Southern California - Kids MTB rides in So-Cal

Hi All, I just got my 8 year old son a mountain bike and I'd like to take him on his first "real" ride. I'm an experienced rider, and all the trails I would normally ride (all the fire roads off of Dirt Mullholand) are way to intense for kids (too steep, too long).

Can anyone recommend some good rides in or near the SF Valley that would be good for a first ride? Something that will give him a chance to use his gears, but not break his spirit! ;)

Thanks!
rob

Hi All, I just got my 8 year old son a mountain bike and I'd like to take him on his first "real" ride. I'm an experienced rider, and all the trails I would normally ride (all the fire roads off of Dirt Mullholand) are way to intense for kids (too steep, too long).

Can anyone recommend some good rides in or near the SF Valley that would be good for a first ride? Something that will give him a chance to use his gears, but not break his spirit! ;)

Thanks!
rob

Ahhh too bad you are not in OC. I do a Family ride each month in Red Rock Canyon/Black Star Wilderness. The route is 5 miles and has enough obstacles to be challenging but fun. Last ride we had 7 kids (and 9 adults) ages 12, 10, 6 and four 9 year olds!!!!

Here's a list of what's open or closed to MTN biking:
http://www.corbamtb.com/issues/ClosedTrails.shtml

Some suggestions I've ridden:

Malibu Creek State Park has a fire road about two miles long. Water level route with some small climbs.
Big Sycamore Canyon has a longer road that's very pretty. Easy ride, with harder roads branching off. At the end it's steep. It's in Point Mugu State Park.
Cheseboro Canyon, off the Ventura Freeway near Thousand Oaks, is nice. Somewhat steeper, and shorter.

You can rack up a few miles on dirt Mulholland before you drop into Peewizz Pass, and some of the offshoots such as Amalfi. Just be advised that there's construction going on, and they start at 0700 on weekdays, 0800 on Saturdays. Sundays are calm except for security guard shift changes.

At the top of Canoga Avenue in the Valley, you can go east on dirt Mulholland in a steady climb that's not too steep. Maybe once your son has had some practice.

Sci-Fi, thanks for the link. That's a good place to start my research from!

Pamestique that place looks beautiful! when is your next ride? that would make a good day trip for us. also, do you have a map link to the trail head? I've found several references to it, but can't seem to find it on a map...

Thanks Lord Chaos! I had forgotten about Malibu Creek. That's a great place to start out!

I just realized that in order to get to the easy parts of dirt Mulholland you have to ride a fairly stiff hill from the parking area on the east end. So, write that one off the list. :)

Sci-Fi, thanks for the link. That's a good place to start my research from!

Pamestique that place looks beautiful! when is your next ride? that would make a good day trip for us. also, do you have a map link to the trail head? I've found several references to it, but can't seem to find it on a map...

Thanks Lord Chaos! I had forgotten about Malibu Creek. That's a great place to start out!

If you are speaking of Red Rocks, it is off Santiago Canyon Rd, and Blackstar. It is closed to the public and can only be ridden on a docent led tour. For information go to the IRC website.

irvineranchconservancy.org/activities. There is generally a Red Rock family ride each month.

Blackstar Canyon however is open to the public during the day. The first 3 - 4 miles is almost flat and easy fireroad. Coming from Orange, one takes Santiago Canyon to Blackstar, turn left, and left again on Blackstar, go to the end. There will be parking and a gate. Red Rock Canyon is directly across the dry stream.

Thanks! I'll check out the site. You might see us down south soon!

Expanding to Orange County now?...lol...j/k

http://www.biketrails.com/alisowood.html

HA! I might need to. That's the problem with the SF Valley. All the mountains here are really steep! Fine for experienced riders, but bad for kids. I've resigned myself to having to drive a ways to find good rides for him. Once he's a bit stronger, I'll take him to Sullivan Ridge/Canyon or the Kenter Coaster and kick his butt! :)

Take a look at Ventura county/Ojai. Sulphur mt road:
http://venturacountytrails.org/TrailMaps/OjaiSulphurMtn/AreaHome.html

Maps with elevation profiles and pictures:
http://venturacountytrails.org/TrailMaps/MapsHome.html