help_outline Skip to main content

HomeBlogsRead Post

Marin Cyclist Blog

Ponti Ridge Review
By Daniel Tavares
Posted: 2021-03-18T20:28:00Z



Find Your Place on Ponti

 

I give Ponti Ridge Trail 5 out of 5 bobcats (my personal rating system). This trail is as easy as you want it to be, but you can challenge yourself on it.

 

Flowy single track. That’s Ponti Ridge Trail. Nothing steep or dangerous with perfect berms and rollers. Approximately 3.5 miles of pure downhill fun. This trail is designed to accommodate all skill levels and all styles of mountain bikes: I’ve seen cross-country, gravel, hardtails, full suspension, and the occasional e-bike. E-bikes are not allowed on Ponti and you’ll get a ticket if caught riding one.

 

The climb is a consistent gentle grade. There are no difficult features, but the smooth ride is perfect to work on your fitness. If you are a spin junkie that needs a 30-50 minute workout this is your trail. You can make it as easy or as difficult as you want by changing gears. From bottom to top, Ponti has about 7 rest areas where you can pull over and take a break or simply enjoy the views of Novato and San Rafael. On clear days you can see the East Bay, San Francisco, and Sonoma valleys. Mount Tam is a guaranteed site and sometimes you can see as far as Mount Diablo.

 

Although smooth as a pump-track there are several rollers with doubles and some triples that can make the ride extremely fun. The berms are wide for the climbs and fun on the way down because they are high, whether you take them at low or high speeds. Ponti has many switchbacks that let you work on your turns. My turns have improved by practicing the consistent left and rights turns at Ponti.

 

Ponti is a multi-use trail for cyclists, hikers, equestrians, dog walkers, and families. There are no bathrooms, water, or trash cans. Make sure to plan ahead and bring water if you plan to go to the very top.

 

Even though the trail is busy, most people are polite and courteous. On busy days, I bring a bear bell and use it on the way down. Hikers and riders going up hill are usually glad to know a bike is coming down, especially around blind corners. Although they have the right of way, often they make room for me to go by and I slow down and thank them. I recommend the bell on the weekends when families are using the trail so people with kids or dogs can hear you.

 

The best time to ride Ponti is early and on the weekdays. I went around 8am and didn’t see anyone else. The busiest time I’ve been is on the weekends between 10am – 2pm.

 

Other trails that connect are Goat and Idylberry. I will write more on these in a future post, but Goat trail is not the best trail to climb on. It’s pure downhill fun!

If you go to Ponti, enjoy and share the trail. Thank you comments to others go a long way.

 

Click here for parking and click here if you want to check it out on Strava.
Leave a Comment
 *
 *
Comments
Load More Comments
No more comments available