Fullerton Loop - Mountain Bike Trail

Fullerton Loop is a family-friendly trail with moderate difficulty and rewarding epic views.

The Fullerton Loop is an 11-mile trail in downtown Fullerton. The trail runs clockwise and has a diverse terrain including a bridal trail, true singletrack, railroad adjacent sections, and some steep, rutty climbs. You will enjoy the fast downhills and ‘extra credit.’ the most rewarding sections are the scenic vistas and the shady lakeside. The trail has no restrictions, but it gets closed when it rains. Only a few parts are well-signed, but you must use Google Earth to get the route right for most sections, especially the junctions. Here are the bikeway’s quick facts;

Before you go:

Drinking water

Restrooms

Fee required

Lift service

Fat bike grooming

Family Friendly

Night riding

E-bikes allowed

Dogs Allowed

Obstacles

Shuttles

Detailed Trail Description

The Fullerton Loop is one of the few trails with great variation in Fullerton. The biking route was originally the Pacific Electric Railway line route in Fullerton. Start your ride from the park at the courthouse. Get on the bridal trail and ride north to Hiltscher Park Trail. Cross Euclid and ride past Sunny Hills high school. The trail is a long steady climb from the tracks to Tree Park. You will pass Grisson Park.

Ride onto Rosecrans Ave and go for about a mile before turning east onto Horse Trail. Brace yourself for many climbs and drops on the Horse trail. Ride across Gilbert and get back to Euclid through Nora Kuttner's trail. Keep riding until you get to Laguna Lake. You can take a break at the scenic lakeside before proceeding southward to the train tracks on the bridal trail.

Ride the Brea Dam trail, which runs above the small Brea dam. The trail continues along a golf course, goes under Bastanchury Road, and through a wilderness. Keep riding over Brea Dam again onto Harbor Blvd and back to the courthouse where you parked.

Additional Trail Features

• Sunny Hills high school.
• Grisson Park.
• Parking at courthouse
• Over 20 crossings

Sights of Interest, landscapes, views

The Fullerton Loop does not offer the best sights of interest or views, but it isn’t entirely bland either. You can stop to take in the beautiful view of Laguna Lake. The scenic lake view is calming and rewarding. The dam below the Bea dam trail and golf course also offers epic views and tranquility. As if that’s enough, you will come by beautiful Canadian Rockies, alpine botany, and flora, including meadows, pine, and wildflowers like tiger lilies. The tiger lilies are more common on the slopes that get the most sun.

In the wilderness through which Bastanchury Road passes, you may encounter various bird species and animals like squirrels, snakes, coyotes, and rabbits.

Recommendations/Precautions

• Be mindful of other trail users, as it is popular among hikers and families.
• The trail gets closed immediately after rain.
• The trail veers onto some alpine farming pastures. You may encounter cows grazing, especially in the warmer seasons.
• You will get better views if you complete the trail clockwise. If you ride the trail in an anticlockwise direction, you will encounter more steep sections than great views.
• The trail gets full in good weather. By 9.30 am, it is usually busy with hikers, bikers, joggers, and families with their dogs.
• Carry plenty of drinking water as there are no water points.