Wood Canyon to Cholla to Mathis Canyon Loop

Dogs No Dogs

E-Bikes Unknown

This is a fun loop of Aliso Creek Canyon on a hardtail or XC bike and is compromised of the Wood Canyon Trail, Cholla Trail and Mathis Canyon Trail.

Most of the descent trails in this park require a full enduro bike, such as Rock-It Trail or Car Wreck. If you tried going down one of these trails on a hardtail, you would probably be airlifted out. This loop is a way to enjoy the park if you are not DH equipped.

Start at the parking lot or street on Awma Rd. Ride out on Aliso Canyon Rd. The Aliso Canyon Rd is a paved road, however, after about a mile, there is a wide singletrack dirt trail that runs adjacent to the road. Make a right turn onto the Wood Canyon Trail at the Aliso Canyon Rd gate.

Wood Canyon Trail is a fire road. The surface is hard pack, however, at the beginning of the trail, there is quite a bit of sand and loose soil.

The Cholla Trail is a fairly steep and technical singletrack with a few rock gardens to navigate. Better to walk through these sections than end up in a cactus if you are a beginner. Once you reach the top of the Cholla Trail, make a left onto the West Ridge Trail. This trail is a fire road that offers some nice views of Orange County and the ocean. The road is mostly hard pack with a few smooth rock sections and a few sandy sections. There is one steep uphill section of this trail just before the left turn onto Mathis Canyon Trail.

The downhill section on Mathis Canyon Trail is also a fire road descent. Watch for hikers and other mountain bikers coming up the trail. From Mathis Canyon, make a right back onto Wood Canyon Trail and finally, a left onto Aliso Canyon Rd.