It’s all downhill from here

Suzie Harrison

Ripping downhill as your body vibrates from the dirt trail underneath;

navigating sharp turns; avoiding obstacles as your speed makes sight in

your periphery a blur, you’re charged -- you must be mountain biking.

Mountain biking is in a class all its own, possessing all the key

elements to make it addicting -- speed, adventure, excitement. It isn’t

one of those over-the-counter experiences. It’s more like a full-on

doctor’s orders prescription for Adrenalin.

Luckily the avid mountain biker can find tons of trails right here in

Laguna Beach.

“I can be out my door and on single track within minutes. Laguna Beach

has some awesome mountain bike riding from El Morro to Aliso Woods

Canyon,” said Jim Gennarelli Laguna local and avid mountain biker.

Some of the other key places in Laguna Beach to ride are Crystal Cove

and Top of the World.

Crystal Cove contains open grasslands and wooded areas. There are more

than 17 miles of fire roads and single track in the park. This area is

more suitable for beginners and intermediate riders. There are more than

15 different trails in the area between El Morro and Crystal Cove.

No Name Ridge is a popular ride in El Morro and is 8.1-miles long. It offers some moderately steep climbs, fun single track with some fast

areas as well.

Red tail Ridge has the best of what the park offers. There’s some

rolling single-track, some technical and some fire roads. Red tail has a

lot of climbing trails making it ideal for a workout. The ride is about

9.9 miles.

“A lot of bikers drop into Aliso Woods. On a single ride in Laguna you

can go from great ocean views to back canyons with streams, oaks and wild

life,” said Gennarelli.

Top of the World and Aliso Woods Canyon are south of the other biking

areas in Laguna and provide a playground of 5,000 acres.

They offer everything from super technical steeps and single track to

fire roads. The rock formations in the area provide a lot of challenges

and technical work. There are more than 24 different rides in the area.

“We really have a lot of mountain biking here. El Morro is the more

visual of the two. Aliso Woods a little smaller,” said Albert Quintanilla

local rider.

The Cholla -- Rock It Loop is 10.2-miles, which combines low-profile

fire roads, technical single-track and some exhilarating downhill

single-track.

“There’s something for everyone from very challenging to hilly and

aggressive. Or you also have the dirt trails that give you nice coastal

breezes and the ocean views,” Laguna Cyclery owner Patrick Fetzer.

“Both mountain bike parks are really contained and that can really

help you if you get hurt,” Fetzer said.

The Laguna Greenbelt has around 15,000 contiguous coastal hills and

valleys surrounding Laguna Beach making Laguna a top-notch playground for

mountain bikers.