In the San Fernando Valley, the mountain biking is on the rim. The valley floor is a flat grid, but the Santa Monica Mountains form its southern wall, and the unpaved spine of Mulholland runs right along the crest with the whole basin below. These are the valley clubs posting mountain bike rides, and when they’re next out.
No cycling clubs listed nearby yet.
Where to mountain bike in the San Fernando Valley
Valley riding centers on Dirt Mulholland, the graded dirt continuation of Mulholland Drive along the ridge above Encino and Tarzana. Two climbs get you up. From Tarzana, the Caballero Canyon trail switchbacks up a chaparral canyon to the ridge road. From Encino, start at the Marvin Braude gateway at the south end of Reseda Boulevard and climb a fire road to the same crest. Either way you’re on a wide, rolling dirt road with long sightlines.
The landmark up top is San Vicente Mountain Park, a Nike missile radar station during the Cold War. The old radar tower platform still stands, with the valley on one side and the Westside on the other, and most riders use it as the halfway turnaround on a ridge out-and-back.
For more than a ridge spin, drop south off Dirt Mulholland into Topanga State Park’s fire roads. That makes a real loop with real climbing, and a longer, more committing day, so bring water and know where you can bail. It’s exposed chaparral with almost no shade, so start early in summer. Fire recovery sometimes closes sections on the Topanga side, so check before you commit to the long version.
There’s no lift-served flow trail here; it’s classic LA fire-road riding with views. A local club is the quickest way to learn the connectors and the best times to go.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I mountain bike in the San Fernando Valley?
Along its southern wall, where Dirt Mulholland, the unpaved stretch of Mulholland, follows the Santa Monica Mountains crest. Climb up from Caballero Canyon in Tarzana or from the end of Reseda Boulevard at the Marvin Braude gateway, then roll the ridge past San Vicente Mountain Park.
What is at San Vicente Mountain Park?
A Cold War Nike missile radar site, right on Dirt Mulholland. The old radar tower platform still stands and makes a natural turnaround with a view over the whole basin. It’s an easy out-and-back from either the Caballero Canyon or Reseda Boulevard side, and a common halfway point on a crest ride.
Can I link the valley to Topanga?
Yes. From the crest you can drop south off Dirt Mulholland into Topanga State Park’s fire roads, turning a ridge spin into a real loop. It adds climbing and makes for a longer day, so carry water and know your bail-out points. Check for trail or fire-recovery closures on the Topanga side first.
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.