Mountain Biking Hulda Crooks Park — A Local's Guide to the Trails

Mountain Biking Hulda Crooks Park — A Local's Guide to the Trails

I've been riding Hulda Crooks Park for about 14 years. I was out here digging trails before most people knew this place existed, back when it was a lot less crowded and a lot less mapped out. It's changed a lot since then, more trails, better signage, more riders, but it's still one of my favorite places to ride and honestly one of the most underrated trail systems in the Inland Empire.

If you're local and haven't been out here, or you've been once and didn't quite know what you were looking at, this guide is for you.

The Park — What to Know Before You Go

Hulda Crooks Park is in Loma Linda, right near Reche Canyon. Address is 25765 Beaumont Ave, Loma Linda, CA 92354.

Parking is easy and the lot is right next to the trailhead. There's a dog park and tennis courts nearby, and you'll share the area with hikers too. Park by the dog park and you'll see a trail map and a metal gate that keeps vehicles out. From there you head up the road, stay on the uphill path, follow the signs, and avoid any downhill-only trail markers on the way up. Jedi is your main starting point.

It's worth saying that the trails here mostly drop down into canyons and back out, so most of what you ride is out-and-back canyon singletrack. Very rerideable, easy to lap. The canyon entrances tend to be the steepest part, so new riders should expect to walk the initial drop on some trails. Once you're down in the canyon it flattens out and gets more flowing.

This is a community-built trail system. Local riders have been adding features, jumps, and lines for years. Respect that. The signage for uphill and downhill directions is there for a reason, follow it.

One more thing about this area: Hulda Crooks sits on the edge of a much bigger stretch of hills that wind through toward Moreno Valley and Redlands. Down in Reche Canyon you'll hear the sound of dirt bikes in the distance. There are pro moto guys who live and ride out in those hills. It's that kind of place, wild and a little remote feeling even though you're minutes from the freeway.

You'll almost certainly hear or see the wild burros that roam out here. They're down in the canyon and on the hillsides. Keep your distance and don't try to approach them, but they're one of the things that makes this place feel special.

Best time to ride: Winter and early spring. The hills go green, the dirt is in good shape, and the temperatures are perfect. It's genuinely beautiful out here when everything is green.

Summer: Hot, dusty, and sandy in spots. Rattlesnake season is real, signs are posted, and you should pay attention to them. Bring more water than you think you need.

Trail Breakdown

See trail map on Trail Forks

JEDI — Beginner/All Levels One of the main connector trails and a good starting point. Can be ridden up or down, signed both ways. Easy overall with a few steeper sections. True beginners might walk a spot or two but can handle the rest. Good intro to how the trail network is laid out.

RETURN OF THE JEDI — Beginner/Intermediate This was one of the first trails I rode out here and it still has a special place. Tight switchback at the top, then several line options that drop steeply into the canyon. After that it's flowing and back-and-forth through the canyon, easy and fun. Beginners can walk the steep drop section and still have a great time on the rest. I spent time digging and maintaining this trail back in the day before the park got popular. The Star Wars theme fits perfectly, it feels like Luke diving into the Death Star trench.

SITH — Intermediate | Most Popular Trail The most popular trail out here and for good reason. Fast flowing singletrack, slightly exposed in spots which adds to the vibe, trees to duck under, and lots of terrain to pump. There's a newer ladder drop near the top that's actually not that hard and worth hitting. Because it's so popular, Sith gets rutted and develops braking bumps over time so be aware of the surface. Fun fact, I have a Friday Fails thumbnail from a crash on that ladder drop.

PINBALL — Intermediate Gets its name from the fast back-to-back banked corners, naturally shaped by the canyon walls. Has some steeper entry sections and wooden bridges at the bottom where water runs through in winter. A little more technical than Jedi but still very fun and flowing. Good step-up trail.

OUTLAW — Intermediate | Best Views Outlaw comes out further down the hill so you have to pedal back up a bit after, but it's worth it. There's an exposed downhill section that feels committing even for experienced riders, with a big drop on one side. It has rollers in that section that will catch you out if you're carrying too much speed. Ask me how I know. First day I ever rode with a GoPro, went in too hot, hit those rollers, crashed, sat up and my thumb was pointing sideways. Pushed it back into place, rode a little longer because hey, new GoPro. That thumb still cracks every time I bend it. The views from Outlaw looking out over Redlands and the mountains are incredible. Great for sunrise and sunset rides.

CALDERA, SIDEWINDER, DEAD END + others There are more trails out here than most people realize and some of them can get confusing to navigate without a map. [Add detail on remaining trails. Consider adding annotated photo or Trailforks link here.]

Features & Highlights

Four Corners Jump Area Has rollable options for beginners all the way up to bigger advanced lines. Good place to session and work on your jumping progression without committing to a full trail lap every time.

Ladder Drops The original ladder drop has been out here since I first started riding here, still rideable but getting a little sketchy with age. The newer one on Sith is cleaner and more approachable. Good feature to work toward if you're progressing your skills.

Pro/Freeride Lines Some of the more skilled riders have built serious freeride features out in the hills. They dig trenches around them so nobody accidentally wanders in. Don't try to session these unless you know exactly what you're doing.

Tips & What to Expect

Most trails are canyon singletrack, you drop in, ride the canyon, come back out. Very rerideable and easy to lap once you know the layout. There are one or two main uphill routes to get back up and hit your trail again.

Signage has improved a lot over the years but it can still get confusing in spots. Having Trailforks pulled up on your phone helps. [link to Trailforks route]

Bring water. In summer, bring extra.

Watch for rattlesnakes in the warmer months. The signs are there for a reason.

The burros are cool. Don't chase them.

Want to Ride Here With a Coach?

I've taken a lot of beginner and intermediate riders out to Hulda Crooks for coaching sessions. It's one of my favorite spots to work with people because there's enough variety to drill a skill on mellow terrain and then immediately apply it on trail. If you're local and want to work on your riding, this is one of the spots I use for in-person sessions.

If you're local and want to work on your riding, check out my coaching page — Hulda Crooks is one of my go-to spots for in-person sessions.