The South Bay is honest about its gravel: there isn’t much. The beach cities are flat and paved, so the dirt is up on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, where the nature preserve opens a handful of multi-use trails to bikes. Any South Bay clubs posting gravel rides on RiderFinder show up below.
Where to ride gravel in the South Bay
The Palos Verdes Nature Preserve is it. The Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy manages it and allows bikes on designated multi-use trails across several reserves. The biggest is the Portuguese Bend Reserve on the south-facing slope above the ocean, and the usual way in is Del Cerro Park at the top of Crenshaw Boulevard in Rancho Palos Verdes. From there the wide Burma Road drops toward the coast, with narrower multi-use trails branching off.
Know the ground. The peninsula is clay, and Portuguese Bend sits on a slow, active landslide that has torn up nearby roads and trails, so the surface is rougher and more broken than most dirt. Rain turns the clay to grease and the preserve closes its trails, so check before you go and stay off them wet.
Everything else here is pavement. Palos Verdes Drive circles the peninsula with the ocean on one side, and the flat beach path runs through the beach cities, but neither is gravel. Most locals ride those to the preserve, do a dirt loop and spin home along the coast. For a longer day on dirt they drive out of the area, which is why gravel-curious riders here often join a club that organizes the trip.
Frequently asked questions
Is there gravel riding in the South Bay?
Not much. The beach cities are flat and paved, so the local dirt is on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, run by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, allows bikes on designated multi-use trails, and the Portuguese Bend Reserve is the largest piece.
Can you mountain bike or ride gravel in Portuguese Bend?
Yes, on the designated multi-use trails, including the wide Burma Road. A common start is Del Cerro Park at the top of Crenshaw Boulevard in Rancho Palos Verdes. The ground is clay and an active landslide makes it rough, so the trails close when they’re wet.
Where do South Bay riders go for longer dirt?
Out of the area. There isn’t much close by beyond the peninsula, so the Palos Verdes preserve is the local option. The beach path and Palos Verdes Drive are road routes, not gravel, but they’re how most riders link the preserve to the beach cities.
How do clubs end up on this page?
Clubs show up when they’ve posted a gravel ride on RiderFinder or Strava recently, or have one coming up. A name or description alone never gets a club listed, so the list tracks the rides clubs actually post.