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 Mountan Biking - LA

(last updated Aug 2004)
  • Sullivan Canyon Loop (E. Santa Monica Hills)
  • Sullivan-Backbone Loop (E. Santa Monica Hills)
  • The Kenter Coaster (the Whoop-de-doos) (E. Santa Monica Hills)
  • Paseo Miramar Trail (E. Santa Monica Hills)
  • Cheeseboro Canyon (N. Santa Monica Hills)

    Sullivan Canyon Loop
    Type: Mix of fireroads and singletrack
    Distance: 11.5-mi loop
    Location: Brentwood, CA [Map it]

    Quintessential, exceptional, inevitable -- all describe the West Ridge/Sullivan Canyon loop. If you live in LA and like to mountain bike, it's just a matter of time before you find yourself setting out up the steep pavement climb on Westridge Road to the trailhead. One of LA's most accessible rides, so expect a lot of company on the trail in a myriad of forms: walkers, hikers, runners, dogs, and fellow bikers. Parking near the bottom of Bayliss ensures an easy finish to the loop, but also guarantees a rough start. Expect to suffer a bit getting to the trailhead gate at the end of Westridge Road.

    From there, the fireroad ascent up the West Ridge is moderate and fairly constant (with only one short downhill section) to the summit of San Vicente Mountain. For out-and-backers, note that several short singletracks parallel the ridge fireroad and offer snippets of downhill technical thrills for those needing a quick singletrack fix.

    However, the best singletrack in this loop lies in Sullivan Canyon. A smooth cruising singletrack with not much technical stuff, this trail descends for an eternity under a dense canopy of vegetation. Watch out for a few washouts/dipsy-doodles here and there, but other than that there’s nothing but screaming singletrack between you and the bottom of the canyon. If you also see three bikers about halfway down all changing their tubes at the same time, please email me to explain what was going on. One of the bikers said it was “a party”. Since my tube wasn’t busted I just blew past… am I missing something here?

    Trail Map: Singletrackmind.com
    More info: Singletrackmind.com (excellent site)

    Sullivan-Backbone Loop [BEST LA RIDE!]
    Type: Mix of fireroads and singletrack
    Distance: 22-mi loop
    Location: Brentwood, CA

    Well-known "Sully-Mully-Hub-Bone" loop. Backbone singletrack best to date. Two back-to-back over-the-handlebar supermans proved a suitable finish to such a great loop.

    Incredible aerial imagery of the Backbone Trail bridge






    Trail Map: Singletrackmind.com
    More info: Singletrackmind.com (excellent site)

    Cheeseboro Canyon
    Type: Mix of fireroads and singletrack
    Distance: Various, 10-19 mi
    Location: Augora Hills, CA

    I hit this mid-afternoon in July -- way too hot. As I wrapped up a spin around a Cheeseboro Canyon>Ranch Center Connector>Palo Comado Canyon loop and neared the parking lot, I passed a steady stream of bikers setting off on early evening rides. Set off really early or late, but nowhere in between.

    For most of the ride, the "one-match" meadows and dotted live-oak vegetation conjur up memories of East Bay biking. However, after cruising along the Sulphur Springs singletrack, the vegetation and terrain quickly changes to a rockier, more chapparal motif. I have yet to ride up to Simi Peak and the China Flat Trail but plan on checking these singletracks out at some point.

    Halfway along the Cheeseboro Canyon Trail, I saw a guy fiddling with his Camelback. As he blazed by me, he said he'd dumped half his water by accident. I saw him blazing back home 15 minutes later. Water equals survival in Cheeseboro.

    Trail Map: Nat'l Park service map
    More info: Singletrackmind.com (excellent site), Steve's guide to mountain biking trails

    The Kenter Coaster (the Whoop-de-doos)
    Type: Mix of fireroads and singletrack
    Distance: Various, 4-5 mi
    Location: Brentwood, CA

    Short fire road climb but some steep spurts get the heart going... The Kenter Coaster whoop-de-doo trail is as challenging as you want to make it... if you decide to go for it, make sure you clear the big gap. Coming up short is not an option.

    Also worth noting that the access gate at the end of Kenter Road closes at 8pm. Milking the daylight on one late-summer evening, I was shocked to find the gate completely chained up at the end of my ride. Calling the emergency phone seemed so beat that I opted for a different approach: I took my tires off and flung them and then the bike frame over the 12-foot high fence. Then, after a quick chicken-wire climb, I made it back to the car.

    Trail Map & elevation profile: singletrackmind.com (excellent site)
    More info: singletrackmind.com(excellent site)

    Paseo Miramar Trail
    Type: Fireroad ascent, short parallel singletracks on descent
    Distance: 8.8 mi each way to Dirt Mulhulland and back (or 24 mi loop w/ Backbone Trail)
    Location: Pac Pali, CA

    Be sure to bust a lung on this killer fireroad climb, not to be missed masochistically speaking. If you make it to the Hub and Backbone Trail congrats -- enjoy your huge singletrack descent... if you don't you can at least have some fun descending the Paseo Miramar trail on several of the short singletracks cresting the ridge.

    Note that the paved road up to the Paseo Trail gate is a steep, unrelenting grind. There is very limited street parking near the gate at the top of the road, but if you want to do this ride as a loop with the Backbone Trail I recommend parking at the bottom near Sunset and toughing it out up to the trailhead. Be careful about burning yourself out too early -- on a previous ride my friend Howard fizzled about a quarter mile past the trailhead because the paved road kicked his ass so badly. With nearly 4,000 ft of climbing in store, you'd better be ready for this slog.

    Trail Map: singletrackmind.com (excellent site)
    More info: singletrackmind.com(excellent site) Gorp

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