I’m certainly still new to mountain biking but have had my eye on Buck Gully Trail. My current mountain bike is the 2021 Marin Bolinas Ridge 2. I picked it up from City Grounds last year and it’s been a great bike so far.

I’ve hiked Buck Gully Trail solo many times last year and with some co-workers. At times, the trail will be closed due to wet conditions but that’s a small percentage of the year. Buck Gully Trail is a 4.4 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Corona del Mar, California (CDM) that features a river and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, running, and mountain biking and is accessible year-round. (ref: AllTrails)

I’m lucky enough to have the Back Bay right in my backyard. It can get pretty repetitive so I do go off the beaten path a bit just to mix it up. But Bucky Bully Trail satiates my need to get a little off-road on a single track. Getting there is easy. For me, I just hop on Coast Hwy going south and make a left at Poppy Ave. A nine-minute drive with little to no traffic unless MacArthur gets crowded with out-of-towners visiting CDM. You can park on Poppy Ave. near the trailhead. It’s all street parking in a cute neighborhood. The trailhead is just a few steps below down the hill.

For bikes, it’s one-way uphill only which will give you a good workout. The signs posted state that you have to walk your bike down if you can’t continue up to San Joaquin Hills Rd. I’ve been on the trail several times where some bikers could care less and ride down the trail anyway. If it’s super early in the morning or it’s sundown I can see way less traffic but I don’t need a park ranger giving me a warning or ticket for doing something I could have avoided. Just be smart and obey the law. Also, it’s not a terribly long trail and beginner to intermediate riders should be fine.

The trail winds up the gully never really getting too steep. There is some shade with tree canopies and tall hedges along the path. You’ll go over several small bridges, three to be exact, winding back & forth and sometimes along the stream. I read that the aluminum bridges were helicoptered in when the trail was built. It’s very peaceful back there as you don’t really hear any road noise from Coast Hwy or the 73 toll road. You’re nestled in between some million-dollar homes with ocean views but far enough away from the local hustle and bustle. It’s a nice hike and bike ride out and back that won’t take up too much time to complete.

I give Buck Gully Trail a solid 4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As always, have fun and ride safe.