Shit, where do I start. Let’s cover South OC:
Dana Point to San Clemente, Doheny state beach following coast hwy all the way to the beginning of Trestles, the freshly paved street paralleling that, caminito capistrano
The always pretty clean San Juan Capistrano bike trail from Doheny inland all the way into Ortega Hwy
the boardwalk from Monarch beach, starting from salt creek parking lot wrapping around the Ritz, under PCH, then going up into salt creek trail ending at Chapparosa park. pavement gets more shit as you go but still worth it, continuing onto golden lantern or turn around.
Then aliso creek trail that spans from Aliso canyon all the way to cook’s corner.
Forgetting bike trails, Alton Parkway, from top of Foothill Ranch, all the way down to Irvine Blvd, an absolute DREAM section of all mild downhill, freshly paved couple years ago, like riding on silk.
And of course, don’t foget the 133 hwy from el toro rd until laguna beach. Do this at rush-hour ish and you will be blasting past cars heading to the beach down the bike lane, or go the other way, eh! Decent amount of debris on the road from frequent mountain bike traffic, but fun still!
Circling back in, the San Diego creek trail, starting from the Spectrum mall, ALL the way into the beginning of back bay. Think you got range? Do the loop! 1 wooden bridge crossing and some shitty water drainage gaps underneath bridge crossings, but above ground sections are smoooth.
But you ain’t done, oh no. How bout a detour off that trail? The University trail, intercepts the San diego creek trail, heading into UCI. Starts out as smooth, then all of a sudden you’re carving through sand canyon wash. The segmented concrete disrupts flow a bit but shred it anyway. Be sure to do a couple loops on UCI campus as it is a gigantic circle!
After you’re done shredding back bay, it’s time to go back, but forget going back to irvine spectrum. Get off the trail at Barranca parkway and go up Harvard to pick up Peter’s canyon trail, take it inland until you deadend at portola, or turn right before the train tracks to shred down the perfectly made for high speed carving Walnut Trail.
The Jeffrey Open Space trail is definitely worth mentioning too, as is the Hicks Canyon trail. Pacific Island Drive, Newport Coast Dr, Jamboree and Tustin Ranch road are all honorable mentions, and skyline drive in Tustin is a worthy night time shred.
