Trail descriptions in and around the San Francisco Bay Area
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All Rides
A ride primarily on trails (paved or dirt)     A ride primarily on roads with traffic

North Bay
Peninsula
South Bay
East Bay
 

Fun
8
Scenic
7
Aerobic
8
Technical
5

Alpine Road to Windy Hill

A long loop that strings together a little bit of everything, within easy access from the Peninsula and the South Bay.

16.5 miles       2750' climb       3.5 hours
Fun
6
Scenic
3
Aerobic
6
Technical
4

Arastradero

A small city park with a reasonable selection of singletrack and fire roads that would be a good place for a beginner due to having no big climbs, as well as a "quickie" option for an experienced rider.

7 miles       1350' climb       2 hours
Fun
3
Scenic
5
Aerobic
2
Technical
1

Cañada Road

An easy and nearly flat out-and-back road ride that would make a good candidate for a moderate workout ride if done quickly or a scenic casual ride if you take it slowly.

18.5 miles       1000' climb       2 hours
Fun
5
Scenic
8
Aerobic
7
Technical
2

Fifield-Cahill Ridge

A fire-road ride you can do by reservation only, on a very scenic trail along the Peninsula that you don't normally get to see.

15 miles       2400' climb       3.5 hours
Fun
3
Scenic
3
Aerobic
3
Technical
1

The Loop (Stanford)

A locally well-known short road loop that's unchallenging and almost flat, but is a good quickie workout option for those who live nearby.

14 miles       800' climb       1 hour
Fun
7
Scenic
7
Aerobic
5
Technical
5

Monte Bello Open Space

This short ride will take you to the peak of Black Mountain while getting you to sample most of the singletrack in the park in a single ride.

8.5 miles       1700' climb       2 hours
Fun
4
Scenic
5
Aerobic
7
Technical
3

Old La Honda Road

One of the most well-known road climbs of the South Bay, followed by a quick return by a fire road descent.

8.5 miles       1550' climb       2 hours
Fun
6
Scenic
9
Aerobic
7
Technical
4

Pacifica to North Peak

A fire-road climb to a coastal mountain peak, with a small amount of optional singletrack fun added to the mix.

11.5 miles       2500' climb       3.5 hours
Fun
7
Scenic
8
Aerobic
5
Technical
4

Russian Ridge

A short and relatively easy ride that rewards with some fun singletrack and a big dose of scenery.

8.5 miles       1500' climb       2 hours
Fun
2
Scenic
6
Aerobic
2
Technical
1

Sawyer Camp and San Andreas Trails

A paved recreational trail ride easy enough for all skill levels, yet still providing good lake views and a setting in beautiful nature.

18 miles       1300' climb       2.5 hours
Fun
9
Scenic
2
Aerobic
7
Technical
8

Skeggs Point (Suggestion 1)

I'm pretty sure there's no better mountain biking area in the Bay Area. This ride traverses three of its best technical singletracks, two of them uphill.

10 miles       2300' climb       3 hours
Fun
8
Scenic
1
Aerobic
6
Technical
7

Skeggs Point (Suggestion 2)

This is one of the comparatively easy loops possible in this park, while still being technical and fun.

8.5 miles       1850' climb       2.5 hours
Fun
9
Scenic
1
Aerobic
8
Technical
8

Skeggs Point (Suggestion 3)

This is essentially two different loops; you can cut it short by doing just one, or do them both.

12 miles       2900' climb       3.5 hours
Fun
9
Scenic
2
Aerobic
8
Technical
8

Skeggs Point (Suggestion 4)

Another fun, two-lobed ride route at this mountain biking destination. Do both if you're in good shape, or pick one half and complete just that one.

10.5 miles       2400' climb       3 hours
Fun
9
Scenic
2
Aerobic
8
Technical
9

Skeggs Point (Suggestion 5)

This is a broad loop in the park that gets you to sample El Corte de Madera Creek Trail downhill and also see North Leaf Trail.

10 miles       2400' climb       3 hours
Fun
7
Scenic
1
Aerobic
8
Technical
7

Skeggs Point (Suggestion 6)

This ride traverses the more remote Lawrence Creek Trail and most of Timberview Trail.

9 miles       2300' climb       2.5 hours
Fun
6
Scenic
7
Aerobic
7
Technical
5

Skyline Ridge Open Space

A ride along ridge tops with one beautiful singletrack and some pretty views and not much more, but that can be easily extended in a million ways.

9.5 miles       1950' climb       2 hours
Fun
5
Scenic
9
Aerobic
5
Technical
2

Sweeney Ridge

A ride that's short on total distance and on true mountain biking fun, but is worthwhile due to spectacular views and a couple of points of interest.

9.5 miles       1750' climb       2.5 hours
Fun
6
Scenic
6
Aerobic
7
Technical
2

Tunitas Creek Road and Route 84

A long road ride that will take you through a lot of what the Peninsula has to offer on a wide loop between the mountains and the ocean.

32 miles       3350' climb       4.5 hours
Fun
8
Scenic
4
Aerobic
7
Technical
8

Water Dog (Suggestion 1)

A small city park with an out-of-proportion amount of fun technical singletrack. This ride takes you through a typical route that includes an ascending traversal of the Finch Trail switchbacks.

8 miles       1750' climb       2.5 hours
Fun
8
Scenic
4
Aerobic
7
Technical
8

Water Dog (Suggestion 2)

This ride traverses the Finch Trail switchbacks uphill and does the very short and steep "finishing" drop of Berry Trail.

7 miles       1450' climb       2.5 hours
Fun
8
Scenic
7
Aerobic
7
Technical
5

Whittemore Gulch (without Grabtown Gulch)

Start by descending nearly 2 miles of one of the most beautiful singletracks in the area, then pay your dues with a serious fire road climb.

10 miles       2000' climb       2 hours
Fun
8
Scenic
7
Aerobic
8
Technical
5

Whittemore Gulch (with Grabtown Gulch)

Descend the beautiful Whittemore Gulch Trail in this loop of Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve with an additional side loop that jacks up the total climb by 1200 feet.

14.5 miles       3200' climb       3.5 hours


© Ergin Guney