Top 3 Advanced Mountain Bike Trails in San Diego 4K

[@BrandonLemonds]

I just did the bottom of Noble Canyon with my dad, halfway down and carrying speed, it started hailing!

[@goremonio]

I rode the Crest system for the first time a few weeks ago. I put in about 9 miles and feel like I've only scratched the surface of what's there. Bitchin' trails though.Test Pilot rocks! Incline at Elfin Forest was one of the first trails I ever rode when I got into mountain biking. I used to do it on my $600 XC hardtail. I had no idea about trail difficulty levels back then. LOL. Your videos are awesome. Thanks for taking the time to produce them.

[@MTBTrailReview]

No worries! Crest is a huge system. I feel like I still have a lot to explore back there, too. Good for you for tackling Elfin Forest on a hardtail!

[@himpan8168]

Crest trails have so much potential.. any plans for upcoming trail work there?

[@MTBTrailReview]

We've done a lot of work the past couple of months. I'm hoping to get one more volunteer dig day out there if we get another good rain. Join the SDMBA Meetup page if you haven't already. That's where all of the trail work days are announced.

[@thomasboard7350]

i liked extra credit and equine incline downhill, not as big a fan of the rest of Elfin tho. Haven't tried Crest yet. I'd add Gliderport DH on black mtn or even miner's since thats technically a black diamond on trailforks now, and the east DH is pretty gnarly with all the ruts.

[@MTBTrailReview]

Elfin is tough. You definitely have to go into it with the right mindset. It's been a long time since I've done Gliderport, and Miner's definitely should be categorized as a black diamond now with all of the recent rain damage.

[@sdtrailrider8070]

I used to ride Elfin Forest a lot, but the steepness of the climb with all the hikers on the way down kind of kill it for me. Big Rock trail in Santee is a lot of tech fun, but can also have lots of hikers. Nascar in La Costa should be high on the list.

[@MTBTrailReview]

Nascar isa a good one. I kind of forgot about it. I agree on Big Rock. It's a blast, but it's rare that you get to really go for it.

[@MarkWarrick]

Do you have a GPX track of the noble lower loop?

[@MTBTrailReview]

I'm sorry, but I don't. Have you done Noble before? If so, you can backtrack from the lot to the right turn you take at the bottom when doing the full ride. Go past that turn, and you'll start climbing up to where Extra Credit starts. I hope that helps.

[@MarkWarrick]

@@MTBTrailReview yeah I've done Noble all the way to town, but never "looped" it. I assume half of that loop would be the street ride back up Old Hwy 80, Pine Creek to the "bottom parking area" of Noble unless there's another way.

[@MTBTrailReview]

@@MarkWarrick That's part of it. I was able to look back through my activity on Strava. This will give you a better ide of where it is: www.strava.com/activities/7993092749

[@Zetler]

Is there a trail in SD that isn’t chunky? I’m tired of banging my tires against miles upon miles of rocks. I just want to frolic through flowing trails without a care in the world like in those KZbin videos from the East Coast and Florida.

[@MTBTrailReview]

There's not many. Snake Trail is super flowy, and is pretty much absent of tech. I just rode a trail in Laguna that was really fast and flowy, with very minimal tech, but there was still some. I'll be posting that one later this week. Scary House is on the flowier side, but the amount of breaking bumps almost feels like you're still riding rocks.

[@pepsnex]

Otay Lakes and Proctor in Chula Vista could be an option

[@kxrim8395]

otay lakes and near imperial beach are some trails that aren’t chucking

[@jamesc6876]

daley ranch on the southeast side has a few blue trails Quail run and lower caballo. Tunnels 4 in penasquitos has some rubble on a few turns and a lot of ducking but it’s really flowy and fun. Chula also has four palms with some punchy climbs but a lot of fun if u get enough speed up them. i think switchbacks in la costa might be another one.

[@jeffarcher400]

Laguna mountain, Lake Hodges and behind the Santee lakes are flow.

[@mikefitzgerald4871]

#3 is above San Marcos?

[@MTBTrailReview]

That one is in El Cajon. Elfin Forrest is pretty close to San Marcos, though.

