Mountain Biking in the Bay Area

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. For more information visit the following Web site: "http://cal-parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page...".

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! For more information visit the following Web site: "http://cal-parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page...".

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. For more information visit the following Web site: "http://mtb.live.com/rides/WaterDog.html".

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. For more information visit the following Web site: "http://www.openspace.org/preserves/el_co...".

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. For more information visit the following Web site: "http://cal-parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page...".

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. For more information visit the following Web site: "http://cal-parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page...".

East Bay:
Mount Diablo State Park:

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