Cycling in the San Diego Mountains and Desert

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Location: Julian (62 Miles / 1.25 Hours Northeast of Downtown San Diego); Borrego Springs (93 Miles / 2 Hours Northeast of Downtown San Diego); Palomar Mountain via Lake Henshaw (62 Miles / 1.25 Hours Northeast of Downtown San Diego).

Time: Cycling Events Take Place at Various Times During the Year

Cost: Starts at $49 per Event.

Features: Go Cycling or Mountain Biking in San Diego’s Desert and Mountains. Rides Range from 11 miles to 100 miles.

Highlights for Bike Rides in San Diego’s Mountains and Desert: The R&B Bicycle Club and Shadow Tour organize several cycling events in San Diego’s back country throughout the year. Each event provides riders a variety of ride lengths ranging from as short as 11 miles all the way up to 100 miles. Some rides are on pavement while others are on mountain bike trails. There are prizes for those who wish to compete but the focus is on having everyone enjoy the beauty of San Diego’s Mountains and Desert.

In the fall season, when the tree leaves are changing colors, you can join bike rides around the historic town of Julian, which is famous for its Apple Pies or ride up to the Palomar Mountain Observatory at 5,618 feet. In the spring, you can take in the beauty of the desert wildflowers on rides through the Anza-Borrego State Park.

Visit the web pages for the R&B Bicycle Club and Shadow Tour for dates, directions, registration, and pictures from previous events.

Traffic – Daytime travel to San Diego’s Mountains and Desert is relatively easy. After leaving San Diego on highways, the last 30 – 45 minutes of your trip will take place on curvy and hilly two-lane roads. The roads are generally wide enough to make it a comfortable drive for most drivers despite the winding roads that take you through the Cleveland National Forest and into the mountains. (You will climb to about 4,000 feet above sea level.) Traffic is a little slower during the busier months of September and October but it still moves along quite well.

Transit – There are no transit options that gets you into the areas where the bike events take place.

Find More Attractions with Similar Themes or Location: Bicycling, Borrego Springs / Northern Desert, Desert Adventure, Julian, Mountain Adventure |

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