North Bay Rides - Bay Area Mountain Bike Rides

Trail descriptions in and around the San Francisco Bay Area

All Rides
North Bay
Peninsula
South Bay
East Bay

Fun	6
Scenic	10
Aerobic	1
Technical	1

Angel Island

A ride easy enough for the entire family, with panoramic views of the bay.

10 miles 1100' climb 2.5 hours

Fun	9
Scenic	4
Aerobic	9
Technical	9

Annadel (Suggestion 1)

A full-blown mountain biking playground with a first-class trail network large enough for all-day rides and technical enough for the most serious riders.

18.5 miles 2800' climb 5.5 hours

Fun	8
Scenic	3
Aerobic	6
Technical	8

Annadel (Suggestion 2)

A relatively short technical singletrack ride, though still a highly fun one at this wonderful mountain biking "amusement park".

12 miles 1800' climb 3.5 hours

Fun	8
Scenic	7
Aerobic	4
Technical	4

China Camp

The most fun, sweetest, and most scenic beginner-level singletrack that you can find in the Bay Area.

10 miles 1250' climb 2.5 hours

Fun	7
Scenic	4
Aerobic	7
Technical	7

Deer Park and Repack Roads

A ride for experiencing the famous Repack Road while getting there through a course following Fairfax fire roads.

12.5 miles 2100' climb 2.5 hours

Fun	7
Scenic	9
Aerobic	8
Technical	1

Fairfax to Mount Tam Loop

A long road ride that encircles Mount Tam, including the "scenery intake" that this entails.

33 miles 3800' climb 6.5 hours

Fun	6
Scenic	10
Aerobic	7
Technical	1

Golden Gate to Sausalito

A longer and more challenging version of what's possibly San Francisco's most popular bike ride. It can still be shortened and made easier to match any skill and form level with a couple of quick adjustments.

25.5 miles 2800' climb 6.5 hours

Fun	6
Scenic	4
Aerobic	3
Technical	5

Helen Putnam

A small but good selection of singletrack trails that make up a decent easy ride option for locals who are willing to do multiple loops.

5.5 miles 1100' climb 1.5 hours

Fun	5
Scenic	7
Aerobic	4
Technical	2

Marin Headlands (Marincello, Bobcat, Miwok Trails)

A short fire-road loop in the scenic hills of Marin Headlands that hits two particular short trails, each of which is worth seeing for its own little quirk.

9.5 miles 1550' climb 1.5 hours

Fun	8
Scenic	9
Aerobic	7
Technical	6

Marin Headlands (Miwok, Dias Ridge, Middle Green Gulch Trails)

This mainly-fire-road ride across two valleys and ridges in Marin provides a good sampling of the trail environments and trailside attractions in the headlands.

11.5 miles 2300' climb 4 hours

Fun	4
Scenic	9
Aerobic	7
Technical	3

Mount St. Helena

Simply a straight mountain climb up a smooth fire road with not too much biking interest but some historic curiosity and plenty of stupendously distant vistas.

12.5 miles 3100' climb 3 hours

Fun	7
Scenic	8
Aerobic	5
Technical	3

Mount Tam (Deer Park Road and Coastal Trail)

A short and relatively easy loop that still manages to hit a number of the highlights of riding on Mount Tam.

11.5 miles 1900' climb 3 hours

Fun	8
Scenic	10
Aerobic	9
Technical	6

Mount Tam (Eldridge Grade and Rock Spring Trail)

A long fire-road ride that allows you to experience the northern slopes of Mount Tam from its lowest foothills in the lakes area, all the way to East Peak.

20 miles 3350' climb 6 hours

Fun	7
Scenic	10
Aerobic	7
Technical	6

Mount Tam (Old Railroad and Eldridge Grades)

A climb up Mount Tam via the easiest route you can take by bike, followed by a fun descent on a rocky and technical fire road. The views are world-class!

12.5 miles 2300' climb 2.5 hours

Fun	9
Scenic	8
Aerobic	8
Technical	10

Oat Hill Mine Road

A top-notch advanced ride for experienced riders who cherish technical trails. Postcard-like views are a bonus.

10.5 miles 2300' climb 4 hours

Fun	6
Scenic	9
Aerobic	7
Technical	1

Ridgecrest Boulevard

Ride possibly the most scenic road in the Bay Area and a calm lakeshore portion of Highway 1 on this short road ride.

18 miles 2450' climb 2.5 hours

Fun	9
Scenic	4
Aerobic	8
Technical	8

Rockville

A ton of very technical singletrack in this small park! It's a shame this particular ride includes so few of them.

7 miles 1500' climb 3.5 hours

Fun	7
Scenic	6
Aerobic	8
Technical	7

Pine Mountain Loop

A historic ride in Marin's hallowed mountain biking ground with plenty of technical and rocky fire road fun and wide open views.

14 miles 2950' climb 4 hours

Fun	6
Scenic	10
Aerobic	4
Technical	6

Point Reyes (Drakes Head)

A remote and extremely scenic mountain bike ride unusual in its setting, fun, and surprising technical challenges.

12 miles 1550' climb 3 hours

Fun	8
Scenic	4
Aerobic	5
Technical	9

Skyline Wilderness

A very small trail network of highly technical singletrack. Not to be missed by any experienced rider, not recommended for any beginner.

7 miles 1850' climb 2.5 hours

Fun	6
Scenic	9
Aerobic	8
Technical	5

Sugarloaf Ridge

A short loop that's challenging enough to be a good advanced workout ride while providing grand views. The punishing climb and the very steep descent make it unsuitable to beginners.

7 miles 1800' climb 2 hours

Fun	8
Scenic	4
Aerobic	6
Technical	7

Camp Tamarancho

Beautiful, twisty, bike-legal, technical singletrack. A true rarity in Marin County.

11 miles 2000' climb 4 hours

Fun	4
Scenic	5
Aerobic	5
Technical	3

Terra Linda - Sleepy Hollow Divide

A short fire-road ride that doesn't hold too much interest unless you're desperate for something different in this area or unless you incorporate it into a longer ride.

9.5 miles 2000' climb 2 hours

Fun	4
Scenic	9
Aerobic	3
Technical	1

Tiburon Loop

An easy and very scenic coastal road ride that could also present the possibility of post-ride treats in cute downtown Tiburon.

11 miles 850' climb 1.5 hours

Fun	7
Scenic	7
Aerobic	7
Technical	5

Willow Creek

A hidden gem that's a worthwhile option even for advanced riders if you live within a reasonable distance and can catch a reservation for the orientation session to get the required permit.

12 miles 2700' climb 4 hours