Best Beginner Mountain Bike Loop | Fullerton Loop | Southern California Trail Guide 

Man Outsider I have to give you the biggest shout out! I convinced my wife and 13 yr old. daughter to join me on this ride as my wife and I have only been riding about 3 months and my daughter for 6 months. Today we traveled from the Palm Springs area and man was it worth it. Definitely killed our legs lol! Your video was so detailed we managed to not get lost and have fun. Around 7:45 of your video after that fence I said the heck with it and gave that woody area a try and oh boy lol. I ate it once in the middle because I was a bit lost and hesitated and a turn came quick...but popped up and kept it moving! We appreciate the love and dedication you have for MTB. You sharing your adventures allow us to prepare for ours! Keep it up you rock! Next up we are going to try Sky Park! Saw your video and said WTH lol!

Due to the bug epidemic, finally got my Giant, Fathom 29r1 & hit the trail and wrecked 3 times and I loved it! My bike got it's fist war scar and I got two really bloody knees for my efforts. I learned a lot though: In fact, here are my top 4 lessons learned: 1) I am not The Outsider 2) Respect the climbs & just because a lot of the track classifies as a sort of gravel ride, bring your tire pressure down under 30psi 3) Adjust your shocks and give yourself a good Rebound as there are sections that will bounce you off your bike if your fork is too stiff. This is especially important if you have a Hardtail like my Fathom 29r1 And #4, Mountain Bikes are true tanks and can take a beating; I was amazed. My ego was a little inflated after hearing from so many folks The Loop was easy and as I said before, I wrecked REALLY BAD 3 times, so respect it. I'll list them out in separate comments: Anyhow, great video, Outsider!! You da man!!

I ride the loop almost every week and have learned to love & respect it for what it is. It's not an epic remote scenic ride but it's right in the hood. Ride it with some buddies and share a cold one afterwards. Funny how people think it's easy (which it is for the most part) but a lot of people have taken some good falls there.

I've hiked portions of this from time to time. Interesting watching someone bike it.

great video. i used to ride that trail all the time years ago its nice to see a vid to jog the memory again.

Thanks for the upload! i used to bike here every weekend 10years ago. brings back memories!

Best Fully Loop video I've seen yet. Great job 🤙🏼

Beginner here, Been doing the loop every Saturday morning for the past past month, and I’m loving it! I didn’t know about the dam section, will be going thru it this Saturday 💪🏻

Thank you for showing this trail! I have little kids and this is perfect for them at this point. I hope I can take them on real trails soon, but I'm still researching.

This is the best FL video I have seen. You did a great job of showing most of the important parts. I used to ride it weekly in the 90s back when it wasn’t nearly as smooth. There were two sections you missed that we rode every time but to your credit, there are really an endless amount of variations you could create with so many options. I used to ride it with a group of desert racers that would smoke me on the downhill but this course is so flat I would drop them on the climbs bad enough that they couldn’t catch up. We used to have names for every section. Some of them stuck and we heard others using them. The tree covered area just before you cross Euclid is called Sherwood Forest. There are at least two sections you showed that are new and look great. I have been bikeless for about 5 years. I just turned 50 and am picking up a Specialized Epic Hardtail in 2 days. I have had FL in my crosshairs for many years, always yearning to go back. It is a perfect cross country course well suited for a hardtail. We used to finish it in under an hour with no shortcuts. Hopefully I see you out there when I finally saddle up again. Thanks more this outstanding video covering one of SoCal’s best gems of a ride. Pound for pound it is hard to beat IMO. Cheers.

Thanks for this video. Im new to mountain biking and I was intimidated to try this trail until I watched your video. I have ridden it twice now and am super pumped to check out other trails! Thanks again!

Best Fullerton loop video ever! Great job!

There's an extra credit climb after the golf course to the left up Panorama Trail. Best view of the ride for sure. Well done video man, keep it up. Subscribed!

Best Floop video I have seen. Keep up the great work. We appreciate your efforts!

This morning was my first MTB ride ever and I rode the Fullerton Loop on a Specialized hardtail. Your GoPro definitely doesn't do those climbs justice. I had to walk up half of them. You made them look so easy! Amazing video - I didn't get lost at all due watching this video 10 times. Love The Outsider content. Stumbling upon one of your videos a month ago inspired me to make the MTB purchase. I remember watching you skate back in the day. We appreciate the videos. Thanks.

Watched the video but didn't finish the whole thing, then when my son and I tried it for the 1st time we got lost halfway, lol! Watching it again in its entirety and I already recognize where we strayed off the trail. Thanks for the video, it's really helpful!

