Mount Lowe is hands-down the Los Angeles-area's premiere legal shuttle run. Along with nearby Mount Wilson, a plethora of singletrack trails and dirt roads descend from the crest of the mountain range all the way down to the outskirts of the megalopolis far, far below. To get to the top, either cajole a friend or family member into driving you up, or book a commercial shuttle from one of several local shuttle companies.

The El Prieto trail is a true gem for Los Angeles-area mountain bikers. Where many trails in the mountains just outside of LA are extremely steep and nearly unrideable, the pedal up Fern Truck Trail to access the top of El Prieto is steep, yes, but achievable. This creates an absolute gem of a lariat route when looped with the El Prieto descent that can be ridden from the Altadena area.

While Mount Wilson's name rings louder than Mount Lowe in the mouths of local mountain bikers, the trail down Mount Wilson is downright difficult on a mountain bike. Tight, exposed singletrack traverses the steep mountainside, turning abruptly in switchbacks that only the craftiest of bike handlers can feasibly navigate. Rock up-and-overs along with burly rock gardens and ledge drops—all with that same mountainside exposure—demand total confidence and control over your mountain bike.

Aliso Creek and Woods Canyon Wilderness Park may offer the highest probability of a celebrity mountain biker sighting of any trail system in the world. With tons of high-profile pros living in and around Laguna Beach, from Brian Lopes to Hans Rey, Aliso is the training ground for many of the world's best. In order to adequately serve as just such a training ground, Aliso Creek has to offer a significant amount of challenge—and indeed it does!

The Luge is a renowned SoCal singletrack descent that looks like… well, a luge track. With banked berms on every corner, the swoop and flow of this classic trail is nearly unbeatable! Despite a few rocks here and there, and the wear and tear to the trail, this sweet slice of singletrack is still uber-fast and way fun. It’s even a great choice for early intermediate riders… if they can brave the pedal to the top.

The San Juan Trail has reigned for years as one of So Cal’s classic rides… and according to Brian Kennedy, it’s “still got it!” The singletrack on San Juan is narrow and swoopy, with some tight turns that can really sneak up on you after wide-open straightaways. In places, the undergrowth is so tight that the sightlines are really short despite your high rate of speed. The trail tread alternates between smooth and flowy, lightly chunky, and thoroughly chunky.

While most of the best mountain bike trails in the Los Angeles area are located in the San Gabriel mountains on the edge of the city, or further afield in the wilderness parks near Laguna Beach, Turnbull Canyon stands as an exception to this rule. The convenient location, surrounded on all sides by suburban sprawl, means that Turnbull is an ultra-popular outdoor draw for both mountain bikers and hikers alike.

Whiting Ranch is one of the most popular trail systems in Orange County. This "massive open space area [is] seamlessly integrated with an interconnected trail system,” according to Singletracks.com. “Not only does the network of gated fire roads and singletrack span both parks, but it also connects to greenways and other trails that branch out into the surrounding communities,” the author continues.

Strawberry Peak is the tallest peak in the front range of the San Gabriels, measuring 6,165 feet tall. This loop ride wraps around the peak on narrow bench cut singletrack situated high on the mountainside. In places, the trail bench is very narrow and exposed, with significant fall danger down the steep mountainside. However, that exposed bench provides stunning views of the massive San Gabriel mountains spreading out in all directions!

This figure-8 loop in the Chilao Flats area, incorporating the Silver Moccasin trail, is one of the highest-elevation rides in the San Gabriels near Los Angeles. While there aren’t any major climbs or descents, the entire ride takes place over 5,000 feet, with the peak elevation reaching almost 6,200 feet!