Mark's Canyon

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

Features Downhill · Drops/Jumps · Flow · Technical

At the time of writing parking at Toro Park is ($6 M-F and $8 at weekends).

Mark's Canyon is a fun flow trail which is technically challenging in places, and includes a number of optional jumps and drops together with more natural hazards to navigate.

The start is directly opposite the start of Pipeline Trail, clearly marked with a wooden post—and immediately you start to descend on a narrow singletrack into the canyon.

There is some exposure to your left (note by design this trail really ought to only be ridden in this downhill direction), followed by a sharp hairpin left turn, before you are right in the base of the canyon weaving through a narrow channel between the rocks for a short distance, before the trail begins to open up and traverses the side of the canyon wall.

There are numerous shallow creek crossings (some with wooden bridges, and some where you just have to ford) and generally there is great visibility and flow for the remainder of the route. The main trail is obvious all the way down, but note there are a handful of alternative lines (which rejoin the main trail) with optional jumps and drops, and a couple of short punchy climbs on the main trail to navigate too.

Be aware there are some portions of the trail which are slightly more narrow and have some exposure, and some off-camber portions of trail too - but generally speaking if you're a confident ride, then this is very much a blue trail, and all the better for it!

The only downside to riding Marks Canyon is that it ends in the middle of nowhere at a track junction where the return to the park is a steep climb uphill to your left. There is an alternative route out (see Mark's Canyon North trail) which ends at a two-track dirt road near the entrance of Mark's Ranch (abandoned/historic buildings). However, this access road is technically private property, and although the signs imply public access is granted, I found there was a locked gate at the end where it actually joins the highway just outside the Toro Park main entrance.

Therefore, my suggestion would be to exit Mark's Canyon by climbing the connector trail within the park boundary to join the East Ridge or Toyon Ridge trails back to the main parking lots.