I watched this video at least once before, and this time through I caught what I did wrong on the trail on Thursday (25 May 2023). I didn't turn right after the green gate😖. I cut off the entire Brea Dam part, just went back down Harbor. I'd ridden all the way up from home in Anaheim, by then I was beat. I will do it right next time. Thanks again for this awesome video. It's a great guide for this trail

I walk the trial 2-3 times a week just got a hardtail Santa Cruz. Can't wait thanks.

Thanks for the upload man. I've done the loop several times in the past. I'm gonna take my step son whose 12 to the loop we got him his 1st mtb. He's excited to do it. This guide really helps. Cuz. I probably forgot how to navigate the through the whole thing. Lol 👍🏽

I’m here at the loop wearing a green fisherman hat and nikes I love this loop trail ..leaving at 1pm ..today is my first time and will not be my last ! Thanks again big dawg!

I wish I saw this video before I went out today lol.. got so lost!

I did the loop today, awesome fitness trail. I will try to ride every other week early in the day when its still cool, definitely when the weather cools down. Be Strong & Shout At The Devil.

👍Thanks for making this. Gonna ride it tomorrow for my first time in about 8 years and second time overall. I couldn't remember the route so this is really helpful. Thanks again!

Nice video! I've been thinking about doing it on my gravel bike for a while and seeing your video I know it's definitely rideable on a gravel bike. I plan to be out there Saturday. Thanks.

I've been riding the Floop fairly often for about 3 years, I love it! I finally logged 100 Floops on Strava earlier this year. Its my favorite trail ever. I actually rode Floop a few times back in the 80's on a 20" BMX bike, and there used to be a jump line with doubles along the start of the trail by the courthouse lol. All the rain this year added a lot of weeds and ruts, which makes it a bit more challenging. I noticed there are a bunch more little offshoots and jumps now than in your video from 5 years ago.

Awesome video man, I just bought my first MTB at the Fullerton Bike Shop and they recommended this trail. It's definitely going to help me on my first time!

Thanks for the video. I rode The Loop for the first time a few weeks ago. Your video made it super easy to navigate the route. If you're a beginner, or getting back into riding like I am, this is a great trail to learn/relearn basic MTBing skills.

If youre lost, just ask a rider if you can tag along. We have certainly had some people follow us and teach them the trail. I love the loop as you can ride it and still be really close to home. Also a workout and you can work on your time. I ride it sometimes with my cx bike.

the pandemic has changed this loop so much... soo busy now lol

You definitely helped ..brought my map to life indeed !!!

Hi, great video, been in the loop 3 times now. I have not been to that trail you took halfway to the video. I may have to look that up.

awesome Video. will definitely use it as a guide next time I venture out there...

This video is great. It helped me finally complete the loop. The only thing if I may add is one thing. When you pass the golf course and you get to the tunnels you have to take the left one. I kept taking the right and it would take me to the ymca and it was a dead end. Until my friend told me to take the left tunnel and finally finished. But great video and it helped me finish

Just did this loop for the first time this weekend. 2nd time ever out and I loved it, Kicked my butt, but a lot of fun.

My backyard! Great coverage. - Luis

I've done this loop twice and missed some turns both times. Still had fun.

The other day on that one way only section I had to jump a snake that was crossing! Definitely scared the crap out of me!

Rode it yesterday at noon after morning rain, and it was great..... we just didn’t go left over the bridge. Way too muddy by the tracks. Took main trail straight back to court house.

Thank you best video of Fullerton loop. I haven’t ridden that in over 10 years. Good to get reacquainted.

Great video man! New to MTB and I’m stoked to try then loop this Sunday 😅😬

We need to link up and ride. Great videos bud!

Man i haven't ridden that in almost a decade. bring back great memories. Thanks for sharing.

I haven’t been there in years. So much has changed. Thx.

Rode this trail today and so thankful you did this video. I had to reference it a few times 🤣🤙🏼

Thanks for this video, great trail and learned some new stuff

Looks like a fun ride, its on my "to ride list" for this month. Hope I don't get to lost :)

I kinda fell off the trail twice on the faster portion but it was still fun. Luckily I only got a couple scratches on my palm

That looks like a fun loop to get the legs back in shape. Keep the vids coming

I'm about to hit the loops today ! Let's get it ! 🤙🏼🛩️🚵💯

Thanks for this, bro. It was fun reliving this ride, which I did for the first time yesterday. I probably wouldn't take advantage of all the "extra credit" bonuses you took, but it's cool to see all the ones I missed. Two things: 1) I managed to stay on the trail using the map in MTB Project all the way until I got to the two tunnels before the dam. Now I find out that I should have taken the left tunnel instead of the right one. Still managed to find my way back to the courthouse, but it looks like I missed out on a fun section of trail. 2) Not sure if they were built after you filmed this, but there a couple of really cool jumps right before the golf course. I didn't have the huevos to try them, but two other riders took them full throttle and amazed a giant family of hikers who happened to walking along the trail to the right. Next time I might have to try the jumps!

