancho Potrero
4790 West Lynn Road
Newbury Park, CA 91320
805-491-1230

Sunset Ranch Stables
3400 N. Beachwood Dr
Hollywood, CA 90068
323-469-5450

Sunwolf Farms
Lockwood Valley Rd
Frazier Park, CA 93225
661-245-9653

Trail 21W03 Mt Pinos

Camping

camping

California Camping

California has abundant lands, parks, rivers & reservoirs for outdoor enjoyment & public access; more so than any other state in the nation. No wonder so many move here!

Camping is a very popular activity among residents and travelers alike. Nomads may see it as a necessary life-style choice and others, fair weather campers, get out only in the summer months. Although camping is available all year long in the golden state, much of the region sees winter snowfall more than half the year.

Northern California tends to be wetter in winter, than Southern California. Mountains above 1000′ elevation usually get winter weather between December-April, with snow often lasting well into mid-summer. Check road conditions, fire restrictions and availability in whichever area you choose to camp. Free camping on dirt backroads means obtaining a campfire permit from local rangers.

emptycampsite
Sly Creek Reservoir Campground

Backpacking
Boondocking
Car Camping
Campground Reservations
Dirt Road Camping
Free Camping
Full-Timers
RV Parks
Tent Camping
Truck Camping
VanLife

camptruck


Camp Fires Correctly
Campfire Permits
Campfire Safety
Camp Clean
Camp Clueless
Camp Help

hiker

4×4 Camping
All Lake Campgrounds
Best View Camp Sites
Cabin Camping
California Camping Fishing
California Dirt Roads
California Off Road Areas
Central Valley Reservoirs
Creek Campgrounds
Creekside Camping
Dirt Cheap Camping
Fire Lookouts for Rent
Free RV Camping
Horsepack Camping
RV Camping
SUV Camping
Tent Cabins
Yellow Post Campsites
Your Public Lands

Blue Lake, Modoc National Forest
Blue Lake, Modoc National Forest
Free Camping North Lassen
Free Camping @ North Lassen
BLM South Yuba River Camp
BLM South Yuba River Camp

tent camping

Yosemite BLM Camping

merced BLM sign

BLM Merced River
Cheaper Camping
West of Yosemite NP

California Highway 140 (CA State Route 140) accesses Yosemite National Park from the west side @ Mariposa, CA. This not-so-secret camp spot is set in an ideal location, off the main highway and right on the river.

river road

Merced River crosses the highway near MidPines @ Briceburg Road, with 3 small BLM campgrounds located along the river. These river camps are open all year round, are dirt cheap and only available on a first come, first serve basis. There are numerous walk-in camp sites, where you must haul your gear and park a short distance away.

railroadflat

Briceburg River Road

BLM Briceburg Visitors Center
OPEN ONLY Saturday and Sunday 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Dirt road access w/ turn off at the Briceburg Information Center on California Highway 140. West of El Portal, CA and east of MidPines. Nearest grocery and services are 12 miles away to the west in Mariposa, California

BRING ALL YOU NEED for your overnight stay, as driving in and out on this (20 mph) dirt road can be an easy “half-day affair” with road conditions, passing traffic, potholes, stops for lunch, sightseeing and a gasoline stop. If you plan to do day-trips into Yosemite National Park – be aware that Yosemite Valley is ONE hour away from Briceburg, eastward via paved mountain roads.

Driving this non-paved route requires crossing a narrow suspension bridge, where big vehicles, RVs, trailers and rigs longer than 18′ are not recommended. The one-lane, dead-end dirt road hugs the cliff edge, above the river, is one lane in some spots, and mostly graded with a few pot holes; almost 5 miles long – ending at a locked gate with trailhead parking. Next to a vault toilet. (Not an ideal spot to be stuck at)

briceburg bridge
Briceburg Suspension Bridge
  • camping

  • fishing

  • hiking

  • kayaking

  • river rafting

  • swimming

  • wildflowers

campground full

Merced River Recreation Management Area

rare empty campsite

camp

BLM Campgrounds @ Merced River

vault toilet, picnic table, fire ring
and an overnight fee to go with

McCabe Flat Campground

Willow Placer Campground

Railroad Flat Campground

last camp view

BLM Hiking @ Merced River

This rugged canyon was the site of the historic railway called YVRR (Yosemite Valley Railroad), which hugs the Merced River for many miles. Now numerous hiking and biking trails. Dog friendly BLM campground. Walk-in campsites.

river_trail
The old Yosemite Valley Railroad Grade
wildflower merced
California milkweed

merced poppy patch

City Camping California

destination: outdoors

in town campgrounds, villages, RV Parks, en route, urban camping, suburbs, metropolitan cities

jackson gold country

camping

Amador City, Gold Country
Angel Island SP, San Francisco
Angeles NF, E Los Angeles
Auburn Campgrounds, Gold Country
American River Camping

Big Bear City, Los Angeles Mts
Bishop Campgrounds, Eastern Sierra
Bolsa Chica SB, Long Beach L.A.

Carlsbad State Beach, N San Diego
Carpinteria Beach, Santa Barbara
Castaic Lake RV Park, Los Angeles
Caswell Memorial SP, Stanislaus River
Cerro Alto Campground, San Luis Obispo
China Camp State Park, SF Bay
Chino Hills State Park, Riverside, CA
Cleveland NF, E San Diego
Colusa Sacramento River SRA

Doheny Beach Camping L.A.
Folsom Lake SRA, Sacramento
Fremont Peak State Park, South Bay SF

Gold Country California – Camps, Maps & Wilderness

Oroville Suspension Bridge
Oroville Suspension Bridge

Lake Oroville SRA Campgrounds
Leo Carillo State Beach, Malibu Camping
Los Angeles Forests
Los Angeles Group Camping
Los Angeles Lakes
Los Angeles Mountains
Los Padres National Forest

Morro Bay SP, San Luis Obispo
Mount Tamalpais SP, Marin SF

New Melones Reservoir, Gold Country
New Hogan Reservoir, Oak Knoll Campground

Beach Camp Pismo
On-the-Beach Camping Pismo

Oceano Dunes OHV, Pismo Beach

Oak Bottom Campground, Redding
Ojai Camping, Los Padres NF
Orange County Beach Camping

Pismo Beach Camping
Point Mugu State Park, N Los Angeles
Point Reyes Camping
Point Reyes National Seashore Campground
Pyramid Lake Camping, N Los Angeles

Redding Camping Lake Shasta
Redwoods Camping SF

Samuel P. Taylor, Redwoods Marin
San Bernardino NF, Big Bear Lake
San Diego Camping
San Diego Beach Campgrounds
San Diego Mountains
San Elijo Beach Camping, N San Diego
San Francisco RV Camps

Santa Barbara Beach Camping
Santa Barbara Camping
Santa Cruz Redwoods

Lake Shasta
Lake Shasta, Northern California

Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres NF
Silver Strand State Beach, San Diego
Sonora Camping, Gold Country
Sycamore Beach & Canyon, Pt. Mugu, N Malibu

Tahoe Camping, Lake Tahoe

Wild Plum Campground, Sierra City
William Kent Beach, Tahoe
Wine Country RV Resort, Paso Robles
Woodson Bridge SRA, Chico

sunset oceano
Pismo Dunes, aka Oceano
New Melones Camping
New Melones Lake, Gold Country California