Mountain Biking friendly trails

[bhagle13]

Would like to know which trails in the wilderness are cool to ride? There has got to be some amazing stuff to ride.

Obviously bikes are categorized incorrectly and I am willing to take a chance pushing up a canyon a handful of people hike up a year. Looking for some adventure and would like to find some trails close to the 395 like gable lakes trail or something like that. Anyone else poaching?

[psykokid]

Would like to know which trails in the wilderness are cool to ride? There has got to be some amazing stuff to ride.

None in designated wilderness areas. End of story.

Obviously bikes are categorized incorrectly and I am willing to take a chance pushing up a canyon a handful of people hike up a year. Looking for some adventure and would like to find some trails close to the 395 like gable lakes trail or something like that. Anyone else poaching?

As the current regulations stand, bikes are considered motorized mechanized transport and not allowed in wilderness areas. But you know that based on your post. There is a lot of rideable area out side of designated wilderness areas, stick to those and dont impose your poor choice to thumb your nose at the law on those of us who enjoy the wilderness as it stands.

[dave54]

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As the current laws stand, bikes are considered motorized transport and not allowed in wilderness areas. But you know that based on your post. There is a lot of rideable area out side of designated wilderness areas, stick to those and dont impose your poor choice to thumb your nose at the law on those of us who enjoy the wilderness as it stands.

Bikes are not motorized. They are classified as mechanized, in the same category as wheelbarrows and carts. The original Wilderness Act as passed in 1964 did not ban bicycles. The discussion of the Act in the Congressional Record specifically mentions bicycles as permissible. In the original regulations drafted by the USFS allowed bicycles. The language was changed later to exclude bicycles. The bicycle ban is in agency regulations, not the text of the original Act. So as of now they are excluded.

[AlmostThere]

No wheels in parks or wilderness areas on single tracks, with few exceptions. There are plenty of places to go outside designated wilderness areas. Lots of forest service roads, OHV routes, and there are some trails -- plenty of mountain biking forums to guide you. Some of the state parks where old farm roads have been turned into hiking trails will allow mountain bikes/bikepacking - Henry Coe is one such place. Wilder State Park also allows bikes on some trails, not all.

I take pictures and report -- NO BIKES IN THE WILDERNESS. They ruin trails that I work too hard to maintain.

[dave54]

The PCT is also closed to bikes. Supposedly. Enforcement on the PCT is a low priority for most agencies involved and in places it gets a fair amount of bike use. In the mountain bike world PCT means Perfect Cycling Trail.

There was a bill introduced in Congress last session (not sure if it has been reintroduced this session) that would allow local managers, to decide on a case by case basis, if some trails in designated Wilderness could be become open to bikes. If you recall, the same thing was done by the NPS a few years back. Despite all the dire warnings from some groups, nothing bad happened. A handful of trails in some National Parks were opened to bikes (mostly old roads) and almost no one noticed.

The original 1964 Act did allow bikes, as I already noted. However, mountain bikes were still rather primitive then compared to now. Very few trails were ridable to the bikes of that era. Now with full suspension and fat balloon tires a lot trails previously unridable now are. So I have mixed feelings and still developing my opinions.

[Wandering Daisy]

Tioga Pass road (120) is open to bicycles before it opens to cars while it is being plowed. It is a small window but would be a great ride.

The northern Sierra (north of I-80) has a lot of FS land that is not wilderness. The area up by Downiville has some well known mountain bike trails. The Yuba River should be in full flow now so very scenic.

Henry Coe State Park has some good bike trails (not all trails allow bikes- they have a good map that you can buy and see which trails are legal for bikes). Many of these start from Hunting Hollow trailhead.

The Mountain States(? I think that is the name), is a 100 mile trail from Tahoe to Forest Hill. They have a big race on it every year. It is a historical horse route. Mountain bikes may be allowed on that trail.

Although short, the trail along the north shore of Salt Springs Reservoir is very scenic.

You need to go to a web site that specifically is for mountain biking.

Also check the web sites for each national forest. They all have the same format - go to "recreation" and then "bicycle". Look at trails that are not on a designated wilderness and then call and see if it allows bikes.

[iHartMK]

Nothing tears up a trail like horses do though..

[dave54]

Head north to Susanville area. The Forest Service, BLM, and Lassen County are building mountain bike trails as fast as they can get funding and the planning done.