I live in Northern Ca, and been riding off/on for about 20 yrs. I try to ride twice a week if I can, but only to the places that are near me, Hollister & Clear Creek mainly. I'm 35 yrs old and try to stick with Trails, Woods, type of rididng. What are some other good spots here on the West coast for this type of riding?
Oregon has just about everything you could want for riding environments... dunes, woods, desert... you name it. Check with the forest service for current restrictions, available facilities, etc.
I've never ridden near Tillamook or Grants Pass, but I keep hearing GREAT things about those areas.
No doubt Oregon has excellent riding, but you don't have to drive quite that far! Many of the popular places in the Mendocino and El Dorado National Forests are a long drive from San Jose, but well worth it when conditions are good.
First of all- Welcome to DRN! Try www.offroadrider.com. There are tons of places w/in 3-4 hours from you. I just hit Forresthill last weekend (near Auburn). That place is awesome! The trails are marked very well, even better than Hollister IMO. More like ski runs- miles, arrows back to the trailhead, difficulty, etc. It was pretty dusty, but even still it was better than Hollister.
There are a bunch of DRN'ers in NorCal that ride just about every other weekend. Keep checking the Places to Ride/Organized Rides section for dates, etc.
Middle Creek/Penny Pines/Elk Mtn and Stonyford in the Mendocino NF. Middle Creek is on the western side of the Mendocino NF - ~25 miles east of Ukiah (Hwy 101). Stonyford is ~25 miles west of Maxwell (I-5). Fremontguy and I were at Middle Creek last Sunday and conditions were pretty good - not too dusty with only two of us.
Ever consider Canada? We have some awesome singletrack up here. Check this litle site out. Gives a you an idea of SOME of the many great riding areas up here. http://www3.telus.net/dirtbikebc/
I agree with the Grants Pass/Medford recommendation!!!! Hope I can get back up there one of these days. Recently, I've become a big fan of Forrest Hill. Camp at Morningstar Lake.