Mountain Biking – The Perfect Sport for Your Family

Monique Birch (far left) introduces the Hiller family to the fantastic Pig Farm Trail above the town of Mt. Shasta.

Do your family members enjoy the camaraderie of group sports or do they prefer the quiet of their individual pursuits? If you are like most families, you have members in both camps and that is why mountain biking could be the perfect sport for your family to enjoy together.

Mountain biking feels like a team sport as you all start at the trailhead together, cheer each other on along the way, celebrate together at the finish and then talk about similar experiences afterward. For the more introverted athletes, however, mountain biking also offers a feeling of solitude as you traverse the single track trails with your family members spaced out before or behind you. There is usually plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful sights while contemplating what you are going to document later in your journal.

Not only does mountain biking accommodate different personalities, it can also accommodate different skill levels and our top-notch Northern California trail systems offer just the right amount of thrill for each person in your family.

Follow mountain biking etiquette

If the number of vehicles at trailhead parking areas is any indicator, mountain biking interest has boomed during the pandemic. Take a deep breath and tell yourself this is a good thing. With so many people benefiting from this fabulous form of outdoor exercise, whole families and whole communities will surely benefit as well. There are still endless miles of trails out there and, with just a little courtesy toward one another, sharing the trails is doable. Make sure you know and follow rules of mountain biking etiquette before we discover all the wonderful places to go.

Respect the landscape

Be a good steward of the environment and stay on the trail. Do not ride the trails when they are muddy because it will cause rutting.

Share the trail

Yield to horses and foot traffic. Descending riders always yield to climbing riders. Learn the directional rules at the specific trail you are visiting.

Ride open, legal trails

Stay off private property

Ride in control

Be attentive for others. Announce yourself or ring a bell if you need to pass. Be especially aware at blind corners. This is critical to teach your children for their safety. You can install a bell on their bike to practice alerting others of their presence.

Plan ahead

Be prepared for navigation and minor repairs like a flat tire.

Mind the animals

Be careful not to spook cattle or harm wildlife. Check the leash laws of the area if you plan to bring your dog.

The Hiller family jumps in with (from left) Monique and Christian Birch of Shasta Gravity Adventures to explore the Gateway Trail System outside of Mt. Shasta.

Discover world-class trails in our area

Chico’s Bidwell Park has trails for all levels

With rules in mind and helmets on, we are ready to discover the world-class trails in our area! Choosing mountain bike trails with your family will be dependent on the ages of children and on the skill level of each family member. Some families will divide and conquer if the trail systems offers a variety of challenges. For example, in Chico, Upper, Middle and Lower Bidwell Park contains paved and unpaved trails for all skill levels. We asked a few locals to share more trail systems to get families started:

Mt. Shasta offers one of the best trail systems

Christian Birch, owner of Shasta Gravity Adventures, says, ”Mt Shasta offers one of the best mountain biking trail systems for families in the North State.  Ride smooth singletrack close to town through an old growth forest in the shadow of a volcano with a downhill guided tour/shuttle from Shasta Gravity Adventures or start at the Gateway Trailhead and choose a loop from easy to intermediate.”

Josh Hiller works with his daughter, Sarah, 15, to improve her biking skills at Shastice Park.

Redding trails for any level and type of cyclist

Joe Dodd, from Redding Sports Ltd bike and ski shop, says, “Redding is an amazing place for cycling families, whether that be on our River Trail multi-use paved path along the Sacramento River corridor, or for the more adventurous…the countless mountain biking trails our area has to offer. These trails run from the historical and technical singletracks in the Whiskeytown Lake area and Swasey Recreation area West of Redding, to the scenic and approachable F.B./Hornbeck trail on the East shore of the Sacramento River. Virtually any level and type of cyclist will find something to entertain them in the immediate Redding area.”

Advice for starting small

Bryson Schreder, Program Operations Manager for Shasta Living Streets, is enthusiastic about everything to do with bikes, and wants to encourage families. “Northern California has no shortage of great mountain biking trails, and it can be a great way to recreate outdoors for the whole family.  One thing that I like to remember, is that it doesn’t have to be extreme to be fun.  If you’re new to mountain biking, or even if you’re more used to riding on pavement, my advice would be to start small.

“Try to find a trail without a lot of climbing to get familiar with the grip and handling of your bike on the dirt and uneven surfaces.  Most trail systems, and even local parks, will sometimes have beginner friendly trails, and you can venture onto the steeper and narrower trails as your confidence and level of skill increases.  Good places to start in the Redding area include the Churn Creek Open Space and a skills area in Caldwell Park for kids. There is an extensive trail system in Weaverville. We have just grazed the surface for the trails the North State has to offer.”

Don’t let age be a deterrent

Study the system before you go. Trailforks  has an extensive database of mountain bike trails in our area and the trails are rated by level of difficulty . Don’t let your age be a deterrent. Cyclists of all ages have successfully improved their off-road biking skills. From the downhill racer in the family to the more cautious rider with their head in the clouds, the shared thrills from the trail and sense of accomplishment will create lasting family bonds and give everyone a good night’s sleep.

For additional tips for mountain biking with families, visit Top 7 Tips for Mountain Biking with Kids.