NATIONAL
U.S. Bicycle Route System. Adventure Cycling Association offers a growing collection of regionally & nationally significant bicycling routes online; take virtual tours of more than 18,000 miles of U.S. bicycle routes nationwide. adventurecycling.org/usbrs. (406) 721-1776.
BUTTE COUNTY
Bidwell Park; Chico. 3,670-acre park offers miles of trails through Upper and Lower Bidwell Park. Choose an easy lower loop and stop at a few different playgrounds. chico.ca.us/amenities/mountain-biking. (530) 896-7200.
Bike Licenses; Chico. Register your bicycle or apply for a license online. chico.ca.us/post/bicycle-license.
Black Butte Lake; Oroville. Over 20 miles of multi-use trails with scenic vistas and wildlife viewing. Picnic areas around the lake and a playground at Buckhorn Recreation Area. bit.ly/3SkKZsB.
B-line Transit Bike Maps; Chico. From flats for easy rides and commuting to more challenging foothill rides, the Butte County terrain offers a variety of interconnected trails to explore. Map (Chico Area): blinetransit.com/documents/Bike_Maps/Bike_Map_2014_Front_300dpi.jpgMap (Lower/Upper Bidwell Park): blinetransit.com/documents/Bike_Maps/Bike_Map_2014_Back_300dpi.jpg
Chico Velo Cycling Club Local Routes. Website offering some of Chico Velo’s favorite cycling routes from Chico’s flat 16-mile River Road to the 64-mile Meridian-River Road in Durham. chicovelo.org/local-routes.html.
Wildwood Park; Chico. Two pump tracks: beginner and intermediate-to-advanced. chicorec.com/wildwood-park. (530)895-4711.
SHASTA COUNTY
Arboretum Loop Trail and Eagle Loop; Redding. 1.2-mile Arboretum Loop and 1-mile Eagle Loop; mostly paved flat trails with views of the Sacramento River and the Sundial Bridge. Viewpoints offer places to observe wildlife, including resident bald eagles on the Eagle Loop. Map: healthyshasta.org/maps. (530)225-5351.
Anderson River Park. Route 1 is 1.25 miles of easy, paved trail. Route 2 combines 1.5 miles of moderate paved, gravel, dirt and grassy trail. Route 3 is 2.75 miles of moderate paved, gravel, dirt and grassy trail. Route 4 is an easy .75-mile dirt and gravel trail. Park includes a playground. Map and Info: ci.anderson.ca.us/andersonca/departments/community_services1/uploads/Anderson_Walks_Guide_Web1.pdf.
Churn Creek Greenway, Redding McConnell Foundation Trails; Redding. 3.5 miles of compacted gravel trails; easily bikeable with wider tires and wide stroller wheels. Mostly flat with some rolling hills that add to the fun and adventure. Trails lead to Minder Park Playground off Minder Drive in Redding. Map: mcconnellfoundation.org/trails/. (530)226-6200.
Churn Creek Trails; Redding. Off Tidmore Lane in Redding and accessible from many neighborhood spots, these are part of open space preserved by the McConnell Foundation. These four miles of meandering trails with green meadows and spring wildflowers are available to cyclists and hikers. Make sure you stop at the halfway point for play at Minder Park’s play structure or to enjoy a picnic. Drinking fountains available at the park. These trails link to the Lema Ranch trails, which are only open to walkers. healthyshasta.org/trail/churn-creek-trails.
Clover Creek Preserve; Redding. 1.5-mile flat paved loop. Views are wide and make it easy to keep an eye on children biking ahead. Additional dirt trails lead to a pond and add to the nature and wildlife viewing experience. alltrails.com/trail/us/california/clover-creek-preserve.
The Great Shasta Rail Trail; Burney. 40 miles of open trail sections on this planned 80-mile trail linking Burney and McCloud. Red cinder trail compacted in the center but be careful of loose sides. A more advanced family adventure; prepare for wilderness conditions with extra food and water. Map and Info: greatshastarailtrail.org. (530)925-6362.
Hornbeck trailhead; Redding. Off Quartz Hill Road, this is a relatively smooth trail with a few short climbs and descents. Follow the green arrows for a six-mile beginner mountain bike route, or simply go out and come back when you are ready. How many smiley faces painted on rocks can you find? Did you find the geocache? This area was largely spared by the 2018 Carr Fire.
Northeast Crossing Trail; Redding. This is one of Redding’s newest trails. Although short, it has many options for linking to other trails or simply riding through the neighborhood. Start from Highland Park at 555 Mill Valley Parkway. Ride along quiet Mill Valley Parkway north to the trail head. Enter the paved trail that meanders through native oak woodlands and a bridge that crosses Boulder Creek. The trail is mostly flat and then starts a short climb to connect to the paved path along Highway 299 that ends at College View Drive. The route is about three miles round trip. This area also connects to the Sacramento River Trail by riding south from the park on Mission De Oro to Hilltop Drive and Browning Street. Head west and cross Hilltop Drive. Continue west and then go south behind retail stores and locate the View Trail off to the right which connects to the Sacramento River Trail for more riding, playground stops, and Turtle Bay Exploration Park.
