Area Summary
Location: Thirty-one miles west of Santa Monica off of Pacific Coast Highway.
Best For: Beginners and Intermediates
Suitable For: All levels except extreme
Ground Cover: Brush-covered hillsides and lush riparian canyons.
Seasons: Good year round. Best from late fall through mid spring (great wildflowers). Can be muddy after heavy rain.

Description:
A beautiful 45-minute drive up the coast from Santa Monica lies Sycamore Canyon, the main biking trail through Point Mugu State Park. As the crowds on the weekends demonstrate, the drive is well worth it.

Sycamore Canyon gives beginners an ideal introduction to mountain biking with its gentle grade flowing through lush woodlands. More advanced riders will appreciate the fun, though never too difficult, loops that can be fashioned using the trails running off Sycamore Canyon. There's even some moderate single-track via a two-mile segment of the Backbone Trail connecting the Overlook Trail to the canyon.

While hardcore types might want to ride elsewhere, the rest will appreciate Point Mugu State Park for its fun moderate riding, gorgeous views, and abundant fauna and flora.