The January 2025 Eaton Fire burned much of the San Gabriel front range right above Pasadena, and a lot of the classic foothill trail is closed while it recovers. There’s still legal dirt close by if you know where the closure line falls. Here are the local clubs posting mountain bike rides, and when each one is out next.
No cycling clubs listed nearby yet.
Where to mountain bike in Pasadena
Start with the closure. The Angeles National Forest’s Eaton Fire order (Forest Order 05-01-26-04, in effect from January 7, 2026 through December 2027) keeps the burned trails above Altadena shut, and that list includes the best-known ones: Sam Merrill, Echo Mountain, the Mount Lowe Railway grade, Castle Canyon and Idlehour. Treat anything inside the burn footprint as off-limits until the forest reopens it.
El Prieto and the Brown Mountain fire road, tucked above the Arroyo Seco beside JPL, aren’t on the closure list. They’re still the nearest real singletrack-and-fire-road loop to Pasadena: a dirt-road climb, a descent down Brown Mountain, then the twisting El Prieto trail to finish. Conditions near a fresh burn change fast, so check the forest’s alerts page before you go.
West of the Arroyo, in the San Rafael Hills, Cherry Canyon Open Space in La Cañada Flintridge never burned. Its fire roads are open to bikes and make a gentle weeknight loop close to town. Further southwest, the Verdugo Mountains are another unburned ridge to climb. Neither is dramatic, but both get you on dirt without touching the closed front range.
Trails reopen in stages, and an old map won’t tell you which. A local club is the quickest way to find out what’s actually open.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still mountain bike near Pasadena after the Eaton Fire?
Yes, some of it. The Angeles National Forest’s Eaton Fire closure order (Forest Order 05-01-26-04, effective January 7, 2026 through December 31, 2027) keeps the burned foothill trails above Altadena shut, including Sam Merrill, Echo Mountain, Mount Lowe, Castle Canyon and Idlehour. El Prieto and the Brown Mountain fire road aren’t on that list, and Cherry Canyon in La Cañada Flintridge is unburned and open. Check the forest’s alerts page before you ride.
Where is the El Prieto trailhead relative to Pasadena?
Just northwest of town, above the Arroyo Seco next to JPL in Altadena. A common loop climbs a fire road, descends Brown Mountain and finishes on the El Prieto singletrack: roughly eight miles and over 1,200 feet of climbing. It’s close to the burn area, so confirm it’s open on the Angeles National Forest alerts page before you drive over.
Is there any riding that didn't burn?
Yes. Cherry Canyon Open Space in La Cañada Flintridge, in the San Rafael Hills west of the Arroyo, is unburned and has fire roads open to bikes close to town. The Verdugo Mountains to the southwest are the other unburned option while the front range recovers.
How do clubs end up on this page?
A club shows up here when it has posted a mountain bike ride on RiderFinder or Strava recently, or has one coming up. We never add a club because of its name or description, so the list reflects rides clubs actually post.