Mendocino gearhead getaways for fun and fitness
By Patti Pietschmann, Travel Diva Active vacations are all the buzz among fitness-conscious generations. And bike riding is particularly popular, especially in groups of friends and families. That said, there's a peddler's paradise in California's Mendocino County which offers an immense tapestry of 24 state and national parks, hundreds of dedicated trails and some of the sweetest turf known to both traditional and E-bike riders.
Happy trails
Many trails are just outside of key destinations providing an easy day adventure, while others connect to the true outback, lending credence to the term “off-grid.” Add a dose of wildlife, relics from the logging days and a top-shelf trail maintenance team and a vacation atop two wheels just picked up speed. www.visitmendocino.com/gearhead-getaways.
Along Mendocino’s interior off Highway 101, Willits is home to 30 dynamic trails, largely rated beginner to moderate. Novices can get a taste for the sport via a network of flat trails in the Brookline Greenbelt. The short yet sweet singletrack Jurassic or Anchorage trails can be expanded via longer connectors. Another option is the up and down, soft and flowy Swoop Logg singletrack with a slight downhill slope and optional log ride; check the Swoop Loggy Logg signage at the entrance. Riders can tie in additional routes including Miss Gnomer, a 3,274 ft., popular singletrack downhill delivering a quick five-minute thrill.For a dreamy day-long ride, head inland from the Pacific to Mendocino Headlands State Park, offering seven trails skirting the placid Big River. Within the Headland’s boundaries, Big River State Park steps up with a moderate day ride via the 29-mile Big River Loop. The route includes 45 trails with an elevation climb of 3,126-ft., and offers a variety of single- and doubletrack options as well as old logging roads that flow with the river. Gentle hills, an abandoned quarry and a small gulch with wood ducks and blue herons set the stage. Left at the fork delivers Lily’s swimming hole for a dip; the loop is approximately six hours at a moderate pace.
Sweet dreams
Make an escape by the shore at The Stanford Inn by the Sea, a 41-room retreat set on 10-acres overlooking Mendocino Bay. Rustic and rejuvenating, this inn offers a variety of wellness programs as well as the popular plant-based Ravens Restaurant. Next door, bikes can be rented at Catch-A-Canoe with the added plus of a direct hit to the Big River Trail. www.stanfordinn.com, www.catchacanoe.com/mendocino-bicycle-rentals-big-river-stanford-inn/.
More routes and rooms
Along Mendocino’s interior off Highway 101, Willits is home to 30 dynamic trails, largely rated beginner to moderate. Novices can get a taste for the sport via a network of flat trails in the Brookline Greenbelt. The short yet sweet singletrack Jurassic or Anchorage trails can be expanded via longer connectors. Another option is the up and down, soft and flowy Swoop Logg singletrack with a slight downhill slope and optional log ride; check the Swoop Loggy Logg signage at the entrance. Riders can tie in additional routes including Miss Gnomer, a 3,274 ft., popular singletrack downhill delivering a quick five-minute thrill.
Bed down in Willits at the 22-room Old West Inn, complete with themed rooms and a Tesla charging station. On tap is a bountiful $5 breakfast at the Lumberjack Restaurant and plenty of local color. www.theoldwestinn.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral.
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Sporting 11 trails of varying ability, Mendocino National Forest is the stop for an immersion course in capability. Go big or go home via the 167-mile Mendocino Backcountry Discovery Trail, which stretches north east of Covelo. Here, the 21,921-ft., climb is certain to max the muscles with an aggressive peak out at 6,443 elevation.
If they often call you 'speed-o'
Satisfying your inner speed demon at the shred-friendly Upper Powderhouse Trail just outside of Ukiah. Here, natural hips and berms set up a nice descent down a loose and steep trail dropping 7,000-ft. Although rated very difficult/black diamond, taking it slow turns this trail into a moderate ride with exceptional views of the Ukiah valley and resident wildlife. A network of novice trails also exist including the Deer Valley trail which runs 4-miles with a green/easy rating on a moderate track with a modest 1,341-ft., climb. For shuttle pick-up and drop-off, the singletrack 1.5-mile Rice-a-Roni trail delivers a downhill thrill with an 802-ft. descent.
