The Best Cycling in California

Looking for the best cycling in California? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around California. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top cycling spots in and near California

Mill Valley, California

Summit of Mt. Tamalpais Loop

5.0

1.15 mi / 394 ft gain

Mt. Tam is a large park with plenty of amazing viewpoints, but the East routes and the East Peak are best for sunsets. Once you're at the top, it's an amazing spot to view a large number of Marin trails, which can help you can get a head start on planning your next adventure. At 2,570 feet, this ...
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Big Sur, California

Clifftop Camping & Hot Springs in Big Sur

4.7

Campsite:There is nothing quite like driving or biking along US-1, the Pacific Coast Highway. Make sure you get a chance to do the drive during the day so that you can see all that Big Sur has to offer. Be careful when pulling off especially onto the shoulder and never stop on a curve in the road...
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San Francisco, California

Bike the Golden Gate to Sausalito

4.7

Riding your bike across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, and then enjoying some drinks on the back deck at Sam's, is a great way to spend a nice day. The views along the way are simply breathtaking. After your ride and a day of fun in Sausalito, you can return to San Francisco by ferry. It's ...
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Mill Valley, California

Headlands Ride to Point Bonita Lighthouse

4.5

The Headlands are a quick ride over the Golden Gate. On the ride, you'll see wildflowers, rugged coastline, and the Point Bonita Lighthouse. Once you cross the bridge, take Conzelman Rd up ~700 feet to Hawk Hill. From here, continue on to the lighthouse. On the return trip, head back on Conzelman...
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San Clemente, California

Camp at San Mateo Campground

5.0

San Onofre State Beach, best known for its famous surf breaks, additionally offers two well equipped campgrounds.San Onofre Bluffs has fire pits and picnic tables, as well as outdoor showers, chemical toilets, and an RV dump station. Swimming and surfing are popular here.Further inland from the b...
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San Francisco, California

Ride Paradise Loop

4.3

Riding this loop has long been a popular option for San Franciscan riders looking to escape the busy city streets. This 38-mile ride with 1,600 feet of elevation, is suitable for all personalities of rider: the fast paced racer or the person just out to relax and cruise.A great place to start thi...
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Arnold, California

Hike the North Grove Trail in Calaveras Big Trees SP

5.0

1.7 mi / 40 ft gain

When thinking of the iconic Sequoias of the Sierra Nevada, one usually thinks of Yosemite and Sequoia National Park. However, there is a often forgotten area of Giant Sierra Redwoods that gets far less traffic than the more popular groves. The North Grove Trail takes you through a grove of over 1...
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Sonoma, California

Sonoma Valley Wine Tour Bike Ride

This 12 mile bike path starts at a rental shop in Sonoma Country called Sonoma Valley Bike Tours and Rentals. Follow the trail through the quaint residential area and into the back country vineyards and dirt trails. This ride can be anything between a hardcore 2 hour cycling workout with a few in...
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Fairfax, California

37-Mile Ride: Fairfax to Nicasio Loop

4.0

For this scenic loop, start at the Corner of Broadway Blvd and Bolinas Rd. Head north on Broadway until it connects with Sir Francis Drake Blvd ("SFD"). Take SFD / Marin County Bicycle Rte 20 northwest until it connects with Nicasio Valley Rd at Maurice Thorner Memorial Preserve. Take a right and...
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Mill Valley, California

Camp at Bootjack Campground in Mount Tamalpais State Park

4.0

Bootjack Campground is located within California's Mount Tamalpais State Park. There are a couple of campsites within the park, but if you are driving on the Panoramic Highway from Mill Valley, this will be the first campground you pass. The fee is $25 fee to camp, but they have bathrooms and ru...
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YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, California

Bike Yosemite Valley

4.0

12 mi

Bringing my bike to the Valley was one of the best decisions I have made on my many trips there. Everything changed after that visit and there will never be another time (unless in the dead of winter) that my bike will not be there with me. The reason is simple: everything is heightened.When Yose...
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South Lake Tahoe, California

Bike around Lake Tahoe

5.0

72.2 mi / 4308 ft gain

You'll want to wake up early for this adventure. Be sure to have breakfast and hydrate before you start. I suggest going clockwise around the lake. The elevation hit me. I also went with a group of friends, and what's nice about going in a group though is that you can stop every so often to make...
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Calpine, California

Gold Lakes, Sierra Buttes, 45mi

If you never travel north of the Tahoe Basin into the Sierra Valley and beyond, you should. It is gorgeous, peaceful country, with wide open spaces and, compared to Tahoe, relatively uncrowded roads. This loops takes us from Bassett’s Station toward Sattley, north on 89, a brief stop to regroup i...
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Saint Helena, California

Hike Bald Mountain, Sugarloaf Ridge SP

5.0

6 mi / 1540 ft gain

Park at the top of Adobe Canyon Road in the gravel parking lot to the left of the ranger kiosk. There is a $7.00 parking fee.There are many options for routes to the top; the easiest of which is mostly paved (although still steep in parts). To take this route, head north out of the trailhead park...
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San Mateo County, California

Run Sawyer Camp Trail

5.0

12 mi / 300 ft gain

The Sawyer Camp Trail is a popular paved trail that stretches alongside the Crystal Springs Reservoir all the way to Hillcrest Blvd. The sixth mile crosses over the San Andreas Dam with nice views of San Andreas Lake.There are markers every half mile which makes timing and tracking your run easy....
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McCloud, California

Camp at Algoma Campground in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest

The Algoma Campsite is a free campsite along the Upper Portion of the McCloud River. It features eight sites and a pit toilet. Unlike the other campgrounds in the area, this site receives very little traffic and has no fee. To get there, take SR 89 east from the McCloud Ranger Station for 13 mile...
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