California bike trails: The best bike rides you shouldn’t miss

California’s suburban areas offer some great bike paths that let you get out into nature without leaving civilization. Here are a few of our favorite rides to enjoy on a hybrid bike or e-bike.

E-bike and hybrid bike ride #1: Los Gatos Creek Trail

The tour at one glance

• Level: easy
• Path condition: mostly-paved
• Starting point: Forbes Mill Museum
• Highlights: Vasona Lake County Park, Oak Meadow Park, charming downtown area of Los Gatos
• Length of the route: 11 miles
• Altitude difference: few elevations
• Travel time: 1 – 1.5 hours
• Total distance: 11 miles
• Cycle path: 11 miles

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On Los Gatos Creek Trail you can enjoy picturesque views of the surrounding natural landscapes, including the creek itself. The trail passes through lush greenery, parks, and residential areas. Notable highlights include Vasona Lake County Park, Oak Meadow Park, and the charming downtown area of Los Gatos, providing a pleasant and scenic backdrop for your e-bike or hybrid bike ride.

E-bike and hybrid bike ride #2: Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail

The tour at one glance

• Level: easy (family-friendly)
• Path condition: paved, well-maintained
• Starting point: Castroville
• Highlights: Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row
• Length of the route: 18 miles
• Altitude difference: 600 feet
• Travel time: 2 – 3 hours
• Total distance: 18 miles
• Cycle path: 18 miles

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An 18-mile cruise along the rocky coastline, this beautiful trail runs from Castroville in the north to Pacific Grove in the south. It’s one of the most scenic trails in California and a great way to visit landmarks like the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row. The smooth and well-maintained path, makes a ride on the trail an enjoyable and memorable experience for e-bike and hybrid bike riders.

E-bike and hybrid bike ride #3: American River Bike Trail (a.k.a. Jedediah Smith Trail)

The tour at one glance

• Level: easy
• Path condition: paved
• Starting point: Discovery Park, Sacramento
• Highlights: Wildlife, historic landmarks, convenient amenities
• Length of the route: 32 miles
• Altitude difference: mostly flat
• Travel time: 3 – 4 hours
• Total distance: 32 miles
• Cycle path: 32 miles

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This mostly flat trail is a paved, multi-use path that runs 32 miles along the American River and surrounding areas. Enjoy beautiful views of the river and natural landscape. Further highlights include shaded sections, wildlife sightings, historic landmarks, and convenient amenities, making it a perfect choice for electric and hybrid bike riders seeking a relaxing and enjoyable ride.

E-bike and hybrid bike ride #4: Bayshore Bikeway (Silver Strand) Trail

The tour at one glance

• Level: easy
• Path condition: paved, well-maintained
• Starting point: downtown San Diego
• Highlights: Hotel del Coronado, Silver Strand State Beach, San Diego Bay Wildlife Refuge
• Length of the route: 24 miles
• Altitude difference: mostly flat
• Travel time: 2.5 – 3 hours
• Total distance: 24 miles
• Cycle path: 13 miles
• Secondary road: few sections
• Road: few sections

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Enjoy this 24-mile loop that begins in downtown San Diego and takes you by the famous Hotel del Coronado, the Silver Strand State Beach and the San Diego Bay Wildlife Refuge. 13 miles of the loop are a car-free bike path making it ideal for riding your ebike or hybrid bike. For the remainder of the route you’ll be on bike lanes or bikeways that share the road with cars.

California is a road biker’s paradise. Here are a few of our top picks for exploring on two wheels:

Road ride #1: Silverado Trail in Napa Valley

The tour at one glance

• Level: intermediate
• Path condition: paved country road
• Starting point: Napa
• Highlights: Shady trees, wineries and restaurants, charming towns
• Length of the route: 30 miles
• Altitude difference: 1220 feet
• Travel time: 3 – 5 hours
• Total distance: 30 miles
• Cycle path: 30 miles
• Secondary road: few sections

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This paved country road runs 30 miles between Napa and Calistoga. Highlights include shady trees and exquisite wineries and restaurants, charming towns, and a relatively flat terrain, providing an enjoyable experience for road cycling riders exploring the region's wine country.

Road ride #2: Highway 1 (San Simeon to Ragged Point)

The tour at one glance

• Level: easy
• Path condition: paved, well-maintained
• Starting point: Vista Del Mar Avenue
• Highlights: Hearst Castle, elephant seals, Piedras Blancas Light Station, San Simeon Pier
• Length of the route: 37 miles (out and back)
• Altitude difference: 250 – 300 feet
• Travel time: 3 – 5 hours
• Total distance: 37 miles
• Secondary road: few sections
• Road: the main route is a state highway

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This road cycling tour from San Simeon to Ragged Point on Highway 1 is great for its scenic coastal views and notable attractions. Highlights include the iconic Hearst Castle, the fascinating elephant seals, the picturesque Piedras Blancas Light Station, and the charming San Simeon Pier.

