3 Best Beginner Mountain Bike Trails in Orange County

The "No-Spandex" Guide to Casual Mountain Bike Trails in SoCal

Dad, Nigel and Cris at the 'Backyard'

Welcome to SoCal Biking! Over the years of riding, my dad and I have hit up a lot of local trails. While we definitely haven’t ridden every single patch of dirt in Southern California (that is a solid challenge for another day), we are huge fans of getting out there with other riders.

If you are new to mountain biking, tired of the elitist racing culture, or just want to try riding in the dirt for the first time, you don't need to be intimidated. You just need to know where to go.

Here are the 3 Best Beginner Mountain Bike Trails we take newbies to, ranked from absolute beginner to intermediate. Each has its own benefits and distinct personality.

Dad and Donnie on the Juanita Cooke Trail at the 'Floop'.

1. The Fullerton Loop (The Baseline)

I am completely biased toward this loop since I live right next to it, but what makes the Fullerton Loop amazing is that it is the absolute perfect testing ground for beginners (and fresh bike builds).

There are lots of "secret paths" throughout the main 10-mile loop, meaning you can ride it shorter or longer depending on how your legs are feeling.

• Where to Park: The "main" entrance is the parking lot at the North Justice Center (the Fullerton Courthouse). You park, mount your steed, and hop onto the trail. You can either hop the curb or look for the wooden plank someone laid down a long time ago to roll right up onto the dirt.

• The Absolute Beginner Route: Stick entirely to the Juanita Cooke Trail. It is incredibly flat throughout. You can take this trail all the way down, turn around, and boom—you have officially gained some mountain bike experience. Any hybrid or trail bike will hold up just fine here.

• The Full 10-Mile Loop: Once you build some confidence on Juanita Cooke, tackle the whole loop. You will hit a few short climbs right after crossing Euclid St. to wheel up the Hiltscher Park Trail. That serves as a great warmup for the steady climb up Virgil Gus Grissom Park and onto Camino Rey, which finally rewards you with your first real fun downhill.

• The Gear: If you are doing the full loop, I recommend at least a hardtail mountain bike—unless you have experience riding a rigid frame (those 90s mountain bikes are just gorgeous, aren't they?). Personally, I prefer to take my custom Surly Grappler out here, or my revived Univega build.

• The Hazard: Getting lost. When Dad and I first rode this, we ended up completely lost, just roaming the paved streets of Fullerton. Use your communication skills and ask other riders for directions, or you will accidentally end up riding Rosecrans Ave all the way into La Mirada.

• The Post-Ride Reward: You are right in the heart of Fullerton! If you are heading back toward the 57 freeway, grab a massive breakfast burrito from Pepe’s. If you are heading toward the 91, grab a Caramel Buzz blended iced coffee from Better Buzz.

Dad completing the first ascent.

2. Weir Canyon Loop (The Climber)

While I’m biased toward Fullerton, the Weir Canyon Loop feels like home. I cannot count how many times Dad and I have ridden this 4-mile trail over the years. Because it has a bit more climbing, I highly recommend this trail once you've spun around your bike a few times and feel ready for the next step.

• Where to Park: We always park at the end of South Hidden Canyon Rd. in Anaheim, near the trailhead for the Anaheim Hills Riding and Walking Trail. It is part of the Santiago Oaks trail system, but most riders park elsewhere, so it is rarely completely full.

• The Route: We like to ride this loop in the clockwise direction. Why? Because it allows you to end with more downhills instead of suffering through a climb at the very end. When riding with a group, we usually finish this in about 30 to 45 minutes, but we never mind waiting for new riders to catch up.

• The Vibe: It has a fantastic mix of climbing and descending. If you can ride this loop in your sleep, or easily knock out multiple laps, you are officially ready to graduate to the next level.

Nigel making his way up South Ridge Trail.

3. Chino Hills State Park (The Escape)

This one is a new favorite because it truly is "The Escape." When you climb up to the peak, you feel like you are entirely out in nature, miles away from civilization. The view from the top is incredible.

• Where to Park: Aim for the Chino Hills State Park Discovery Center to avoid dealing with the Carbon Canyon Regional Park entrance. There is a small parking fee (a few bucks for an hour or two), which is why this sits at number three on the list. Pro-Tip: If you ride with a guy like Nigel who has a State Park parking badge, carpool with him to avoid the fee!

• The Breezy Route: The "main" trail is the Telegraph Canyon Trail. It features a very slow, forgiving elevation gain if you just want to ride it out and back.

• The Climber's Route: If you want an excellent workout, head all the way up the South Ridge Trail. This leads to a maze of trails near the peak. Dad, Nigel, and I recently took Bovinian Delight back down to Telegraph Canyon, and it gave them both a serious run for their money.

• The Hazard: Mud. I recently tested my Shimano GE900 shoes out here on a foggy, overcast day and totally slipped. There are a couple of spots off Telegraph Canyon where mud ponds form after a rain, but nothing worth crying over.

Our big group enjoying Board and Brew after the Weir Canyon Loop.

The SoCal Biking "Post-Ride Treat" Rating System

Standard difficulty ratings are boring. Here is how these trails actually rank based on what you deserve to eat afterward:

• Chino Hills State Park: You earned a massive, guilt-free breakfast burrito after crushing all that elevation.

• The Fullerton Loop: You definitely deserve an overpriced, classic sit-down meal at Denny's.

• Weir Canyon Loop (1 Lap): Go get yourself a solid cup of coffee. You earned it, but don't push it.

  
  

If you are like us, anti-bib folks, and are looking for a good time riding in Orange County, which trails would you recommend to beginners? We are always on the hunt for the next best trail, whether that is down in Laguna Beach or up at Glendora Mountain Road.

Hopefully, we will see you on the dirt soon. Feel free to reach out to us on IG @socalbiking if you ever want to ride together! Remember, the goal here isn't to suffer; it's to actually enjoy the fact that we live in Southern California and can ride year-round. Take your time, brake down the sketchy downhills if you need to, and never skip the post-ride treat.

Cycle on!