Paradise Bikes. Bikes, mountain bikes, BMX, ebikes, parts, repairs, custom builds.
- Paradise; 6282 Skyway. (530)877-3992.
- Oroville; 2100 Myers Street. Facebook@paradisebikesoroville. (530)282-4349
Sacramento River Trail; Redding. 12 miles of paved, mostly flat trail with some rolling hills. Access a section of the trail near the Middle Creek Trail intersection and find river views, picnic spots, a Peace Labyrinth of painted rocks (have fun adding to it!), and playground stops including Amethyst Park, Jump River, and Caldwell Junior Bike Park. Map and Info: traillink.com/trail/sacramento-river-trail/.
Swasey Flatlands; Redding. Just west of Redding off Swasey Drive is a network of mountain bike, hiking, and equestrian trails on BLM land. Park at the first parking lot and take the ditch trail (Mule TH Connect) out of the southwest end of the parking lot. Stop at the creek crossing and look for frogs and count how many different wildflowers you can see. On your way back, consider trying the short Learner Flow Trail back to the parking lot. If your family is looking for a longer ride, simply follow the green arrows out of the first parking lot on the Mule TH Connect trail. The route is six miles of relatively flat dirt trails.
SISKIYOU COUNTY
Gateway Trail Loop; Mt. Shasta. 10.6-mile single track loop trail for intermediate level mountain bikers. A popular, mostly wooded cross-country ride. Be ready for a combination of smooth berms and a little more technical rocky area. Map: mtbproject.com/trail/7013462/gateway-trail-loop.
Greenhorn Park; Yreka. A variety of trail types that allow bikes; lake access, a playground, and viewing old mining artifacts. Map: cyclesiskiyou.com/greenhorn-park-trails/. (530)598-8887.
Lake Siskiyou Trail; Mt. Shasta. Park at one of the trail head lots off WA Barr Road and explore some of the trail around the lake. Check out the Wagon Creek Pedestrian Bridge at the northwest arm of the lake and take a family photo with a stunning view of Mt. Shasta in the background. The dirt trail around the lake is seven miles and relatively easy.
OTHER AREAS
Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail; Susanville. 25.4 miles of gravel and dirt trail following the old Fenley and Lassen Branch Line of the Southern Pacific railroad. Best with mountain bikes, possible to pull children in a tagalong or bike trailer, just more challenging. Use trailheads including Susanville, Hobo Camp, and Devils Corral to enjoy sections of the trail. Map and Info: lassenlandandtrailstrust.org/bizz-johnson-trail.
Trinity Trail Alliance; Trinity County. Multi-use easy to intermediate trails. The Weaver Basin Trail System in Weaverville has 50 miles of multi-use trails. The 4-mile Trinity Lakeshore Trail at Trinity Lake winds through shaded forest. The Ewing Reservoir Trail System in Hayfork is a 2.5-mile loop following the reservoir shoreline. Maps and Info: trinitytrailalliance.com/trails.html.
CLUBS & COALITIONS
MULTIPLE COUNTIES
California Bicycle Coalition. CalBike advocates for equitable, inclusive, and prosperous communities where bicycling helps to enable all Californians to lead healthy and joyful lives. calbike.org.
BUTTE COUNTY
Chico Corsa Cycling Club. Dedicated to advancing the sport of cycling. Riders of all levels meet monthly for group rides, rain or shine. info@chicocorsa.com. chicocorsa.com.
Chico Velo Cycling Club. Weekly rides, annual events, online local ride maps & info. chicovelo.org. (530)343-8356.
SHASTA COUNTY
Shasta Living Streets; Redding. Builds prosperous communities by creating better bikeways & trails, walkable cities and vibrant public places where active living excellence brings a strong and secure economy and enables all people in our region to lead healthy and joyful lives. Memberships available. Shastalivingstreets.org. (530)355-2230
SISKIYOU COUNTY
Cycle Siskiyou. From short day trips to extended multi-day adventures, find road & mountain biking routes suitable for all ages and levels. Descriptions and detailed maps at cyclesiskiyou.com. (530)598-8887.
Great Shasta Rail Trail Association; McCloud & Burney. This nonprofit invites community participation in planning trail amenities and helping maintain a scenic 80mi. recreational bike trail on a converted railroad corridor from McCloud to Burney. greatshastarailtrail.org. (530)926-6362.
Jefferson Mountain Bike Association; Yreka. This local chapter of the International Mountain Biking Association focuses on preserving, producing & promoting amazing mountain biking experiences in the Yreka area. jeffersonmountainbike.com.
Mount Shasta Mountain Bike Association. Nonprofit dedicated to designing, building & maintaining world-class trail systems in the Mt. Shasta area. Official chapter of the International Mountain Biking Association. mtsmba.org.
Shasta Gravity Youth Mountain Bike Adventure; Mt Shasta. Mountain bike shuttles, skills clinics, and guided tours. shastagravityadventures.com. (530)340-2908.
