Experience an unforgettable docent-led mountain bike adventure through some of Orange County’s most scenic and protected open space. This rewarding ride explores the diverse landscapes of Irvine Ranch Open Space, featuring panoramic ridgelines, dramatic sandstone formations, peaceful oak woodlands, and beautiful canyon trails.
We’ll begin with a gradual warm-up climb up Hicks Haul Road before continuing onto West Loma Ridge and climbing to the top of Shoestring Trail. A fast, flowing descent leads us back to Hicks Haul Road, where we’ll cross the iconic Bat Bridge and continue toward the striking Red Rocks area.
Climbing Dragonfly Trail brings us to the top of the Red Rocks Cliffs, where we’ll pause to enjoy sweeping views overlooking the entrance to Black Star Canyon, the Santa Ana Mountains, and the surrounding foothills. From there, we’ll ride the fun, rolling terrain of Raven Ridge before traversing beneath the impressive Red Rocks cliffs, where colorful layers of ancient sediment tell the geologic story of the Irvine Ranch.
A short climb takes us onto the lower slopes of Limestone Ridge before an exhilarating descent into beautiful Limestone Canyon. We’ll follow the canyon to the picturesque Dripping Springs Trail, where a shaded canopy of majestic coast live oaks provides a welcome contrast to the open ridgelines as we begin our final climb to East Loma Ridge. The ride concludes with a long, scenic descent back to the trailhead.
Designed for experienced mountain bikers in excellent physical condition, this ride features sustained climbs, fast descents, and a mix of fire roads and intermediate to advanced singletrack. Along the way, we’ll pause to regroup, catch our breath, and appreciate the remarkable natural beauty, geology, and sweeping vistas that make Irvine Ranch Open Space one of Southern California’s premier mountain biking destinations.
This intermediate-paced ride is designed for experienced riders who are in excellent physical condition and comfortable on challenging singletrack terrain. Expect a rewarding 19-mile route with approximately 2,700 feet of elevation gain, featuring a mix of sustained climbs, exhilarating descents, and a few technical sections where riders may choose to walk their bikes.
If you have at least a year of mountain biking experience and are ready for a fun, challenging ride in a truly beautiful setting, we invite you to join us.
Please note, advanced registration required, no walk-up registration is permitted.
Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-5 activity on the land. Electric Mountain Bikes of any class or type are not permitted.
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