Best Mountain Biking Parks and Shuttle Adventures in SoCal

Best Mountain Bike Adventures

Summit Bike Park

Snow Summit is the first lift-served bike park I ever visited. It is located in Big Bear in the San Bernardino Mountains. Snow Summit is a popular ski destination for Southern California residents.

During the summertime, the ski resort is transitioned into a fantastic bike park. The bike park offers a trail for all skill levels and is perfect for someone like me, a beginner who is scared of falling.

The trails go through alpine woods and have up to 1,200 feet of vertical drop. There is also access to over 60 miles of cross-country trails. The trails feature jumps, obstacles, wall rides, and pump lines.

Along with all the mountain biking trails, the park has a 30-foot climbing wall, zip line, Euro Bungee trampoline, and hiking trails. 

Summit Bike Park also has a bike shop, beer garden, restaurant, and an outdoor area to relax. On the weekends there usually is a band playing too

Summit Bike Park Stats

• Mountain Bike Trail Miles: 19
• Cross Country Trail Miles: 60
• Number of trails: 6
• Number of Lifts: 3
• Longest Trail: 2.5 Miles (My Favorite)
• Terrain: 50% Beginner, 10% Intermediate, 40% Advanced
• Top Elevation: 8,200 FT
• Base Elevation: 7,000 FT
• Vertical Drop: 1,200 FT

Bike Park Information

• Hours: Everyday 10 AM – 4 PM
• Ticket Prices: $45 – $64
• Trail Map: Trail Map
• Address: 880 Summit Blvd., Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
• Website: Summit Bike Park

Skypark Bike Park

Skypark Bike Park is located in Lake Arrowhead at Santa’s Village. Santa’s Village is an icon in the San Bernardino Mountains, which comes alive during the winter.

The bike park offers 17 mountain biking trails that range from beginner to expert. The trail system is professionally designed and traverses through dense Alpine Forest with natural jumps, wall rides, ladder bridges, and obstacles.

Skypark does not have a lift system, so you must use peddle power to reach the summit. Do not worry; the switchbacks make for an enjoyable climb that is not hard.

There are over 7 miles of trails with 375 feet of vertical drop. There are also 2 skills areas and a large and a small pump track for young riders.

Along with all the mountain biking trails, the park has a bar and restaurant, bike shop, archery, rock climbing, bouldering, zip line, fishing, and hiking trails. 

Skypark also has a campground located across the street called Skypark Camp and RV. The campground offers amazing views of the riverside basin from 6000 feet and is the best views of any campground I have ever seen.

Skypark Bike Park Stats:

• Mountain Bike Trail Miles: 7
• Cross Country Trail Miles: 2
• Number of trails: 17
• Vertical Drop: 375 FT

Bike Park Information

• Hours: Everyday 10 AM to 6 PM
• Ticket Prices: $49 – $65
• Trail Map:  Trail Map
• Address: 28950 California 18, Skyforest, CA 92385
• Website: Skypark Bike Park

Snow Valley Bike Park

Snow Valley Bike Park is a lift-served bike park in the San Bernadino Mountains on your way to Big Bear outside Running Springs. It is a fun place to spend the day riding your mountain bike and enjoying the trails through the alpine forest.

The Park offers 12 mountain biking trails that range from beginner to expert.  There are a total of 7 miles of trails with 850 feet of vertical. Total decent 3300 feet.

Besides mountain biking trails, the park offers hiking trails, bike rentals, a restaurant, and a shop.

They have a large parking lot where you can base out of while enjoying the trails. You can also ride the chairlift up the mountain to catch the fantastic views and hike down.

 Snow Valley Bike Park Stats

• Mountain Bike Trail Miles: 7
• Number of trails: 12
• Number of Lifts: 1
• Top Elevation: 8,200 FT
• Base Elevation: 7,000 FT
• Vertical Drop: 850 FT

Bike Park Information

• Hours: Fridays 1 pm-7 pm
  Saturdays, Sundays & Mondays: 10am-4pm
• Ticket Prices: $42 – $49
• Trail Map: Snow Valley Bike Park Trail Map
• Address: 35100 Hwy 18 Running Springs, CA92382
• Website: Snow Valley Bike Park

Rim Nordic Bike Park

Rim Nordic Bike Park is one of the lesser-known mountain bike parks in the San Bernadino Mountains and is located across Snow Valley. This is a smaller bike park that just has the essentials.