Back- at - it -today …this is my third time and hopefully I complete it without getting lost..wish me luck fam! 🚴💨

Thanks for the video. I'm a beginner MTB rider that lives in Fullerton and have been trying a few sections of the loop. I was super confused on where certain sections connected. I think I have a pretty good idea now. 👍

Thanks for the vid, this should help me.

Thank you Tony. Noobie here and am going to try this trail Monday.

I've ridden the loop a few times now. I've never exited the Brea Dam Park area the same way twice. On Friday, I took a way that led me on to Elks Hill Way which goes to Brea blvd and the softball fields.

I fish at the Laguna Lake n I always see the bikes pass by. It looked cool so I wanted to try it, I just recently bought a bike n can't wait to ride the Fullerton Loop.. Tnx for the video!!

Love that trail thanks

Ran this awesome loop today! I might be crazy but I'm like 85% sure I saw you at the lake and didn't immediately recognize you...was bugging me for the rest of the loop haha

Thank you for a great video!!!!!

Thanks Tony, great video. I've been itchin to try MTB and you inspired me to give it a try at the Fullerton loop. Great tips from you and a downloaded map I still made a couple of wrong turns but quickly back on track. My Trek Dual Sport3 did good but a real MTB would be much better here. Thought I was in really decent shape until I met the climbs and then a few more climbs, kicked my butt!

Thanks for sharing! First time today and got off track. Haha

looks so fun

Great video, super helpful! Will head out there today :)

My first wreck was at 4:07 on this "punchy climb" which is in reality, really steep!! I got halfway up and stopped but because of the steepness, I started rolling backwards and went in hard into the bushes! At 7:46, I just lost it here because I came down with too much speed. There was a bump my rear wheel hit that because my tires were so inflated, bounced me off and over the edge here. And then at 14:17, I lost my nerve once i was committed to coming down that steep drop, which looks so small on this video!! Anyhow, I landed it, but I over pumped my rear break to turn right and I slid because of my tire pressure and lose, dry dirt. I fell derailleur side , too, so I was sure I had ruined it, but I forgot I was riding an MTB and it was fine. The rest of this fast section at 14:21, while it looks fun (and it is), is really bumpy with mini-jumps you don't see, so if you get too much speed, DO NOT USE your front brakes to slow you down. And if you have a hardtail, drop your seat and hold on, as this is one bumpy ride, but a blast!! This is the one section I wanted to go back up to do again!

Thank you very much for putting this video together. The visual references and landmarks are so helpful when riding the trail for the first time. I went for the first time in June and had a blast even if I did miss a lot of the east side of the loop. I've been determined to figure out the loop without the aid of GPS. I have a suggestion if you plan to do more trail guide videos. Please avoid making short cuts when editing. Instead, either leave the footage rolling or maybe fast forward a bit. One example is the green gate at the end of Laguna Lake Trail. You point out the gate, cut the footage, and then say to make a sharp right. With the discontinuity from the cut, it's confusing where the sharp right is relative to the green gate. I assumed the cut was needed because it was further down the trail. I started my ride at Laguna Lake and missed the very first turn, haha.

Nice video Tony. Fullerton Loop is almost my patio, you have skipped two little technical sections at the Dam before take Harbor Blvd

Just picked up my mtb and im from the area so im hitting this on Saturday so this was definitely a lot of help! 👍🏻

Thank you

Button pusher. Lol. Love your videos. Live off of Gilbert and just started mountain biking again. This is a good trail to stay warm

Good stuff here Tony. I grew up in Fullerton and that is a really confusing loop to say the least.

It is easy. Now do it timed and let us know your best. It is an excellent XC training loop for your lungs and legs. Especially 2 or 3 laps of it.

I have always heard of the Fullerton Loop but never got around to try it. I go mountain biking to get away from the city. I am glad I saw this video, now I know I dont want to try the Loop.

The berms are really fun on the main trail. But the single track through the little woody sections is way steeper then it looks, there was a massive GoPro effect on the single track.

I rode it today, it was tough... I'm out shape 😂😂 But lots of fun.

Another amazing video.

