To promote this great activity, we asked Thousand Trails Member, Mike Stewart, an avid biker for 13 years, to let us in on some of his favorite spots to take a ride near our California preserves.
Biking is a wonderful way to become more fit, enjoy the outdoors and explore the surrounding areas near Thousand Trails preserves. Many of the preserves are located in beautiful parts of the country that are conducive to great biking. There are three Thousand Trails preserves located in California that are perfect for an enjoyable day of biking.
The first trail is located in Morgan Hill. In addition to all of the great tree lined roads along beautiful lakes near the preserve, a member can head over by car to Anderson Lake County Park for a very safe biking adventure. The Coyote Creek Bike Trail follows the seasonal creek from Morgan Hill to San Jose for a 19-mile one-way ride. This bike path is well marked and safe for all levels of bikers, from children to senior citizens. Look for deer, coyotes, hawks and ducks along the way.
The second biking adventure is near the Lake Minden Preserve in Nicolaus. Pack the bikes and drive to Old Downtown Sacramento, about 20 minutes away, to begin one of the best bike paths on the west coast. The American River Bike Trail follows the river from Sacramento to Folsom Lake. The path is very well marked and is flat for the 32 miles one-way. Afterwards, wander through the shops and streets of Old Sacramento and enjoy a bite to eat.
The final destination for great biking is a little more adventurous because of the lack of designated bike trails. Russian River Preserve is in the middle of roads that wander through the wine country of the Alexander Valley and Russian River Valley. Purchase a bike route map ahead of time to help guide you through the region. Towns of Cloverdale, Geyserville and Healdsburg as well as the Dry Creek region offer wonderful biking opportunities while exploring the many wineries along the way.
Keep the climate in mind when you bike – in the warmer climates, summer biking can be quite warm. Also, remember to be safe. Bike with a partner and make sure you wear a helmet, have a cell phone and emergency kit with inner tubes, patch kits, a bike pump and always water. By Mike Stewart