In places, the trail bench is very narrow and exposed, with significant fall danger down the steep mountainside. However, that exposed bench provides stunning views of the massive San Gabriel mountains spreading out in all directions! As you can imagine, this may just be one of the most visually-stunning trails in the Los Angeles area.

In keeping with So Cal mountain biking, some sections of the trail are fast and buff, and others are chunky and rocky. Some sections of trail feature loose-over-hardpack conditions and even scree and sliding rocks that have fallen down from the steep mountainside.

Since this loop is located so high in the mountains, you should always expect inclement weather and plan for the worst. While the weather in sunny Los Angeles may be beautiful as ever, riding at over 5,000 feet is a completely different story. Be sure to check the weather, start early in the day, and bail out of the weather looks like it’s changing.

Finally, the high altitude of this ride means that it has a shorter riding season than many other trails in the region. Strawberry Peak routinely receives snow in the winter, so plan accordingly.

Sources: https://www.singletracks.com/mtb-trails/10-best-mountain-bike-trails-angeles-national-forest/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aE7Yor0QJc