Orange County

4 Great Maps of the 4 Best Riding Areas from Anaheim to San Juan Capistrano.

Each BikeMapDude Map Pack comes in a clear plastic pouch holding five individual maps. Each single-fold color map is printed on water- and sweat-proof laminated paper on one side, with two featured rides per map with detailed descriptions and on-map route markers on the other.

Santa Ana Mountains - Central Region

Great possibilities for epic adventures await riders who head to the central section of the Santa Anas from Trabuco to Silverado Canyon. The terrain here is decidedly rugged with elevation ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 feet and vegetation consisting largely of chaparral and oak woodlands. The views are often awesome, particularly as you climb toward the Main Divide.
Location: Mission Viejo area
Best For: Advanced riders
Suitable For: Intermediates and better.
Ground Cover: Chaparral - and grass-covered hillsides and riparian woodlands.
Seasons: Fall through spring. Hot in summer.

South Coast Area

Three beautiful open space areas surround Laguna Beach offering riders an incredibly diverse range of biking options. Crystal Cove State Park (a.k.a. Moro Canyon), Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park includes beautiful native grasslands and coastal scrub that give way to expansive views of the ocean. Mellow fire-roads are interspersed with sometimes technical single-track giving riders of all abilities a wide range of options.
Location: Laguna Beach area
Best For: Intermediate riders.
Suitable For: All levels.
Ground Cover: Brush-covered hillsides, native grasslands and riparian woodlands.
Seasons: Good year round.

Santa Ana Mountains - Southern Section

(including the San Juan Trail)
The southern section of the Santa Ana Mountains is not for the faint of heart. This area includes the San Juan Trail, an often technical single-track that features some nasty fall-offs, as well as the Caspers Wilderness area, which can spook visitors with its ominous mountain lion warnings. Set those thoughts aside and you'll be treated to some of the best single-track in Southern California.
Location: San Juan Capistrano/Ortega Highway.
Best For: Advanced riders
Suitable For: All levels. San Juan Trail and vicinity - Strong intermediates and better.
Ground Cover: Brush-covered hillsides, meadows and riparian woodlands.
Seasons: Fall through spring. Hot in summer.

Chino Hills State Park

Chino Hills State Park is a vast expanse of open space adjacent to the huge population centers of northern Orange County and the Inland Empire. Hit on the right day and the grass-carpeted rolling hills and the great views of the San Bernardino Mountains make for a sublime biking experience. But beware; summer brings torrid temperatures and often smoggy conditions.
Most of the riding at Chino Hills tends toward the intermediate level, with rolling fire roads predominating. That said, the sheer size of the park, along with the few fun sections of single-track that it offers, can make for a great workout even for advanced riders.
Location: Northeast Orange County near Yorba Linda
Best For: Intermediate riders
Suitable For: All levels
Ground Cover: Open grasslands and chaparral.
Seasons: Best in winter and early spring. Often hot and smoggy in summer.