Best Bay Area Mountain Biking Spots

The Bay Area offers some spectacular trails for mountain bikers, with its incredibly diverse terrain carved out by millennia of seismic activity. Biking trails cover everything from gently sloped grassy hills, to steep climbs through rocky outcroppings. With many local trails connecting to the much larger Bay Area Ridge Trail, the Bay Area has no shortage of trails ranging from perfect for the beginning biker to ones full of technical challenges for the more experienced rider. Here are five of the best mountain biking spots around the Bay.

China Camp State Park
101 Peacock Gap Trail
San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 456-0766
www.parks.ca.gov/chinacamp

China Camp State Park is located on the tip of the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in San Rafael. Popular with mountain bikers, the park also offers a host of other activities such as camping, swimming, picnicking and windsurfing. The China Camp State Park Loop offers mountain bikers an easy to intermediate ride with fantastic views along well-maintained trails. Primarily single-track, focus on the upper Bay View Trail to avoid the more crowded lower sections which can be heavily trafficked by hikers.

Fremont Older Open Space Preserve
Cupertino, CA 95014
(650) 691-1200
www.openspace.org/fremont-older

Part of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, the Fremont Older Open Space Preserve is 739 acres nestled just on the edge of the Silicon Valley. With phenomenal views of the Bay, Fremont Older draws a mix of hikers, bikers and horseback riders. Mixed use trails offer an intermediate challenge with a seven percent average grade and 656-foot ascent. Keep an eye out for abundant life ranging from coyotes and bobcats to eagles and even the occasional mountain lion.

Joaquin Miller Park
3450 Joaquin Miller Rd.
Oakland, CA 94602
(510) 615-5566
www2.oaklandnet.com/joaquinmiller

Part of the City of Oakland parks group, Joaquin Miller Park is situated in the Oakland hills and offers 500 acres of mixed use trails. A number of trails are open to mountain bikers and provide over 11 miles of mostly single track varied terrain. The Big Trees Trail offers some of the most diverse with primarily single track and some fire roads, steep grades and twists and turns. For an easier, more scenic ride, check out the Sunset Trail or Sunset Loop Trails.

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Saratoga Gap Trail
Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve
Hwy. 9 at Skyline Blvd.
Saratoga, CA 95006
(650) 691-1200
www.openspace.org/saratoga-gap

The Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve is 1500 acres of hilly grassland located at the juncture of Big Basin Way and Skyline Blvd. Running through the preserve is the singletrack Saratoga Gap Trail that is part of the bigger Bay Area Ridge Trail. The almost 10-mile loop offers some technical challenges for intermediate riders including some root stairs, rocky areas and switchbacks. Be forewarned of the sound of gunfire if riding further along the connecting Ridge Trail, as there is a nearby gun club.

Mission Peak
1800 Stanford Ave.
Fremont, CA 94539
(510) 544-3220
www.ebparks.org/mission

The Mission Peak Regional Preserve is part of the East Bay Regional Parks group. While very popular with hikers, the Mission Peak trails also offer some spectacular aerobic challenges for mountain bikers. The ten and a half mile long loop climbs just over 2350 and rewards those that reach the top of the peak with unparalleled views of the Bay Area. Trail entrance is located through Ohlone College, which charges a $4 per day parking fee.

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Joanna Metheny is a freelance writer covering all things South Bay. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.