California's Best Biking Trails In Calaveras County

Press release from the Calaveras Visitors Bureau:

April 19, 2023

Calaveras County is home to hundreds of miles of trails that are perfect for mountain biking, and the Calaveras Visitors Bureau has crafted a comprehensive guide that navigates cyclists through Angels Camp, Arnold, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Sourgrass Recreation Area, Bear Valley, Ebbett’s Pass, and Valley Springs.

To demonstrate how close and convenient each of these locations are to each other, the guide includes drive times from the Visitor Information Center in Angels Camp, CA. Here’s the snapshot:

Mountain Biking at New Melones Lake

Seasons: Year-round

Drivetime from Angels Camp Info Center: 15 minutes

Difficulty: See map for details.

Mountain Bike Trail Miles Available: 30 miles of (shared use) Angels Camp mountain bike trails.

Local Bike Shop: Mountain Pedaler Bicycles

Description: ###/strongMTBProject.com describes the Glory Hole Loop at New Melones as “…a very scenic track, combining fast downhills with rolling single track and a short steep fire road climb. It is arguably the best single track in the area. The Glory Hole Loop Ride is rated as intermediate level with no real technical sections, rated higher because of the extremely steep fire road climb and the following steep switchback downhill.”

Local Bike Shop: Mountain Aloha MTB in Avery

Description: The Arnold Rim Trail is a beautiful, 17-mile multi-use trail system designed with mountain bikers in mind. From canyon views to giant sequoias, wild flowers in mid-summer, a waterfall, White Pines Lake, the Sierra Nevada Logging Museum and more, there is a lot to enjoy about this pristine trail. Arrange a pick-up and drop off driver to ride the full 17 miles straight through, or choose an independent adventure by exploring a combination of public trail sections.

Mountain Bike Routes at Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Seasons: Spring – Fall, (Note: hiking available year-round)

Drivetime from Angels Camp Info Center: 30 minutes

Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging (depending on section)

Trail Miles Available: Dozens of miles available for (shared use) Arnold mountain biking on tarmac and fire roads.

Local Bike Shop: Bear Valley Bicycles, Arnold

Description: Named for the giant sequoias it houses, Calaveras Big Trees State Park is one of the oldest attractions in California, drawing visitors from all over the world to enjoy the idyllic giant sequoia groves in the north and south sections of this majestic state park. Grab a map of the area from the Calaveras Big Trees Visitor Center before hitting the dirt. Mountain bikes are welcome along all fire roads and paved tarmac throughout the state park, with steep gradients making these roads great for pushing endurance levels without being too technically challenging. Before the ride, take a walk through the north or south grove trails to get a gander at 1,000-3,000 year old giant sequoias lining the pedestrian-only trails.

Mountain Bike Trails at the Sourgrass Recreation Area

Seasons: Spring – Fall

Drivetime from Angels Camp Info Center: 36 minutes

Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging

Trail Miles Available: Dozens of miles of (shared use) Arnold area mountain bike trail, tarmac, and fire roads.

Local Sportsman Outfitters: Ebbetts Pass Sporting Goods and Sierra Nevada Adventure Company

Description: From tarmac, to fire roads, to challenging OHV roads, the beautiful Sourgrass Recreation Area will not disappoint. Centered around the wild and rugged Stanislaus River, some of the sections of trail in this area are not for the faint of heart. The Sourgrass Recreation day use area allows parking for up to 15 cars and also has potable water and flush restrooms. Lined with wildflowers in the spring, spectacular colors in the fall, and nice shady spots to take a dip in shallow pools or cast a line in the summer, mountain bike trail riders will enjoy clear sections of trails interspersed with gnarly granite boulder fields, as well as tall pines, incense cedars, black oaks and the occasional wildlife sighting. While the Sourgrass Recreation parking lot is closed to overnight use, the Wa Ka Lu Hep Yo Campground (a stone’s throw away) is the perfect launching pad to enjoy Sourgrass Recreation Area’s beautiful mountain bike-friendly trails, fire roads, hiking, and fishing spots. Inhabited by a local Native American tribe of Miwuks for thousands of years, Wa Ka Luu Hep Yo provides RV and tent camping with history as illustrious as its views.

Mountain Bike Trails in the Bear Valley Area

Seasons: June – October (depending on spring snowmelt and late autumn snowfall)

Drivetime from Angels Camp Info Center: 57 minutes

Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging

Trail Miles Available: 32 miles of (shared use) Bear Valley area mountain bike trails.

Local Bike Rental: Bear Valley Adventure Company

Description: Located in the Ebbetts Pass corridor, Bear Valley is just east of the Calaveras/Alpine County line. Nestled in a county named for its similarity to the beautiful Swiss Alps, the Bear Valley area offers easy access to hundreds of miles of trails for beginner to advanced mountain bike riders in the June to October season (weather permitting).

Mountain Bike Trails in the Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway – East of Bear Valley

Seasons: June – October

Drivetime from Angels Camp Info Center: Varies by trail

Difficulty: Varies by trail

Trail Miles Available: Hundreds of miles of (shared use) Stanislaus National Forest mountain bike trails and fire roads available.

Description: The Highway 4 / Ebbetts Pass corridor runs from Murphys to Markleeville, and includes mountain bike trails through Arnold, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Dorrington, and the Bear Valley area. It also includes the wildest, most isolated mountain bike opportunities in California. View wildflowers from June through September, bike to crystal clear High Sierra lakes, hidden swimming holes, take in sweeping canyon views or peaceful alpine meadows, and more. Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway abounds with 279 miles (143 in Wilderness, 136 non-Wilderness) of exciting trails and tranquil scenery and offers everything from short, easy rides, to strenuous, multi-day opportunities. Most of these trails are at elevations above the winter snowlines meaning these trails are most often accessible during the summer through early fall months. Beginner cyclists and mountain bike riders can ride on scenic paved or gravel roads with flat to moderately steep terrain, while intermediate to advanced riders can enjoy more challenging steeper grades or technically challenging trails.

New Hogan Lake Mountain Bike Trails

Seasons: Year-round

Drivetime from Angels Camp Info Center: 34 minutes

Difficulty: See Map for details.

Mountain Bike Trail Miles Available: 30 miles of (shared use) New Hogan Lake Valley Springs tri-lake area mountain bike trails.

Description: New Hogan Lake is the perfect place for camping, water sports, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking. Just 30 miles east of Stockton and part of the Valley Springs tri-lake area, the west side of New Hogan Lake includes mountain bike trails that can be enjoyed by beginners and advanced riders. For an easy journey, enjoy a three-mile trail, which connects the Acorn Campground with the park office. Boat-in camping is available at Deer Flat Campground—just one of New Hogan’s three idyllic campgrounds.

~ Happy trails and enjoy the ride ~

Click here for more information on Calaveras County

For bike rentals, please check out the following:

Bear Valley Adventure Company – Bear Valley, CA

Bear Valley Bicycles – Arnold, CA

Mountain Aloha MTB Co. – Avery, CA

Mountain Pedaler – Angels Camp, CA

This press release was produced by the Calaveras Visitors Bureau. The views expressed here are the author's own.