If your idea of a fun bike ride doesn\u2019t involve full-body spandex and an all-day trek up an insurmountable hill, then look no further than the 10-mile ride.<\/p>\n
Although the nine-mile loop in our own beloved Golden Gate Park<\/a> may seem hard to beat with its\u00a0scenic gardens, historic windmills, and grazing bison, we discovered there are plenty of short-but-sweet trails near SF worth exploring.<\/p>\n From training-wheel-friendly family jaunts to rides that crank up the heat, these outings have you covered. So grab your bike (and helmet) and get the endorphins flowing on one of these best 10-mile bike rides around San Francisco Bay<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Ride:<\/strong>\u00a0China Camp State Park<\/a>\u00a0| <\/strong>San Rafael Ride<\/strong>: Almaden Quicksilver Park<\/a>\u00a0| <\/strong>Almaden Ride:<\/strong> Angel Island State Park<\/a>\u00a0| <\/strong>San Francisco Bay Ride:<\/strong> Joaquin Miller Park\u00a0| <\/strong>Oakland Ride:<\/strong> Marin Headlands <\/strong>| Marin Ride:<\/strong> Skeggs Point (El Corte Madera Open Space Preserve)\u00a0| <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>San Mateo Photo: Kevin<\/a><\/em>, wink <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If your idea of a fun bike ride doesn\u2019t involve full-body spandex and an all-day trek up an insurmountable hill, then look no further than the 10-mile ride. Although the nine-mile loop in our own beloved Golden Gate Park may seem hard to beat with its\u00a0scenic gardens, historic windmills, and grazing bison, we discovered there […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":11806,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53,104,323,6,52],"tags":[322],"class_list":{"0":"post-3601","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-adventure","8":"category-bicycle","9":"category-bike-guide","10":"category-day-trips","11":"category-family","12":"tag-bike-month"},"yoast_head":"\n
\nRoute:<\/strong>\u00a0Take the Shoreline Mountain Bike Trail, just past the gate on Bay View Trail at the park entrance.
\nRisk (Difficulty Level):\u00a0Easy
\nReward:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>This trail is one of the only singletrack bike rides in the Bay Area that is still beginner-friendly. None of the climbs are too taxing, and the ride also features beautiful views of the San Pablo Bay.
\nRefuel Stop:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Tuck into some hearty Puerto Rican fare at the always crowded Sol Food<\/a>.
\nReality Check:<\/strong><\/strong>\u00a0China Camp State Park is located on the site of a Chinese shrimp- fishing village that sprang up in the 1880s, and you can visit a\u00a0museum that describes early Chinese settlement inside the park.
\nDirections:\u00a0Take Golden Gate Transit<\/a>\u00a0bus 101 to the San Rafael Transit Center (about 54 minutes), and walk or bike to the trail head (about six miles).<\/p>\n
\nRoute<\/strong>: This 10.5-mile loop can be completed in two hours and offers beautiful views of the Guadalupe Reservoir. Start at the Hacienda park entrance.
\nRisk (Difficulty Level):<\/strong><\/strong> Medium (one substantial hill)
\nReward:<\/strong> <\/strong>This scenic ride, while sure to get the blood pumping, is also suitable for families looking to get out of the house. The whole ride takes place on dirt fire roads, which are easier for younger riders to navigate. Plus, the one main hill of the loop is out of the way within the first two miles, so once you get past that you know it\u2019s smooth sailing.
\nRefuel Stop:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>After your ride, stop by the Burrito Factory<\/a>\u00a0(4750 Almaden Expressway, 408-448-7180)\u00a0for some moderately priced Mexican food. Depending on the day and time you go, you could also be treated to some live local music.
\nReality Check:<\/strong> <\/strong><\/strong>The Almaden Quicksilver Park spent nearly a century as a hub of quicksilver (mercury) mining. Much of this history remains on property.
\nDirections:\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong>It’s fastest to drive to Almaden, but you can pedal off your footprint with the ride.<\/p>\n
\nRoute:<\/strong> The full loop of the island is six miles of paved road, with an additional three-mile upper loop on a fire road.
\nRisk (Difficulty Level):<\/strong> <\/strong>Medium (a few substantial grades)
\nReward:<\/strong> <\/strong>This unique ride circles the whole island, giving an amazing view of the Bay from all sides.
\nStop:<\/strong> <\/strong>Stop into Cove Caf\u00e9<\/a>, which features food made from scratch and produce grown in the island’s own organic garden. If you\u2019re in the mood for something a little more upbeat, the Cove Cantina Oyster Bar features beer, oysters, and free live music in the summer.
