Santa Monica’s mountain biking is in the range that shares its name. The coast is flat and paved, but the Santa Monica Mountains start a few miles inland and run all the way to Malibu, with fire roads and bike-legal trail the length of them. Below are the local clubs posting mountain bike rides, with each one’s next date.
Where to mountain bike near Santa Monica
The closest serious riding is Topanga State Park. From Trippet Ranch, fire roads climb to Eagle Rock and on to Hub Junction, where several of the park’s dirt roads meet, then link down toward the ocean or across the ridge. They’re wide, exposed roads with real climbing, not flow trail, so bring water and start early in summer.
Threading through the whole range is the Backbone Trail. The National Park Service opens about 43 of its 67 miles to bikes; the Boney Mountain Wilderness and the tightest technical sections are closed to them. The bike-legal segments are stitched together with hiking-only ones, so pull up the park service’s Backbone map before a longer point-to-point and know where to drop off.
The big caveat on this side of the mountains is fire. The January 2025 Palisades Fire burned above Pacific Palisades and into the eastern range, and recovery closures have shut trailheads and access roads there. Until they reopen, the reliable riding is the unburned western end of the range around Agoura Hills and Malibu, still within this page’s radius.
The good trail is spread along a long, narrow range reached by canyon roads, so timing and shuttles matter more than at a compact bike park. A local club knows which gates are open and where to leave a car.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I mountain bike near Santa Monica?
Up in the Santa Monica Mountains just inland. Topanga State Park has fire roads open to bikes out to Eagle Rock and Hub Junction, and the bike-legal sections of the Backbone Trail run the range west toward Malibu. The January 2025 Palisades Fire burned a swathe above Pacific Palisades, so check closures first.
Which parts of the Backbone Trail allow bikes?
About 43 of its 67 miles, per the National Park Service. Bikes are banned in the Boney Mountain Wilderness and on the narrow, technical stretches that aren’t built for shared use. The park service’s Backbone Trail map marks the bike-legal segments, so check it before you plan a point-to-point.
Did the Palisades Fire affect the trails?
Yes. The January 2025 Palisades Fire burned a large area above Pacific Palisades and into the eastern Santa Monica Mountains, and recovery closures have hit trails and access roads there. Lean on the western end of the range around Agoura Hills and Malibu, which was outside the burn, and check current trail status before you drive out.
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.