Los Angeles doesn’t usually appear on lists of great mountain towns, but after living and riding in L.A. for over six years, I’m convinced it has some of the best mountain biking in the country. The city is surrounded by mountains and interspersed with imposing hills, and that terrain is threaded with singletrack and fire roads that serve up steep climbs, sweeping views and access to gorgeous wilderness. Whether you’re looking for a town-to-trail jaunt or you want to go somewhere truly remote, L.A. has awesome trails within riding distance or just a short drive away. Here are a few of my favorites.
Just remember that trail access can change because of wildfire damage, weather and other closures, so check current conditions before heading out.
Dirt Mulholland
Farther west of the 405 Freeway, iconic Mulholland Drive closes to cars and turns into a rugged, twisting fire road that follows the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains. The road connects with a whole web of other trails and fire roads (Sullivan Fire Road is my favorite) and offers stunning views of the San Fernando Valley on one side and Santa Monica and the Pacific Ocean on the other.
Directions: Park here and ride west.
Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook and Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
These two parks protect a series of prominent hills that rise up from the urban grid of West Los Angeles. I was lucky enough to live just a 10-minute ride from these parks, and they’re an ideal urban escape.
Start off with a leg-busting climb up paved Hetzler Road to the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, where you’ll get sweeping views across Los Angeles. Bicycles aren’t allowed on the overlook’s unpaved trails, so stick to the paved road here before exploring bike-legal routes elsewhere in the broader Kenneth Hahn and Park to Playa area.
Directions: Start here.
Mt. Lukens
At 5,075 feet, Mt. Lukens is the highest point within Los Angeles city limits and an iconic mountain climb for local cyclists. It’s a great introduction to the San Gabriel Mountains, the massive range northeast of the city. Starting from the Forest Service fire station off Angeles Crest Highway, you’ll climb nearly 3,000 feet up a torturous gravel fire road. But the jaw-dropping views of the entire L.A. Basin—and the thrilling descent—make it totally worth the effort.
Directions: Park here. Ride past the fire station and climb the gravel road (Mt. Lukens Truck Trail) to the top of the mountain.
Brown Mountain
The area around Brown Mountain above Altadena hosts some of the best, most technical singletrack in greater L.A. You’ll have plenty of options here, but the Ken Burton Loop is a good start. It begins on the Gabrielino Trail, which brushes past NASA’s famed Jet Propulsion Laboratory, then climbs Fern Truck Trail and Brown Mountain before descending the Ken Burton Trail into the Arroyo Seco. Expect chunky gravel, tight switchbacks, lots of cliff exposure and creek crossings (especially in the winter and spring).
Directions: Park here and follow the route described above. Note that nearby parts of the Angeles National Forest are closed due to wildfire damage.
Four rides around Los Angeles
Select a marker or a ride to see where it sits on the map.
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Mulholland Drive closes to cars west of the 405 and becomes a rugged fire road along the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains. It connects to other trails and fire roads, with views of the San Fernando Valley on one side and the Pacific on the other.
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Two parks protect a series of hills rising from West L.A.’s urban grid. Start with a leg-busting climb up paved Hetzler Road to the overlook, then explore bike-legal routes elsewhere in the broader Kenneth Hahn and Park to Playa area. Bicycles aren’t allowed on the overlook’s unpaved trails.
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At 5,075 feet, Mt. Lukens is the highest point within Los Angeles city limits and a classic local climb, and a good introduction to the San Gabriel Mountains. It’s a long gravel fire road climb starting at the Forest Service fire station off Angeles Crest Highway, with views of the whole L.A. Basin at the top.
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The area above Altadena has some of the most technical singletrack in greater L.A. The suggested loop starts on the Gabrielino Trail, climbs Fern Truck Trail and Brown Mountain, and descends the Ken Burton Trail into the Arroyo Seco. Expect chunky gravel, tight switchbacks, cliff exposure and creek crossings.