[@MrCleanEmpire]

Hey Chris how are you? Sorry to bother I was just wondering if you can help me out with giving me the nearest road at the Mt.Laguna biking trail system I'm having trouble finding the right road to camp at. I'm going up there for the first time to bike for the day and then do some dispersed camping. If you know of a suitable road that's close to a few trails at the Laguna area please let me know you should also make a video on diapered camping spots with mountain biking trails nearby! Thanks!

[@MTBTrailReview]

Not a bother at all! The Sunset Trailhead, which is on the Sunrise Highway is where we always start. If you are looking to get into the wilderness a little more, maybe start at the bottom of Noble. I know there is some dispersed camping in that area. Just look up the Noble Canyon Trailhead. That's also the same area as the Extra Credit section of Noble, which is in this video. I hope that helps!

[@MrCleanEmpire]

@@MTBTrailReview Awesome! Thank you! Now let's just hope no one gets a flat! I will definitely be prepared though. Your videos helped a lot! Have a good day brother

[@Cfass1]

Is test pilot in the same area as Wally World?

[@MTBTrailReview]

It is!

[@ggcadc]

Nice, Ive never been to the first two trails on this and did extra credit with no chain (do not recommend). Ill have to hit them and see what youre on about.

[@MTBTrailReview]

I think I'll pass on doing Extra Credit with no chain, too. The other ones are fun!

[@BattlePhrog165]

now do one with your top 3 illegal trails 🙃

[@MTBTrailReview]

That would be the hardest top 3 so far....

[@sdtrailrider8070]

@@MTBTrailReview A certain Mel Brooks character comes to mind...

[@MTBTrailReview]

@@sdtrailrider8070 Definitely

[@usa2986]

I guess i will soon be in San Diego and Id very like to ride this trails)

[@MTBTrailReview]

There's some good ones out there!

[@sunglassrob7752]

Where’s Matco on your list?

[@MTBTrailReview]

Vail is outside of the county, so I didn't count it.

[@luish16c26]

@@MTBTrailReview Hey dude, I’m visiting San Diego can you please tell me the name of those trails? Thanks in advance

[@MTBTrailReview]

@@luish16c26 Rob was talking about Vail Lake in Temecula. The rides on this list are Crest (Test Pilot), Elfin Forest, and Noble Canyon (Extra Credit).

[@Cfass1]

What would be your three unsanctioned advanced trails?

[@MTBTrailReview]

The list wouldn't change much. Test Pilot is one of my favorite trails in the county. ATT would find it's way on the list.

[@jeffarcher400]

Ted Williams has some gnarly stuff but last time I was there someone told me the cops were just there and busting anyone biking. People ride Corral canyon and McCain valley. Both are ohv areas but when I rode dirt bikes we didn't mind sharing. We can't discuss unsanctioned stuff or it'll be shut down. I just rode up Volcan mountain and it's even got a sign saying ok for class 1&2 ebikes. All the hikers seemed chill but I always yield to them. It's steep even with ebikes. The view is worth it. Further down the road is the Preserve and it's got a nice climb to a scenic meadow loop. You can also drop down to Santa Ysabel and have a backup vehicle there or it's a serious loop back up on the road with traffic. These aren't hairy difficult terrain just less well known and tough enough to feel like you did something special. I tried riding up to the Potato chip rock from Lake Poway and it was too tough for old me. Lots of steps. Going down would be fun for bold riders. I don't know how you'd loop it. There's a trail going off to the right going up before the stairs that should get to the highway then there's another trail I haven't tried up to the Potato rock that's single track. Then down the steps and back to the lake. Check on Google Earth. I might try that soon. You can ride into the Valley of the Moon in Jacumba. That's another not scary but difficult climb into a really special place. Climb the peak to Elliot mine and if it's calm you can yell and get a dozen echoes off the granite monoliths. You can access the closed valley by crossing the granite slabs at the campground but it's closed to motor vehicles. Cross the freeway and hit Table mountain roads and you may see the Carrizo gorge trestles. They used to ride on those but it's really falling apart and dangerous now.