Random riding tip for all mountain bikers, every time:
If you see other trail users, give them a friendly hello and slow down when you pass them. A little goodwill between mountain bikers, hikers, and equestrians can go a long way towards keeping all the great trails around here open for everybody. Also, if there are horses, it’s courteous to walk your bike past them. Have a nice mountain bike and you are all set for a fun-filled experience. You can easily find the best mountain bike under 300, if you spend some time researching on the internet.
Arastradero Preserve:
Home of the closest trails to campus, this preserve is great for beginning and intermediate riders. If you climb all the way to the top of the preserve (which isn’t too far), you’ll reach some pretty fun jumps and bowls to play around on.
Directions: ~15-20 minute bike ride. Get onto Junipero Serra/Foothill Expressway, usually via Campus Drive. Take a left onto Junipero-Serra, follow that until you hit the big intersection with Page Mill. Take a right at that intersection and get onto Old Page Mill Road. Closed to cars = good. Follow that for a while, and it’ll eventually merge with Page Mill again. BE VERY CAREFUL when you merge and cross over a lane here – cars are coming down Page Mill really fast and turning right to get onto the highway. Keep going straight on Page Mill, go past one stop sign, and then take a right at Arastradero Road, which is the next stop sign. You’ll see the preserve on your left after climbing up the road a little bit.
Windy Hill:
It’s a hill, and it’s very often windy. Go figure. Great for training rides, as riding up the hill is a pretty decent 20-30 minute climb. Once at the top, enjoy the awesome view before descending. Watch out for signs posted which say if bikes are allowed on certain trails – most singletrack trails are unfortunately closed to bikes. Also, keep a decent speed on the downhill and stay in control – hikers could be around some of the comers.
Directions: ~20-25 min. bike ride. Get onto Junipero-Serra/Foothill Expressway, usually via Campus Drive. Take a right onto Junipero-Serra, then take a left at the light on Alpine. Follow Alpine for a while as it climbs gradually, then take a right onto Portola Road. After a mile or two you should see a sign for Windy Hill on your left.
Skegg’s Point / El Corte de Madera Open Space Preserve:
The Stanford mountain biker’s favorite place to ride. Once you ride here you’ll understand. : preserve filled with beautiful singletrack through the redwoods, some challenging technical sections, ler climbs. Awesome stuff.
Directions: 25-30 minute drive. Get onto Junipero-Serra/Foothill Expressway, usually via Campus Drive. Take a right on Junipero Serra, veer right at the intersection with Sand Hill Road, and then take an immediate left on Sand Hill Road. Sand Hill will cross over Highway 280, and after going up and down some hills, keep your eye open for a right on Portola road. There will be a fork in the road shortly; take the left fork. You’ll get to a T-intersection with 84, and you’ll take a left there (which will really be more a u-turn — it’s a really sharp turn). Drive-up 84, a nice windy mountain road, and you’ll end up at the intersection with Skyline Blvd. Take a right onto Skyline, follow that a couple miles, and you’ll see a big parking area on your right after a sign saying “Vista Point”. Park there and the trailhead is 30 seconds down the road on the left.
BMX Park:
This is a really fun place to practice your dirt jumping skills.
Directions: ~15-20 min. bike ride. Get onto Galvez Street on campus, follow that and it’ll turn into Embarcadero Road when you cross over El Camino. Go straight on Embarcadero all the way as it crosses over Highway 101, then take a left at the second light, which will be Geng Road. Go straight on Geng Road, past a parking lot and a baseball field. You’ll see a wide trail/levee on your right. Follow that path a little way, eventually you’ll cross over a bridge and you’ll want to double back on a similar path going the opposite direction on the other side of the creek. You’ll see the park on your right.
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basis to obtain updated from hottest gossip.
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