Russian Ridge is One of the BEST Places for Beginner and Intermediate Mountain Biking in the Bay Area

At times, it's so gorgeous, I kind of tear up a little. 

The last few years, I've been getting more and more into mountain biking. The Bay Area is an incredible place for it. There are dozens of gorgeous beginner and intermediate trails, from Arastradero Preserve in Palo Alto/Los Altos to​ Fremont Older in Saratoga/Cupertino.

​But when I have the time (it takes about 30-40 minutes to get there from Palo Alto, vs. 5-10 to get to Arastradero), I love biking Russian Ridge -- the closer to sunset, the better. 

Located at Skyline and Page Mill (which turns into Alpine), you get views of the ocean and the bay.

You'll get great exercise, but there's nothing too technical -- in the whole preserve, I think there's one little rocky part that is completely manageable, even on a hardtail bike. But even if you're uncomfortable on that part, it's easy enough to get off your bike and walk that part. 

(Walking is part of mountain biking!)

It's easy to bike from one ecosystem to another, so you will see grasslands and forests alike.

Image: @TheHappyTalent on Instagram

The preserve also connects relatively easily to other parks, like Montebello Open Space Preserve, Skyline Ridge Preserve, Horseshoe Lake, and  Skyline Chestnuts (where you can take a break from biking and pick your own chestnuts).

Image: @TheHappyTalent on Instagram

It's reasonably easy to find your way around using trail markers and the free paper maps that are available at the trailheads of each preserve -- but to save paper and have an easier time planning and navigating, I recommend downloading the Trailforks app.

I'm wearing mountain bike knee pads in the photos, which aren't really necessary for these trails, but better safe than sorry, right? Especially when you've got an injury.

I'm also wearing a MIPS bike helmet (they're safer than the old kind -- plus, if your current helmet is more than 3-5 years old, it's time to replace it)... and probably underwear as pants. (I had shorts to wear over them -- but it was unseasonably hot that day!)

Note: I definitely would not wear shorts this short if I were doing more technical trails. I crashed four times last week in Tahoe, and if I weren't wearing two pairs of long pants, I don't think I'd have any skin left on my legs. (Also, gloves. 

​It's also nice to have some kind of water bottle or hydration pack so you can extend your ride -- you're going to hit a couple of long, steep uphills! (Also, gloves. I recently upgraded to full-fingers after losing some skin in my half-fingers, and that is why I currently have skin on my hands.)

​Stick a bottle of wine or some beers in a cooler before your ride, and plan to finish up at the Audrey C. Rust Commerative Site for a sunset toast -- but be prepared to bundle. The temperature drops fast with the sun! 

​Enjoy your ride!