Best Bike Routes in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is famous for its freeways, but for cyclists it has a side most people never see. In a relatively short distance you can move from coast roads to canyon climbs, mountain singletrack, and remote gravel. Few places in California pack this much variety into one region.
One thing to settle before you plan anything. The January 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires left lasting closures across parts of the Santa Monica Mountains, the Malibu and Topanga area, and the Angeles National Forest foothills. Some roads and trails are open, some are not, and the picture keeps changing. Always check current conditions on the official closures page before heading into any area touched by the fires. We flag the affected zones as we go.
Gravel and Bikepacking Routes in Los Angeles
Beyond the city sits a surprisingly large network of fire roads and dirt that feels far removed from the traffic. The Santa Monica Mountains are the natural starting point, with dirt climbs, overlooks above the coast, and the option to link sections into longer days inland.
Dirt Mulholland and the Santa Monica Mountains
A reliable, currently open option is Dirt Mulholland, part of the Mulholland Scenic Parkway, which gives you accessible gravel with city and valley views and connects to the San Vicente Mountain Park stretch. From there you can push deeper into the range, but the Topanga and Malibu burn zones remain partly closed, so confirm your route is open before you commit to it.
Long days on dirt mean dust, flying stones, and bags rubbing the frame for hours. Protect the high contact areas of your bike with frame protection that stops bag rub and chipped paint, and in the wet winter months a mud guard keeps the spray off when the fire roads turn soft.
Best MTB Routes in Los Angeles
Mountain biking is where Los Angeles gets technical. The mountains around the city hold everything from fast, flowing singletrack to steep, rocky, demanding descents.
Santa Monica Mountains singletrack
The western Santa Monica Mountains came through the fires largely intact and offer the most reliable singletrack close to the coast. This is the area to start if you want dependable trails without a long drive, with a mix of fire road climbs and technical descents.
San Gabriel Mountains and Angeles National Forest
For bigger days, the San Gabriel Mountains and the Angeles National Forest deliver long fire road climbs and exposed ridgelines that most people never believe exist inside LA County. One important caveat: the Eaton fire closed a large part of the forest above Altadena, and that closure runs through at least the end of 2027. Check the official closures before planning anything in that zone, and stay out of the areas that are still off limits.
A typical ride here stacks a fire road climb into tight switchbacks, loose rock, and a fast descent. On terrain like that your hands take a beating, so a set of MTB grips built for control cuts fatigue and keeps you in command when it gets rough.
Best Road Cycling Routes in Los Angeles
Coast, canyons, and long climbs make Los Angeles one of the best road regions in the state. Early mornings are the time to ride it, when traffic is light and the air is cool.
Pacific Coast Highway
The PCH is the route everyone pictures, with long ocean views and mild weather. It reopened to all traffic in 2025 after the Palisades fire, but repair work, lane shifts, reduced lanes, and slow zones are still in place along the burn area. Check Caltrans for current PCH conditions before you ride it, and treat that stretch with extra care.
Canyon climbs
The real climbing is inland. Latigo Canyon, in the western Santa Monica Mountains above Malibu, is the classic: a long, twisting ascent that came through the fires largely untouched and rewards rhythm over power. The wider canyon network around it trades the coast's flow for winding climbs and fast descents, though anything closer to the Topanga and Malibu burn zones should be checked against current conditions first.
Long hours in the drops put everything through your hands, so good bar tape improves grip and comfort whether you are cruising the coast or grinding up a canyon.
Why Los Angeles Is One of the Best Cycling Destinations in California
The point is range. Few places let you ride the coast, the canyons, the mountains, and remote gravel inside one region, and switch between them day to day.
The climate backs it up. Mild temperatures and long dry seasons keep Los Angeles rideable most of the year, well beyond what regions with real winters can offer. Beginners get accessible coast and smoother trails. Experienced riders get steep canyons, technical descents, and long backcountry days.
The rule that matters most here in 2026 is simple: respect the closures. The fires reshaped where you can and cannot ride, and the situation is still moving. Check official conditions, stay out of closed zones, and there is still more good riding in Los Angeles than most riders will ever get through.
