Lake Sonoma MTB 2026

Lake Sonoma MTB 2026

Presented by Hopper Adventures (Grasshopper) · Updated March 2026
Mountain Biking
Oct 24, 2026
Solo Moderate Mid-Distance Mountainous Singletrack Mixed Surface
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About This Event

Get ready for the annual Grasshopper Adventure Series as they put on the Lake Sonoma MTB 2026 race! The Lake Sonoma Mountain MTB 2026 is an extremely fun yet challenging single-track mountain bike race. The Lake Sonoma MTB 2026 is organized by Hopper Adventures, which produces the Grasshopper Adventure Series, which comprises six mixed-terrain adventure rides on stunning routes in Northern California. Rated as one of Strambecco’s must-to-do races, it is listed in the Best Mountain Bike Events in the Northwest.

With a meticulously organized course spanning 27 miles and boasting a significant gain of 4,300+ feet, this race is a beacon for mountain biking enthusiasts on the West Coast. Participants can showcase their prowess in full age group categories, ensuring a fair and competitive playing field. From the skillful M/F Pro category to age-specific divisions like U18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60+, there’s a category for every rider.

In 2025, the Lake Sonoma MTB long loop returns, offering riders a demanding adventure on Northern California’s premier flowy singletrack. This iconic route, known for its relentless climbs and thrilling descents, has been enhanced with a temporary bridge at Rancheria Creek, courtesy of Healdsburg Running Co. and Friends of Lake Sonoma, ensuring accessibility regardless of water levels.

Starting at the South Vista overlook, the clockwise 27-mile loop mirrors the intensity of the famed Tevis Cup horse race trail, with over 4,000 feet of elevation gain and no bailout points. Designed for experienced riders seeking a true endurance challenge, this route demands both physical and mental grit. It is not recommended for beginner riders.

For those seeking a less intense experience, a shorter course option is available north of Rockpile Road. While more accessible, this alternative still delivers a taste of Lake Sonoma’s rugged beauty and shares the same exhilarating finish line as the long course.

The race not only challenges riders but also supports them along the way. A fully stocked midway aid station awaits, offering a replenishing array of food and liquid nutrition. Beyond the trail, Grasshopper Adventure’s sweetens the deal with enticing bonuses—picture a lakeside lunch, refreshing Sierra Nevada beer, cash prizes for top finishers, coveted finish prizes, and more.

Woman riding a mountain bike.

Hopper Adventures (Grasshopper)

Event Organizer
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Hopper is best known for their  Grasshopper Adventure Series, the longest-running cycling series in the country, coming on its 26th year.  What is a Grasshopper?   According to the series founder, an autobiography of sorts: “fun, often very long and hard, magical mystery tours through the diverse, challenging and eclectic hills of Sonoma County and beyond.”  The events are not billed as races but every bit as hard, if not harder.  They are about bicycle diversity, artistry in movement, and, above all else, personal challenge, perseverance, self-sufficiency, and competence. The rides were born from the founder’s love of riding and creating the perfect combination of road and dirt to challenge rider and machine.  All the unique routes were designed after spending endless hours flipping the pages of the Northern California Gazetteer, hiking remote drainages in West Sonoma County, exploring abandoned railroad corridors in Austin Creek, and carrying a bike over long un-rideable hillsides to connect one park or trail to another, was the birth of the Hoppers.  Hoppers are long, fun, challenging rides with no waiting for your friends (unless you want to), cold beer, and good stories at the end.  The routes are designed to be long enough that you know you can finish, but when riding outside your limit, riders must make good choices, or it will be a long way back, maybe alone.

Hopper Adventures are all well supported with multiple hydration and nutrition feed zones, event timing, and emergency medical support en route.  There are prizes for the top 3 finishers in each category/group and prize money for the Pros.

The 26th annual Grasshopper Adventure Series is the US’s longest-running gravel/mixed-terrain adventure series.  The series comprises six unique rides, routes, and races in Northern California. Whether looking for races or adventures, each event allows you to explore little-known paved, dirt, and single-track in Sonoma, Mendocino, and Humbolt County.  These are eclectic races designed to push riders to the limit without pushing them over.  The six series events run annually from January to June, including Low Gap; Huffmaster Hopper;  King Ridge; Lake Sonoma MTB, Sherwood Adventure; and Humbolt Hopper.  There is a competition for the Hopper Super King of the Universe title based on overall points leaders for riders who complete five Hoppers.

Although not part of the Grasshopper Series, Hopper also produces several highly acclaimed events, including Mendo Hopper, the USAL Lost Coast Hopper, and several world tour destination events.

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