After that workout hgh tail it to the Redwood’s River Resort in Laytonville, with a throwback A-frame lodge, cozy cabins and tent sites. Tucked deep in the sprawling redwoods along the Eel River, this is the stop for true California, as well as pulling up a barstool at the ever-buzzing Harrison’s Pub where they celebrate partying with Big Foot on a nightly basis. www.redwoodriverresort.com/.
..Another redwood romp awaits at Jackson State Demonstration Forest, which offers 77 trails mostly carved for easy to moderate riders. This is big country, with 50,000 acres of woodland land and the majority of singletrack routes in Mendocino are found, linking some 80- and 100-miles of trails through pristine redwood, fir and pine forests. Built in the 1930s by the California Conservation Corps, the Boiler Trail is a moderate jaunt easily enjoyed both ways, with a mild 154-ft., climb. Along the way, an antique boiler can be found, left behind from the logging era. The Condor, Blue Gum and Gunslinger trails are all solid start-ups leading to the only black diamond in the park – Jim’s Trail – a short fuse 700-ft., rapid descent with deep ruts, roots, steep sections and series of jagged turns requiring expert ability. Biker beware.
Just a few miles east of the village of Mendocino within Jackson Forest, 11 expertly carved Mendocino Woodland Trails are the region’s crown jewels. Tap into the moderate 4.2-mile Manly Gulch Trail for a two-hour stint out and back traversing Tan Oak, Madrone, Douglas Fir and ancient redwood groves. The singletracks interconnect for miles, winding through breathtaking forest backdrops. A few technical sections are peppered throughout in addition to mini bridges, spurs and meandering creeks. Sidenote: No dust factor.
Here you can sleep and rejuvenate at The Water Tower at the JD House which offers a contemporary spin on a ship captain’s home with a fresh, sleek design and understated elegance. Set on a side street in the village of Mendocino with plenty of space for gear, the 1870s tower features an oversized bath, wood-burning fireplace, flat screen television and iPad docking station surrounded by fragrant English gardens. www.bluedoorgroup.com.
Redwood forests meet the wine country
Give yourself a toast where the redwood forests meet wine country, Lake Mendocino steps up with a 700-acre wilderness area boasting 15 miles of biking trails and – if alfresco lodging is on the roster – 300 campsites. Just east of Ukiah, this placid playground features 19 designated trails including the 17-mile Mendocino Lake Loop and popular 2.9-mile singletrack Shakota Trail that runs along the northside of the lake. This is big country with wide open spaces and spectacular views, wildlife is abundant and the chances of catching a natural high – 100 percent. The popular Manzanita Trail, which runs from the south end of the dam to the Eastside Trail is a 3.2-mile rollercoaster, pumping up and down the hillside along the lake. There are no advanced trails here, so serious riders should look elsewhere.
Photo by Kerrick JamesThe magic of Mendocino
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.Mendocino County's magic lures nearly 1.8 million visitors annually, Many explore its 90 miles of prime Pacific coastline, 90+ wineries and 12 diverse AVAs, 24 state/national parklands and 450+ unique accommodations.
Straddling scenic Highways 1 and 101, “The Redwood Corridor,” the County delivers an ideal vortex of waves, wines and redwoods laced with historic villages and outback adventures. Located 114 mi./184 km. north of San Francisco, the region’s gateway airports are San Francisco International (SFO), Oakland International (OAK), Sacramento International Airport (SMF), and Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS). Visit Mendocino County is a non-profit destination marketing organization designed to enhance the economic vitality of the community by increasing tourism revenue. For more information, go to www.visitmendocino.com.
