Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in California, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
I did the entire loop yesterday to train while I was in San Diego. It is paved, so that’s a good thing (for me!) but frankly it’s just not as scenic as advertised and there are sections that are just industrial and ugly. So much trash along sections and the onroad portion on the San Diego side of the bay is terrible. On the more scenic side, you are mostly riding next to a high-speed road so it’s noisy. Can’t really ride along the San Diego side once you get to the crowds - or at least go very slowly. (Same right near Coronado but that thins out quickly.) Bottom like is that it’s worth checking out if you are here, but not something to travel a distance for. I managed to do ~30 miles by adding a loop around Coronado and going out and back on the Sweetwater Bikeway.
If you're with a group of guys you should be 'ok'. SD River Trail homeless encampments has grown and grown and that means ton of trash and possible not so good encounters.
Surprising peaceful for being off a main road . Beautiful views !
If you're a fan of dedicated bike paths, and in the area, don't miss the opportunity to ride Lafayette-Moraga. Almost the entirety of the path is along a shaded corridor, gently curving back and forth, beautiful homes visible in wooded settings, quirky sections (e.g. a brief segment with many dozens of miniature bird houses hanging from trees), St. Mary's of Moraga's beautiful campus visible at one point.
I'd recommend starting from the Lafayette side. This trail is not flat: the out and back registered 600 vertical feet on Ride with GPS. Starting on the Lafayette side will result in about 5 miles of mildly climbing trail, a descent of about 2 miles at the far end, and then a somewhat steeper (but not steep) climb back to the summit. The last 4.75 miles of a round trip to Lafayette involves a swooping and delightful descent back to where you started. While the climbing is not negligible, it is well within the capabilities of even moderately fit riders.
My partner and I rode this trail on our tandem trike on a Wednesday, finding light to moderate foot and bike traffic. If you're family oriented, use caution with the younger riders, as on the downhill slopes some riders will be coming down in excess of the 15 mph speed limit.
Overall, a gem of a ride, scenic, interesting, and just enough of a challenge to feel that your heart and lungs benefited from a great day outside.
Very nice trail for walking, biking, and skating. For inline or roller skating, be careful about couple road cracks..so you just need to use it with caution, or be expert!
Took the Ferry to Larkspur and biked over the Bridge today to Point Richmond. Well maintained bike path, incline a bit challenging, so walked the bike for about one mile, I’m a novice and 67. Windy but views are worth it!
Do not go anywhere near Hart Park or the Orange Santa Ana part very dangerous drug dealing prostitution a bike chop shop seriously creepy men under the bridges and under trees a police officer stopped me on the trail and told me it is very unsafe never go at night never go alone.
Just ride the Aliso trail this morning. Started in the middle and rode west first. Part of the trail was closed where the I5 freeway overpass is but they do have detour signs once you start looking around. On this part of the trail it was a little difficult in some places to follow the trail. It is very pretty and it was busy with others bikers and walkers. Once I started back and got back near Muirlands the trail got far less busy and the trail was easier and to follow all the way to Cooks Corner. I made a few stops
We parked at the North Clam Beach parking lot. Best section of route is along the beach access road. Once we bicycled onto path surface then trip went downhill. First was a fire on the dunes started by a homeless person, then several homeless people on route sleeping in bushes. Rogers Market on the trail had questionable folks who were very inquisitive about our bicycles. Then the Mad River Bridge while beautiful was covered with graffiti from end to end. Trail ends just as you exit bridge. Never got a really warm, relaxing vibe on this route, and we don’t need to ride this trail again.
It’s a nice shady trail. A little bit rough for skating. There are lots of bumps and cracks in the asphalt. It’s great for walking or riding a bike.
The trail start we approached was near impossible to find, very narrow and overgrown big time. Very disappointing. Turned around and got out of there at once. Went to our ‘go-to’ trail/hike Spring Lake. Still had a lovely time walking our go-to.
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