Pacific Palisades is the perfect mountain biking destination for anyone in the Los Angeles area. Located just North of Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades is just a mile or two away from Will Rogers State Park and Rivas Canyon Park and is right by the Pacific Coast Highway. The Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area is also very close. You can find many trails in this area that range from small paved roads to rugged hill and canyon paths.
Big Sycamore Canyon Fire Road Loop
The Big Sycamore Canyon Fire Road is the perfect trail for beginners looking for a long and challenging ride. This trail is mostly a dirt road with a few fun technical areas that aren't so difficult that they discourage you from finishing. You will need to make a few turns to stay on the loop, and the easiest method to do this is to simply get a free map at the ranger station before you begin. This trail is located in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area about 15 miles west of Pacific Palisades.
Paseo Miramar
The Paseo Miramar/Topanga loop is an intense intermediate level ride that will take you through 18 miles of fire roads, paved roads and single track. The first one-fourth of this loop is a pretty steep incline that can really nail you, but when you push past it you are rewarded with some amazing views of the nearby canyons and Pacific Ocean. The ride down is very fun, and you can build up a lot of speed, so make sure your brakes are in good working order.
Will Rogers State Park Road
Will Rogers State Park Road is a subject of debate for local mountain bikers. Since it's a paved street, many people ignore it and stick to more rugged trails. This road is a dream come true for mountain bikers who really want a physically challenging workout but don't want to deal with maps, wrong-way bikers and pedestrians. The road is only a few miles long, but it's a steep incline that leads to the Will Rogers Estate. You can get on this road directly from West Sunset Boulevard.
Backbone Trail
In Will Rogers State Park, you'll find the end section of the Backbone Trail that starts in the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area. Advanced riders might want to start at the beginning and do the 60 miles in one go. But for less experienced riders, there's a great starting spot in Malibu Creek State Park that leaves you with about 15 miles worth of fire roads and technical sections until you end up back in Pacific Palisades. Some Pacific Palisades locals ride to Malibu Creek State Park and then follow the trail right back home.
Sullivan Fire Road
The Sullivan Fire Road is one of the most popular bike rides in all of Pacific Palisades. This utility road runs a winding 6.3 miles from Pacific Palisades to Topanga State Park and ends at Mulholland Drive. The road is a fairly well maintained double track and it's uphill the entire way. This can discourage some bikers, but when you reach the famous Mulholland Drive and turn around, you know it's all downhill from there.
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