Not too far from Los Angeles and just outside of Laguna Beach is Aliso-Woods Canyon Regional Park.

Take I-5 to the Alicia Parkway exit and drive toward the ocean for about four miles. A quarter of a mile past the Aliso Creek Road is AWMA Road. Look for the Mormon Church where nearby parking is $2. Woods Canyon Trail, the main drag, runs along the bottom and serves as a major loop connector. For a challenging 15-mile route, crank up Chollo Trail to Top of the World, and then come down steep and stony Rock-it Trail. This technical downhill has some hairy patches mingled with rocky obstacles, but it's all doable. Keep an eye out on the weekends for bigtime pro downhillers strutting their stuff!

At peak usage times, be careful of hikers and also be sure to watch out for sandpits. They can endo you way fast!