Things to do / Travel Guide
Who needs air conditioning and cruise control when you can feel the dry natural breeze whiz by as you pedal through the California Desert on a bike? Indeed, your bike is the best seat in the house for taking in the spectacular desert and mountain scenery that is best experienced at a slower pace and without windows to obstruct the view.
Mountain Biking in Joshua Tree National Park
Bike through Joshua Tree forests, where desert oases and enchanting mountain scenery are the norm along the lunar-like landscapes of “J-Tree” National Park. A mountain bike is essential for the unpaved, rocky biking trails. Most cyclists stick to the Pinkham Canyon Road, a 20-mile road starting near the Cottonwood Visitor Center, and Old Dale Road, a 46-mile round trip that begins just six miles north of there. For an easier ride, consider the Queen Valley Road, which includes gentle, rolling trails and easily-accessed hiking trails along the way.
Another popular route is the Black Eagle Mine Road, which starts 6½ miles north of Cottonwood Visitor Center. This dirt trail carves the rim of Pinto Basin and a number of wide desert arroyos before cutting through the canyons of the park's Eagle Mountains. The trail runs for nine miles within the park and is a great, not too demanding way to see the park.
While you'll have to bring your own bikes to ride on the above-mentioned trails, a different biking option in the area is to go to Big Wheel Tours, where you can rent a mountain bike with gear and set out on your own, or take part in one of their guided off-road or paved road tours of the nearby desert and mountains backcountry. Most of their guided tours leave twice daily, in the morning and in the afternoon, costing about $85 per rider. The tours are customized to meet the abilities of the participants and can accommodate beginners as well as advanced riders.
Paved Road Biking in Palm Springs
The sun-drenched golf and shopping capital of the California Desert is also home to many excellent biking paths. Bike paths weave through the city and crisscross the beautiful expanses of the rest of the Coachella Valley. A great way to get acquainted with the city is by biking the Citywide Tour, a 13-mile paved path that circles the town from the wealthy North Canyon neighborhoods past stunning golf courses, mountains, and desert before hitting downtown Palm Springs.
Like in nearby Joshua Tree National Park, Big Wheel Tours also specializes in guided biking tours of Palm Springs. This is a good biking option for those visitors who prefer to have a local guide leading the way while taking in the sights. And if you don't want to head out on a set route, just park the car, rent a bike for the day, and head out to explore the town and nearby desert valley scenery. There are a number of places in Palm Springs where you can easily rent a bike for not too much money.
Mountain Biking in Big Bear Lake
Scenic and rugged trails down gravel roads maintained by the Forest Service provide some of the best mountain biking in the region in the area around Big Bear Lake. A good trail to start out on is the Alpine Pedal Path, a 3½-mile paved asphalt spin around the north shore of Big Bear Lake, through rolling hills and meadow. As you coast and soak in the scenery, time will pass all too quickly. More experienced mountain bikers can try the Arctic Canyon Overlook, a 19½-mile unpaved trail that twists through the San Bernardino Mountains to the Arctic Canyon Overlook with a view that spans all the way through the Mojave Desert far to the east. At some points the road is strewn with boulders and challenging (but fun) sand and rock-covered climbs, where you may have to dismount to forge ahead.
|
|
|