Mountain biking near Kern River / The Needles

I know, I know - there's the new website for mountain biking, but I couldn't really find any good info.

I'll be climbing in The Needles and am wondering if I should bring my mountain bike along as I've heard there is some fantastic riding in the Sequoia National Forest - can anyone attest to that? Any info would be greatly appreciated; trail suggestions, where to get trail maps, good bike shops in the area that might provide me some info. In terms of trails, I'm psyched on anything from single track to super-techy stuff.

Bring the bike anyway. It'll be pretty useful on the approach/hike out from the Needles every day. You can ride a bike for the first mile or so of the trail.

There is some fantastic mountain biking near there. I can't give you specifics but I went to a Kern River mountain bike festival a couple of times and got on a few spectacular rides. You could probably look up some of the mountain bike festival rides online.

Lots of good stuff. The Camp Nelson trail ( some just do a shuttle from the top end, but that always strikes me as lazy). The trail into the Needles is fun but short. Slate Mt. Trail. Freeman Creek Trail. The fire road past Coy Flats CG in Camp Nelson is nice and goes forever. There should be a guide for sale at the Ponderosa. Re climbing: check access as the fireroad leading into the trailhead may be closed this season (n which case you'll want a bike to access the trail).

Search "Cannell Plunge" on google or wherever.

There have been bike thefts from the Needles, we always locked up the bikes even after stashing them. I wouldn't bring a high end bike.

Also if you do bike into the Needles, watch out for whitethorn on the trail (thorny bush that doesn't look too bad from a distance). I walked my bike almost the whole way back to the trailhead once at the Needles due to whitethorn...

Yep, plenty of good stuff . Cannell trail and "Just Outstanding" both in the Kernville area. There isn't going to be much water in the river this year so you might be able to bike the Kern River;)

We always locked up our bikes. Why risk it? FYI: Kernville is about an hour or so south of the Needles, so you'll probably be riding there on your rest days.
Edit: forgot to post this link: bikemag.com/blog/kernville-…

Resurrecting this- How useful  is a mountain bike to approach climbs at the needles (sorcerer,witch,warlock)? Really only good for one mile in?

It’s good for probably the first mile and a half.  Once the trail drops down into the saddle before the switchbacks to the notch there’s not much point in riding further since you’d just have to push your bike uphill for a ways on the way out.  Even as a decently strong biker, I never found it that much faster going in, especially with a pack.  However, on the way out it’s pretty nice.  You cover that last mile or so in about 5 minutes.  
 

Perfect! Sounds like it'd be worth bringing the bike especially with all the good riding in the area. 

trailforks is your friend