Road ride #3: Onion Valley Road Climb

The tour at one glance

• Level: difficult
• Path condition: rough pavement in certain areas
• Starting point: Independence, California
• Highlights: Breathtaking mountain scenery, stunning views, steep switchbacks
• Length of the route: 13 miles
• Altitude difference: 5,236 feet
• Travel time: 3 – 4 hours
• Total distance: 13 miles
• Road: 13 miles

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Rated the most difficult climb in California, this 13-mile Onion Valley Road is for experts only. It is popular among road cyclists for its challenging yet rewarding ascent, offering breathtaking mountain scenery and stunning views. Highlights include the steep switchbacks, alpine landscapes, and the sense of accomplishment when reaching the summit, making it a great challenge for road cycling enthusiasts.

There are some incredible sights to be seen from a bike, especially if you get off the paved paths. Here are two spectacular adventures that are perfect for a gravel bike.

Gravel ride #1: Mammoth Lakes Gravel Loop

The tour at one glance

• Level: moderate
• Path condition: mostly unpaved gravel and dirt roads
• Starting point: Mammoth Lakes, CA
• Highlights: lots of chances to stop for a hike or a swim, scenic mountain vistas, challenging climbs, thrilling descents
• Length of the route: 32 miles
• Altitude difference: -2567 / +2573 feet
• Travel time: 1.5 - 3 hours
• Total distance: 32 miles
• Cycle path: few sections
• Secondary road: few sections
• Road: few sections
• Federal road: few sections

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The Mammoth Lakes Gravel loop is ideal for gravel biking due to its stunning mountain scenery, varied terrain, and gravel paths that offer an adventurous off-road experience. Highlights include picturesque lakes, scenic mountain vistas, challenging climbs, thrilling descents, and the chance to explore the breathtaking natural beauty of the Mammoth Lakes area.

Gravel ride #2: Lost Coast Ridge Trail Bikepacking Route

The tour at one glance

• Level: difficult
• Path condition: dirt roads
• Starting point: Humboldt Redwoods State Park
• Highlights: Redwood forests, waterfalls, beach, challenging steeps
• Length of the route: 75 miles
• Altitude difference: 12,000 feet
• Travel time: 3 days
• Total distance: 75 miles

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This unique, expert-level bikepacking route takes you along the most undeveloped stretch of the California coast. Start in Humboldt Redwoods State Park and ride through towering Redwood forests, past waterfalls and along the beach for 75 miles. Expect some steep grades and 12,000 ft. total elevation change. Ride time: 3 days.

With all the mountains here, it’s no wonder that mountain biking is so popular. Here are some of our favorite routes:

Mountain bike ride #1: Mount Lowe Railway Trail

The tour at one glance

• Level: intermediate
• Path condition: singletrack
• Highlights: Old tunnels, ruined hotels
• Length of the route: 11 miles
• Altitude difference: 2,100 feet
• Travel time: 1.5 – 2 hours
• Total distance: 11 miles

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This former railway was destroyed in 1938, and the surrounding area has some epic singletracks and fire roads that take you through old tunnels and past ruined hotels from a bygone era. It also offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, and the opportunity to explore remnants of the historic railway, providing a unique and adventurous experience for mountain biking enthusiasts.

Mountain bike ride #2: Camp Tamarancho Loop

The tour at one glance

• Level: intermediate / difficult
• Path condition: singletracks
• Starting point: Alchemist Trail trailhead
• Highlights: Scenic views, technical singletrack sections
• Length of the route: 10 miles
• Altitude difference: 1300 feet
• Travel time: 1 – 2 hours
• Total distance: 10 miles

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Camp Tamarancho Loop is a fantastic mountain biking destination with its well-maintained trails, varied terrain, and beautiful redwood forest surroundings. Highlights include technical singletrack sections, thrilling descents, scenic views of the surrounding hills, and the fun flow of the trails.

Mountain bike ride #3: Tunnel 4 in Los Peñasquitos Canyon

The tour at one glance

• Level: intermediate
• Path condition: singletrack
• Starting point: Intersection of the main trail and the side trail that leads to Tunnel 4
• Highlights: Thrilling descents, tight turns, scenic canyon views
• Length of the route: 1 mile
• Altitude difference: 180 feet (elevation loss)
• Travel time: 10 – 15 minutes
• Total distance: 1 mile

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This short-but-famous route drops you down through a tunnel-like canopy of scrub oak. It’s a 1-mile-long intermediate, technical single-track that connects to many other trails in the canyon’s network. Highlights include thrilling descents, tight turns, scenic canyon views, and the unique experience of riding through an actual tunnel, providing an exhilarating adventure for mountain bikers.

California offers an incredible variety of trails for every riding style. From the cool, rocky northern California coast to the alpine lakes surrounding Tahoe to the hot, dry canyons of San Diego, you can find terrain for every taste. Which ride will you try?