\nReality Check<\/strong>:<\/strong> <\/strong>Part of the excitement of this ride is just getting there. The ferry trip gives this nearby island a more adventurous feel, especially if you are bringing kids with you. You can also bike over the Golden Gate Bridge to Tiburon<\/a>, then take the ferry to Angel Island.
\n Directions:\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong>Take the Blue and Gold Fleet Ferry<\/a> from Pier 41.<\/p>\n
\nRoute:<\/strong> Take the Sequoia Bayview Trail to the Sunset Trail, and from there choose any one of the short trails in this less-than-a-square-mile park.
\nRisk (Difficulty Level):<\/strong> <\/strong>Easy (Sequoia-Bayview trail) to Difficult (Chaparral, Cinderella, and Castle Park trails\u00a0)
\n Reward:<\/strong> <\/strong>If you are looking for a more technical mountain biking experience, then Joaquin Miller Park may be your best bet. While the park does have a few family-grade trails, some of the singletracks it offers are steeper and trickier to navigate\u2014and exhilarating.
\nRefuel Stop:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Bring a picnic lunch to refuel after your ride, as the park boasts extensive picnic grounds.
\nReality Check<\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0T<\/strong>he park\u2019s location in Oakland\u2019s dense redwood groves makes any trail you choose a beautiful, scenic ride.
\nDirections:\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong>Take BART<\/a> to Fruitvale and transfer to AC Transit<\/a> bus 39 to Joaquin Miller Road:Robinson Drive.<\/p>\n
\nRoute:<\/strong> There are a number of trails to choose from here. For a trip that\u2019s about 9.5 miles, start on the Marincello Trail, followed by the Bobcat, Miwok, and Old Springs trails.
\nRisk (Difficulty Level):<\/strong> Easy-Medium
\nReward:<\/strong> For scenic views and a ride that\u2019s not too intimidating or strenuous, look no further than the Marin Headlands. This huge watershed area has been set aside for recreation and wildlife, so it\u2019s the perfect place to get away from the city.
\nRefuel Stop:<\/strong> The Bay-view deck of Horizons Restaurant<\/a><\/strong> is the perfect place to sit and relax with a cocktail after your ride. The boatload of fresh seafood options on the menu isn\u2019t too shabby, either.
\nReality Check:<\/strong><\/strong> On Bobcat trail, you have the option of taking a short detour to Rodeo Beach. Here you can picnic, hike, or play in the waves to your inner child\u2019s content. You can also stop by the Marine Mammal Center in the headlands to visit rescued wildlife.
\nDirections:\u00a0<\/strong>Take\u00a0Golden Gate Transit<\/a>\u00a0bus 70 to Marin City-Donahue & Terners and transfer to bus 17 to Tam Junction-Shoreline & Almonte. From there bike to the trail head.<\/p>\n
\nRoute:<\/strong> Start out on Tafoni Trail, and from there take the Fir, Resolution, el Corte de Madera Creek, North Leaf, Methuselah, Giant Salamander, Timberview, and Manzanita trails. This sounds like an extreme ride, but don\u2019t worry\u2014the whole circuit is about 9.5 miles.
\nRisk (Difficulty Level):<\/strong> Medium-Difficult (a few substantial hills)
\nReward:<\/strong> This ride features a lot of technical singletracks that mountain bike enthusiasts are sure to love. Nearly all of the park is under Redwood forest cover, giving it a scenic and relaxing (and shaded) feel.
\nRefuel Stop:<\/strong> About four miles past Skeggs Point, a magical place called Alice\u2019s Restaurant awaits. Indulge in a post-ride specialty burger or salad while enjoying the relaxing atmosphere (and the people-watching offered by the motorcycle enthusiasts who frequent the restaurant.)
\nReality Check:<\/strong><\/strong> Make sure you pay attention to trail markers\u2014this park is pretty big, and it can be easy to take a wrong turn and get lost if you\u2019re not paying attention. The mix of fire roads and singletracks and the variety of the terrain you will encounter makes this ride exciting and refreshing.
\nDirections:\u00a0<\/strong>Take Caltrain<\/a>\u00a0to Menlo Park, the SamTrans (from Merrill and Santa Cruz) to Tripp Road and Woodside Road. From there, you can bike to the trail head. (Note that this journey takes nearly three hours.)<\/p>\n