Los Angeles and the bicycle have always had a love/hate relationship. With gorgeous weather and a plethora of open space, you’d think the city would be perfect for pedaling off some stress or calories. Unfortunately, riding a bike in L.A. also comes with some aggressive traffic, sporadic and questionable bike lanes, and some drivers who just don’t respect cyclists.

This is precisely why all of these cycling adventures normally take place on roads that are free of obnoxiously honking or emissions-spitting automobiles, which boasts light traffic. The following suggestions for serene places to bike ride near Woodland Hills will work for folks of all fitness levels so that you can indulge in everything from a pleasant evening spin to a sweaty mountainous excursion.

Marvin Braude Bike Trail, ending at Will Rogers State Beach on Pacific Coast Highway in L.A. and Via Riviera/Paseo de la Playa in Torrance, this trail is commonly referred to as “The Strand” by locals and has been featured in hundreds of T.V. shows and films. The attraction remains a great way to explore the many personalities of the beach towns along the famous Strand in Los Angeles County, starting with the rich and famous cliffside houses in Pacific Palisades and moving on to the entrance Temescal Gateway Park. Traveling along the open beach, you will arrive at the Santa Monica Pier, where you can take a break for a Ferris wheel/roller coaster/carousel ride, eat some ice cream, or visit one of the incredible farmers’ markets. A few blocks away is the 3rd Street Promenade, beckoning even the most seasoned of L.A. fashionistas with an “ultimate shopping experience” vibe. Once past the myriad attractions of Santa Monica, the trail leads into Venice Beach with its Muscle Beach, skate parks, artists, and quirky shops. Parking is available throughout the trail’s length, usually adjacent to public beaches.

Topanga State Park, located in the cliffs and canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains, features 36 miles of trails through open grassland, live oaks, and spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. Here, you’ll be mesmerized as you explore smooth long roads, multiple trails such as Temescale Ridge Trail, Eagle Rock Trail, Los Liones Trail, Caballero Canyon Trail, and more. Anyone whose impression of Los Angeles comes from mainstream media exposure – as well as countless portrayals over the decades by Hollywood motion picture studios – would be shocked to discover the beautiful and abundant open space within the city limits. The Topanga State Park vicinity lies smack between the major population areas of L.A.’s west side and the San Fernando Valley. As a result, they offer millions of area residents great recreation opportunities, including miles of open fire roads and even single-track trails for engaging mountain biking. Indeed, if it’s ruggedness you seek from your biking adventures, Topanga State Park retains an authentic wilderness feel, with rough terrain and all manner of wildlife to keep you company.

Lake Balboa/Anthony C. Beilenson Park, situated at 6300 Balboa Boulevard in Van Nuys, offers jaw-dropping parkland with bike trails, lakes, tennis courts, golf courses, benches, and much more, the area itself represents a family-friendly, spacious, and activity-loaded spot for all ages. The lake is beautiful, and the park is serene, ensuring plenty to do the whole day through – whether it’s playing some outdoor games or riding scooters and bikes on the lush lawns and clean pathways, this is the perfect place for a weekend foray. Free street parking is available all around the park, just watch out for street cleaning signs!

Serrania Park, located at 20726 Wells Drive, boasts a large grassy field with picnic tables, a playground, and a concrete sidewalk perfect for biking – but there’s so much more you can do here. Enjoy a casual walk, run, an on/off-leash dog park, or indulge in a shady spot for a pleasant picnic alone or with a significant other and friends. Tucked away in a suburban Woodland Hills neighborhood on the corner of Serrania Avenue and Wells Drive, Serrania Park is an outdoor lover’s dream come true. This park offers plenty of room for dogs and humans to roam freely, including benches, aforementioned picnic tables, and a playground for the kids. What’s more is that the property is clean, well-kept and has plenty of parking.

