Kennedy Meadows: California’s Best Singletrack?

For a crew that spends most of its time carving through the deserts of Southern California, riding in Sierra Nevada felt like stepping into a completely different world.

Ten riders made the trip north to Kennedy Meadows - a place many would argue offers some of the very best singletrack riding in California. And after a few days weaving through alpine trails, meadows, creek crossings, and tight forest sections, it’s hard to disagree.

Singletrack with a View

Riding in the Sierra Nevada is a very different experience from the harsh, open desert terrain we’re used to. Here, the trails snake through towering trees, across open meadows, and along ridgelines with views so spectacular they become a hazard in themselves.

More than once, it was genuinely difficult to keep our eyes on the trail. The scenery out here demands your attention. Kennedy Meadows has that rare combination of technical riding and jaw-dropping beauty - singletrack that keeps you focused, surrounded by landscapes that constantly tempt you to stop and take it all in.

Obstacles Included

Of course, mountain riding comes with its own challenges.

This year, the trails were littered with downed trees, forcing us to get creative more than once. Some obstacles could be hopped, others required teamwork, lifting bikes over logs, dragging machines through awkward gaps, and generally making it up as we went along.

It’s all part of the fun - and part of what makes riding places like this feel like a proper adventure rather than just a trail ride.

Trailside Repairs

Not every ride goes perfectly.

On one loose climb, the Beta took a spill and landed awkwardly on a rock, bursting a radiator hose. This kind of thing happens and can end a ride in a hurry.

Luckily, one of the crew had a small roll of electrical tape in his pack. A trailside repair later, the hose was patched well enough to keep coolant in and keep the bike moving for the rest of the ride. Crisis avoided.

It was a great reminder that sometimes the simplest items in your toolkit can make all the difference. A little tape. Some J-B Weld. Small things that weigh next to nothing but can turn a disaster into a funny story around the campfire later.

Because accidents happen. And out here, self-sufficiency matters.

Camp Life at Fish Creek

Home base for the trip was Fish Creek, one of several campsites in the area that lets you ride straight in and out with hardly any connecting tarmac.

Basic? Absolutely.

No potable water. No hookups. No frills.

Perfect.

At 7,400 feet, Fish Creek brings its own quirks too. The thin mountain air was noticeable from the moment we woke up. Bikes that fired right up down at lower elevations needed a little more persuasion in the morning—choke on, a bit of patience, and a few extra cranks before they settled into life. And it wasn’t just the bikes feeling it. At this altitude, everything takes a little more effort. Hearts beat a little faster, climbs feel a little steeper, and you’re reminded pretty quickly that this is a long way from sea level.

Just quiet campsites tucked beneath the trees, bikes parked next to the tent, evenings by the fire, stargazing overhead, and the kind of silence you only get when there are no generators from RVs humming in the background.

It made for exactly the kind of camp atmosphere we love. Simple, peaceful, and ample chance for the group to socialize and properly unwind after long days on the trail.

And with ten riders sharing the experience, the group bonded in all the best ways that adventure riding tends to create.

We’ll Be Back

Kennedy Meadows reminded us why it’s so important to mix things up.

As much as we love the desert, there’s something special about riding technical singletrack through alpine forests, under tall pines, with cool mountain air and endless Sierra views all around.

Great trails. Great company. A few mechanical dramas. Plenty of laughs.

That sounds like a successful trip to us.

We’ll be back. Soon!