Category Archives: Wheels

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

Off Road Camper List

4x4 Camping

The Basics

clothing, first aid kit, maps
sweater/fleece, light jacket, heavy jacket
coveralls, boots, shoes
hats, gloves, socks

Food , Ice Chest, Chair, Sleeping Bag, Tent, Tarps, Tools

The large list below might seem absurd for a typical camping trip, but if you are planning a full week of tent campin’ w/ 4 wheelin’ in the high country, then many items may come in handy. Gear-heads will appreciate the fun times and the break downs. Remember, repairs are just part of the adventure!

4x4 Camping

Items specific to off-road travel –

air pressure gauge
allen wrenches
crescent wrench
electrical tape
crimp connectors
grease
pliers
set of open end wrenches/combo wrenches
pocket/utility knife
socket set
screw driver set
pry bar
bailing wire and wire cutters
tie-rod puller/Pitman arm puller
dental pick
telescopic magnet
small lengths of angle iron
tubing/flare wrenches
snap ring pliers
BFH
vise grips
impact driver
JB weld/solder seal
left handed drill & tap/easy out
socket adapter, extension
Locktite
chisel & punch
fresh duct tape
flare tool
bolt cutters
metal shears
disposable gloves
handcleaner
WD40 lubricant
propane canisters & torch
silicone seal / gasket material
brake cleaner
starter fluid
rags
lug wrench
tire plugs
welding sticks
welding goggles

Camp Light

headlamp
spot light
work light
flashlights
batteries
propane lantern
generator
battery pack

Camp Fires in California

Camp Fire

campfire permit
firewood
matches & lighter
newspaper
kindling
shovel
hand saw / chain saw
water
bucket
fire extinguisher

Camp Real California

see also –

4×4 Camping in California
4×4 Clubs in California
4×4 Off-Roading
California Back Roads
Campers CheckList (coming soon)
Vehicle Inspection List (PDF download)