The Irish Hills Natural Reserve is located right outside of downtown SLO. It offers up about 8-10 miles of rocky, fast rolling single track. The loop is pretty easy to follow especially starting from where I did, linking onto King trail and working counter clockwise. I parked off Madonna road on DeVaul Ranch Dr, it's pretty easy to locate with plenty of parking options near a small park and the trail head. The Ocean View trails are obviously the crown jewel of the trek but all the trails were fun and challenging. In my opinion an intermediate rider could clean all these trails, the black ratings might be a tad too much (IMO) the loop was 8 miles with around 1,200 feet of climbing, definitely do able. Some of the climbs will test your cardio and technical riding capabilities but I didn’t find anything too extreme here. Not a ton of shade so beware on warm days, drink plenty of water. If you’re interested in riding here do yourself a favor and go check it out! Now get outside and ride your damn bike!
First and foremost, you can definitely shuttle up Horse Meadows fire road which is located off Luther Pass Road. I found the fire road to be moderately strenuous, it wasn't really that bad but the shuttle option is always nice. FYI there is a decent sized parking area up at the top! Horse Meadows Trail which is rated a black diamond is a beast. Steep at times, technical with a few sections of serious trail exposure. I was gassed within 2 minutes, still had fun though 🤷♂️ Armstrong Pass was pure downhill bliss, absolutely loved this trail. I would rate the trail as a hard blue. There were 2 or 3 surprisingly hard sections that caught me off guard. Be wary of uphill riders, i rode on a Saturday and passed probably 30+ riders climbing up Armstrong Pass. Armstrong Connector was amazing, great combination of tech & flow. The views were stunning, very sandy in a few sections though, be careful! Upper Corral was similar to Armstrong Connector, lots of tech & flow. I found Upper Corral a little bit more technical than Armstrong Connector, lots of line choices and features! Finally Corral Lower, a super fast flowy jump line. Big berms, tons of speed, you'll love it. I'm still working on my jump game (kinda) but I had a blast bombing through Corral, it's a must if you're in the area. Alright enough blabbering, get outside and ride your damn bike!
The Christmas Valley Loop can be found off Luther Pass Road about 20 minutes south of South Lake. I parked in the Big Meadows parking area, which has plenty of parking and bathrooms. I started off climbing the Luther Stairs, which was very difficult yet still fun (kinda) Once you complete the Luther Stairs, you will be rewarded with an incredible view starting off The Big Meadow trail. Big Meadow has a bit of a long undulating climb, but nothing too crazy or technical (rated a blue) Once you complete that it's time for the real fun, The Christmas Valley Trail. Honestly, this might be the best trail I've ever ridden. Rock gardens galore, pure flow sections, short punchy tech climbs and some of the best views you can get in the Tahoe area. There are plenty of alt lines and little shortcuts you can add to make it easier or a tad spicier, you decide! If you're planning a trip to South Lake, add this to your list! It's an A+ trail and worth it from start to finish. Now get outside and your damn bike! 😎
Jackson Demo Forest is located about 15 minutes east of Mendocino, on Little Lake Road. There is over 50 singletrack trails in the area, so there is plenty of options. Most of these trails are beginner to intermediate, nothing technical ( I don't think I saw a single rock the entire day) You will be faced with some steep climbs throughout, some root sections, very tight hairpin turns and a good amount of trail exposure, so watch your speed! There is some camping options in the area, Woodlands and Van Damme are nearby and great for a weekend trip! The temperature inside Jackson was about 60 degrees, 20 more miles inland and it was around 90, so it always stays cool. Do yourself a favor and go check it out if you haven't, you won't regret it, I promise! Now get outside and ride your damn bike!
Hood Mountain is located in Santa Rosa, Ca right off highway 12, about 15 minutes northeast of Annadel State Park. Hood Mountain offers up a mix bag of steep fireroad climbs, winding fast single track and a few paved sections in the beginning. The Summit trail is the crown jewel of this experience. It's worth the climb all the way up, in my opinion. The views are incredible if it's not socked in with the fog, making it to the summit is well worth the struggle. If you're willing to try something new, you should give Hood Mountain a shot, it's definitely not Annadel but it's something different and new, that's always worth it in my book. Happy riding friends! 😎
Rush Creek in Novato, Ca is located right off the Atherton exit on HWY 101. Rush creek offers up some really fun beginner double track and single track. All the trails here are green and beginner friendly but don't let that sway you, these trails run fast and have a few surprisingly steep sections. Just like anywhere else in the Bay Area weekends can be busy with hikers so keep that in mind. I recommend this place to all skill levels, from beginner to pro there is plenty of fun to be had here. If you haven't been, do yourself a favor and go check it out! Now go outside and ride your damn bike! 😎
Finally made the trek up to Tahoe and rode the famous Saxon Creek AKA Mr.Toads Wild Ride trail. It was definitely one of the hardest trails I've ever ridden, many double black features on this trail and certain spots are send it or walk...Choose wisely! the hardest features on Mr.Toads are in the beginning, lots of gnarly chunk that eventually opens up into some really good flow! The two climbs i did, Grass Lake Spur and Tucker flat were humbling. Steep, technical and over 8,000 feet of elevation. By far the most technical climb I've ever attempted. This was the first time I ever rode these trails, it was one of the best rides I've ever been on. As hard and punishing as these trails were, it was worth every damn second. I'll definitely be returning! Now get outside and ride your damn bike!