At the horse trail you could go straight but it’s longer and harder but still fun

Thanks for the video. Great visualization of the trail. I got lost twice but now I am sure I will complete it next time. 👌🏼

Don’t underestimate 7:20 side feature. It’s on the side of a cliff side and the verms are sandy

In the tunnels there is a bunch of ramps it’s cool I have so clips that my TikTok

I hit rosecrans single track section for the first time today and it was a very sloppy ride…i need to be better with managing turns accompanied with speed…I have been going to this loop for numerous time now since aug and my dh progression I say is around 45% since I started. Uphill climbs is more than decent because working out is my priority but man….this single track is something i really need to get better with.

Hey Outsider! Rode Fullerton for the first time last week after your review, was a huge help with navigation. Thanks. I had an 11 year old who struggled a bit with the elevation. Are you able to make a video that could taylor the course for an easier ride? Also, what equipment setup did you use to record the review?

21:03 the moment i fell jaajajaja at the very end of the trail jajjajaa

Just hit this trail today, Used this video the whole time to keep figuring out where to go (went solo) Video def helped, but it has a lot of differences than the ride above. @10:24 Terrain is either overgrown/all broken up so a lot of whats shown above isnt quite accessable anymore @13:00 there are about 4-5 "speedbumps" that have been put on this hill. So you are flying down and just these sudden bumps out of no where, maybe 10-20 feet apart, with the biggest one near the bottom maybe 20 feet from the curb, @14:00 all the drops have basically given away, my new ass wasnt gonna try that lol but in the video it looks so much different @15:15 again there are 2 "speed bumps" at the end, literally before the slight turn. No idea why they were put in but yea that much speed and those bumps scared me good @19:50 someone came thru and built some jumps (that you can avoid) and 1 jump goes into a big burm. I took that but there was a rando golfer chilling on the road! lucky I didnt hit him lol @20:21 once you exit the tunnel, it almost looks nothing like the video. No gate, theres a river now! You go up the hill and its multi direction. My phone died here and I pull up to a spot with 5 different Directions to go! lol Besides those points, rest is spot on and I still had the jist of the trail. Def hard to do as a solo first time, just due to directions.Video still really helped!

Super useful video !

Really important to remember bicyclists are sharing this with walkers. I've almost been run over several times, and it's not fun. If a bike has a bell on it it's all the better.

I did the loop today. Oh man did I get lost 😂

What you think about trek Marlin 6 model 2022… how strong is for trails??? I have that bike tomorrow is gonna be the first time used let’s see how good is for trails

Awesome. I need to hit this trail up once I get another bike. Looks very confusing, what’s an easy way to navigate first time alone? Phone mount to look at coordinates?? Been awhile since I’ve owned a mountain bike. Starting to get the dad bod due to Covid laziness so I need to get some cardio and get back into riding again. Just not sure what bike to look into that’s not insane priced, mainly this type of riding but something the shocks can handle my fat butt. Lol. Budget is prob up to 2500

I just wanna meet Pip! Is that wrong? LoL!! Jk, jk... Would love to tag along next time you feel like doing The Loop. I try to ride it every week after work. I've definitely missed a lot of the Brea Dam sections, until seeing your 2nd video on the Loop. Never knew that stuff was there!

What bike do you have this video?? For that trail I think Marlin 6 is good… but crazy trail trek full suspension bike for sure…

peters canyon is pretty mellow too

So when you take the other tunnel after the golf course, the right one instead of the left one, you soon come to a network of jumps (large tabletops, gaps, etc.) that looks very tempting, but probably way beyond my skill set, lol. Not yours, though! It would be the perfect place to have a coach conduct some jump clinics and get people to overcome their jumping fears.

Used to ride this trail 2 or 3 times a week. Haven’t been on it in over 10 years. Only ride road bikes now. Want to go back but feel intimidated lol. Brings back good memories. Are Thursday night rides still a thing?

This trail looks so cool! But I was wondering how long does it take to complete?

peep the hidden jumps there!

“Funners not a word...”.

I recently picked up a pair of chonky (for me) 2.2 inch tires for my gravel bike and solo rode the floop as my first foray into mountain biking. On a fully rigid drop bar bike, it was very fun, very challenging, and a hell of a learning experience. Are there any other trails in LA/OC that you'd recommend for me and my rig? I feel like the blue trails on mtb project err on the side of having more squish underneath the rider and I'd learn more technique on the bike than recovering my rattled meat vehicle

13:22 Is that a magic button?

It would be fun on a suron bike

I plan to ride this with my 10 yr old son. are there any spots that is double track so that we can turn around/back track if he gets tired? or any spot to exit the loop? thanks.