Mountain Biking in the Bay Area

By Sharael Feist

With sunny skies and dry trails, spring is a great time to hop on your mountain bike and go for a ride. The San Francisco Bay Area, the birthplace of mountain biking, has a plethora of places of explore on your bike.

North Bay:

  • China Camp State Park: This 1,640-acre park is a very popular mountain biking location, with vistas of the San Francisco Bay and rolling single track trails. Both beginners and more advanced riders will enjoy this area.
  • Mount Tamalpais State Park: Located in Marin County, this is a great ride for those wanting a long, steep workout. A fireroad takes riders up the sweeping slopes of Mount Tam. Once you reach the top--2,571 feet--the views of the Bay are well worth the tough ride to get there. The ride back down is the fun part--all down hill!

Peninsula:

  • Water Dog Lake Park: With seven miles of trails, this isn't a large park, but for those looking for some challenging terrain, there are plenty of steep single track trails to get you huffin' and puffin'. There are a limited number of fire roads as well. This park is located in the city of Belmont.
  • El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve: Better known as Skeggs (named after Skeggs Point where the parking lot is located), this spot is for serious mountain bikers--with lots of technical single track trails. The 2,821-acre area winds through redwoods and offers various vistas worth stopping to take a look at.

South Bay:

  • Henry W. Coe State Park: This 80,000-acre park has plenty of trails and varied terrain to keep mountain bikers entertained for hours.
  • Wilder Ranch State Park: With 34 miles of trails, this park is a great place for all levels of bikers to enjoy. The area can tend to be a bit foggy since it's near the coast, but don't let that stop you. There is also a coastal trail for those wanting a less mountainy ride with views of the ocean. While you're in the area, also check out Big Basin State Park. There's a nice wooded ride that leads to a short hike to a waterfall.

East Bay:

  • Mount Diablo State Park: Riding to the top of the 3,849-foot summit is challenging ride that pays off with the spectacular views of the Bay Area. This is also a popular rock climbing destination.

About the Author:

I began my journalism career as a staff writer for the University of Hawaii newspaper, Ka Leo O Hawaii, then became a correspondent for Hawaii Paddler magazine. Soon after graduating from college, I moved to San Francisco to pursue a career in the high tech industry. I continued my education, focusing on multimedia, and became a Web producer. I try to combine my journalism experience and Web production skills to create Web sites related to outdoor/adventure sports.

Sharael may be contacted by email at sharael@aol.com.