San Diego, January, 2-3 days to mountain bike or run, where?

[jh_on_the_cape]

Looking for suggestions for some riding after a meeting in SD. I like mountain biking and trail running.
I was going to rent a car and go to Joshua Tree (never been there) and do some long day hikes and stay in a motel at night. I can't really bring full backpacking gear. Any specific loops you can recommend?
And / or
a long day of mountain biking, I should be able to rent a nice bike and I don't really want to deal with navigation. Should be well signed and straightforward. Long climb and long descent would be cool. And out into the hills, not a tangle of trails in a small space like a i have at home. Like the Sedona or Kingdom Trails of SoCal. I will be doing this on a weekday.
Noble Canyon for that?

Thanks!

[Ken Robb]

Noble Canyon is a local classic. Some guys pair up and leave one car at the bottom, drive to the top, ride down the trail, take car #1 back to the top to collect car #2. Some of my favorite riding is around the Big Laguna trails near the top of Noble Canyon. I like to enter off Sunrise Highway. OTOH since you want a climb maybe park at the bottom to climb and then ride back down. If you're not too pooped when you get to the top the Big Laguna Trail would be a fun cross-country ride before you head back down.

Orchard Hill is a great B and B/country inn right in the town of Julian. Probably $250 +/- but worth it if you want more than a place to shower and sleep. Check their website. There are quite a few quiet country roads nearby for running too.

[DrSpoke]

http://www.mountainbikebill.com/

[fourflys]

hit up these guys... they have some great trails out their back door and know of plenty more...

http://www.nbbikes.com

[jimcav]

in addition to noble, penasquitos canyon has nice trails and i loved riding the big loop at lake Cuyamaca, which is not quite an hour east on I-8
a short but beautiful trail run is from ocean beach pier out to the end of sunset cliffs--to the beach below Point Loma Nazarene University. Haven't done that since 2010 so there could have been erosion issues, do that and then negate it all by having a burger at Hodad's in Ocean Beach

[jh_on_the_cape]

thanks that looks promising.

Originally Posted by fourflys

hit up these guys... they have some great trails out their back door and know of plenty more...

http://www.nbbikes.com

[Abelicoln]

I'll second the trails at Laguna Mountain. Nice and flowy for MTB or trail running and less than an hour from downtown.

[jh_on_the_cape]

Where would you go for a weekend of riding/hiking/nature? within 3ish hours drive?

[ptourkin]

Originally Posted by jh_on_the_cape

Where would you go for a weekend of riding/hiking/nature? within 3ish hours drive?

From San Diego? Idyllwild. Contact Hub Cyclery for rentals and info.

[Ken Robb]

In January there could very well be snow in Idylwild. It's also possible but less likely around Big Laguna Trail.

[Schmed]

Turner Bikes is up in Temecula (Murrieta) and I think they let you borrow (a really sweet) bike to use (demo) on their local trails.

[jh_on_the_cape]

Originally Posted by Schmed

Turner Bikes is up in Temecula (Murrieta) and I think they let you borrow (a really sweet) bike to use (demo) on their local trails.

I had a turner 5 spot for many years!

[jh_on_the_cape]

Originally Posted by Ken Robb

In January there could very well be snow in Idylwild. It's also possible but less likely around Big Laguna Trail.

Thanks. Noble Canyon looks pretty good!

[ofcounsel]

If you're up for an 1 1/2 hour drive from San Diego and riding/running over the weekend, I'd recommend riding my local trails in Orange County. January is a great time to ride, provided it's not raining. Whiting Ranch + The Luge Figure 8 loop is a popular ride. You can extend the Luge ride to for an out and bike ride to Old Camp. Thats a good 2 1/2 to 3 hours of riding.

https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/506...iting-the-luge

Alternatively, if you want a 4+ hour ride and you like to climb, consider riding Harding Truck Trail/Main Divide/Joplin/Santiago Truck Trail/Luge. The views are are great from up there.

Start here: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Co...4d-117.6203624

Then head NW up Santiago Canyon Road and make a right at Modjeska Grade. Go up and over Modjeska Grade to Modjeska Canyon Road, then make a right. Follow the road till just about the end, then veer left up Harding Truck Triail.

https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/580...ng-truck-trail

Climb till you get to Main Divide Trial. Make a Right and head past Modjeska Peak. From there, drop into Joplin Trail, which will be on your right.

https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/7026613/joplin-trail

Ride Joplin Trail to Old Camp. From Old Camp, take Santiago Truck Trail to the Luge:

https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/5066471/the-luge

From the Luge you end up at Live Oak Canyon Road. Make a right, go downhill for a mile and you're back at your car.



Alternatively, you can do Harding/Main Divide/Holy Jim. That's also a great ride. About 35 mile loop and 6000 feet of climbing. You'll feel pretty wiped after riding this one.

https://www.strava.com/activities/774939938

Aliso Woods is also a lot of fun, as is the Laguna Coast Wilderness area. Lots of trails with all sorts of skill levels covered.
https://www.mtbproject.com/directory...-regional-park

https://www.mtbproject.com/directory...ilderness-park

Also... The Santiago Truck Trail to the Luge is a GREAT evening ride! If you're out here and you want a guide to take you around at night, hit me up! Finally, a lot of these trails are good for running too.