Cave of Muntis, in the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve, offers up popular hiking and rock-climbing with a series of caves and elevated sunset views and, for the more adventurous, serves as the backdrop for some awesome bike rides. When the Ahmanson Ranch became a park in 2004, it protected a surprisingly spacious cave. What would be known as the Cave of Muntis has 2,650 acres of beautiful rolling hills, prairies, and former ranch land. Nearby Castle Peak, a derivative of the Chumash name “Kas’elew,” was used as a vital ceremonial site by the Chumash during the solstices, and the Cave of Muntis (which lies in direct sight of the low, rocky peak) was reportedly the home of a powerful Chumash shaman. Today, the cave can be easily visited via a short hike from El Scorpion Park or a longer, more pleasant loop from the Victory Trailhead.

Orange Line Busway Bike Path, which stretches from North Hollywood to Woodland Hills, is a 14-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail parallel to Metro’s Orange Line rapid busway. Boasting beautiful wildflowers, this bike path gives access to perfect walking, running, birdwatching, and road biking year-round. With several road crossings necessary to fully navigate the trail, caution should be taken before heading out. The entire trail is estimated to be in the gentle (three percent-or-less) grade category and is considered navigable for most wheelchairs/mobility equipment or stroller users. There is at least one designated accessible space in the paved parking lot off of Lassen Street at the northwest end of the trail and is van-accessible with striped access aisles. The trail surface is paved asphalt/concrete, and smooth, and is, on average, at least six feet wide, while a painted dividing line along most of the trail reduces the width.

Lake Calabasas, situated at 23401 Park Sorrento in Calabasas, combines a beautiful lake with excellent areas to run, work out, and bike, all in a secure, resident-only environment that does not permit loitering. Enjoy a refreshing bike ride amidst this wondrous scenery on a sidewalk designated explicitly for cyclists and, for a change of pace, pedal up to Lake Calabasas Park, a 1.7-mile route located in the outskirts of Calabasas that boasts no elevation gain, making it super-easy to navigate. If nature and wildlife are your thing, the turtles, ducks, geese, cranes, and other birds that call Lake Calabasas home are a real treat, especially considering you’re still in one of the most populated states in the country.

“Dirt” Mullholland is the unpaved segment of the storied Mullholland Drive that runs from the 101 west across the Santa Monica Mountains and ends at PCH near Leo Carrillo State Park. Constructed in the 1920s to show off real estate in the San Fernando Valley and the Hollywood Hills, the ridgeline road/trail now offers great views to the north and canyons to the south – all with stunning ocean views. The trail provides vistas of the Encino Reservoir and provides connections to trails in several parks to the south. This eight-mile moderately popular dirt/gravel road trail also offers a bike path that can be used in both directions, taking about 39 minutes to complete. Access is from the south end of Reseda Boulevard; from the 101, exit at Reseda Boulevard and head south 3.5 miles to the parking lot.

Limeklin Canyon Trail, a 3.8-mile heavily trafficked out-and-back trail located near Porter Ranch, starts at Rinaldi Street between Tampa Avenue and Corbin Avenue, with some forks along the way leading to adjacent streets or dead-end clearings (and some alternate routes up the canyon). A mix of paved and dirt roads, Limeklin Canyon Trail, offers single track and short climbs, a picnic area, mixed grassland, and oak (with a few palms and other trees), plus rabbit and bird sightings. All of which combine to make this spot one of the busiest amongst hikers and cyclists in Woodland Hills – especially on weekend mornings. Cross a charming creek several times on your journey and enjoy a couple of climbs up to touch Tampa Avenue before descending back into the canyon. This gentle trail, close to the city with picnic tables and benches, is not to be missed if you’re an outdoor enthusiast of any kind.

When it’s time to hit L.A.’s best bike trails, the rugged wilderness surrounding the city presents infinite mountain biking opportunities and more. So pedal your way along the ocean, through a valley, or around Woodland Hills on some of the best bike trails in town, showcased in this Woodland Hills Magazine roundup.