There are approximately 15 miles of single track & fire road with varying degrees of difficulty from beginner to advanced.

There is no chair lift service here, so it’s all peddle power to climb the mountain. They do have a shuttle service that occasionally operates so check when you arrive! $5 per ride, $20 all day.

Tickets at Rim Nordic are $15, which makes it the best deal on this list.

The bike park is located 5 miles outside running springs and directly across Snow Valley Ski Resort. They do not have a physical address. (weird)

There is a portable restroom on-site, free parking, a snack bar, and a bike shop.

Nordic Rim Bike Park Stats

• Mountain Bike Trail Miles: 15
• Top Elevation: 7,575 Ft
• Base Elevation: 6,875 Ft
• Vertical Drop: 700 FT

Bike Park Information

• Hours: Weekends only 9 am – 4 pm
• Ticket Prices: $15
• Map: Bike Park Map
• Address: They do not have an actual address
• Website: Nordik Rim Bike Park

Mt Wilson Shuttle

The Mt Wilson Shuttle is operated by Mt Wilson Mountain Bike Adventures, who run mountain bikers to the top of Mt Wilson. This is the second mountain biking adventure I ever went on, and I had a blast.

The Mt. Wilson Suttle offers six different shuttle options up to Mt Wilson and two other Big Bear and Mammoth options.

Mt. Wilson offers miles of mountain biking trails that range from steep single track to fire roads. There is a perfect trail for every level of experience.

I usually like to go down the old Mt. Wilson toll road, which is 16 miles long. It is a nice relaxing ride that takes an hour.

All shuttles meet in a parking lot across from the Joint Propulsion Laboratory in Altadena at the address below.

There is plenty of parking for your van or RV if you get there in the morning, but the parking lot does fill up in the afternoon.  

While you are up at Mt. Wilson, you can also check out the Mt. Wilson Observatory.

Mt Wilson Mountain Biking Stats

• Vertical Drop: 5000 feet descent
• Mountain Biking Trails: 100+ miles single track
• Destinations: 24+ shuttle trails

Bike Park Information

• Hours: Everyday 
• Ticket Prices: Between $25 and $50
• Map: Trail Map
• Address: 2799 North Windsor Altadena ca 91001
• Website: Mt. Wilson Adventures

Extra Credit: Mammoth Mountain Bike Park

Although Mammoth Mountain Bike Park is located a few hours outside Southern California, it is worth mentioning. It is considered by many to be the premier mountain biking destination in California.

They offer trails for every experience level from beginner to expert. These trails are professionally maintained and offer some excellent features.

It is located in Mammoth Lakes, about 5.5 hours north of Los Angeles. It offers a crazy number of trails and vertical descent for mountain bikers.

Besides mountain biking, Mammoth Lakes is an excellent place for any van or RV nomad who wants to explore the eastern sierras. It’s one of my favorite places to visit in my van.

Mammoth Mountain Bike Park Stats

• Mountain Bike Trail Miles: 84 MIles
• Number of Trails: 53
• Terrain: 48% Beginner/Intermediate, 52% Advanced
• Top Elevation: 11,053 Feet
• Base Elevation: 8,100 Feet
• Vertical Drop: 3,100 Feet

Bike Park Information

• Hours: Open daily from 9 AM to – 6 PM
• Ticket Prices: Tickets range from $39 to $ 49 depending on if you bought in advance and the day.
• Map: Mammoth Mountain Trail Map
• Address: 10001 Minaret Rd, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
• Website: Mammoth Mountain Bike Park

Conclusion

Southern California does not disappoint when it comes to excellent mountain biking adventures. You can ride every type of terrain here, including mountains, bike parks, deserts, and beaches. The adventures mentioned in this blog are great for any van or RV nomad looking to ride the trails but be close to their rig. There is nothing better than using your rig as a basecamp while you conquer the mountain.