As we reflect on 2025, two things stand out: IMPACT and GROWTH.
IMPACT: It’s one thing when we acknowledge our own impact, but when others take note, it registers on a different scale. So when the Monterey County Board of Supervisors recognized MORCA’s work through a proclamation, it spoke volumes. We hope everyone who has contributed to MORCA’s mission felt that – and felt good. That’s the kind of recognition that will help us do even more. Folks, we are doing it right, and we are doing it together! Thank you to all who contribute to MORCA’s mission. Your work matters and your work is being recognized by community leaders.
GROWTH: Building off our momentum from 2024, everything MORCA is putting energy into is growing: more kids on bikes, more members, more funds raised, more projects & trail work, and more partners. And now, even our biggest stretch goal of all – a bike park with dedicated space & trails for MTB – is taking shape. This is what a community of doers – people and businesses – who want to give back to their own community can accomplish.
Here’s a roundup of accomplishments from 2025 – let’s keep the momentum going through 2026!!!
MORCA Volunteers Contribute 1,000+ Hours of Trail Work
Once again MORCA volunteers contributed more than 1,000 hours of trail work in the past calendar year toward the maintenance and improvement of Monterey County Trails. Often in collaboration with Monterey County Parks and the Bureau of Land Management, MORCA’s trail crew also built new sections of trail and re-routes to reduce environmental impacts and increase safety. This work benefits all trail users and takes place primarily in Fort Ord National Monument. MORCA’s dedication to trail stewardship would not be possible without Trail Crew Leads Darius Rike and John Beardshear, and our hard-working volunteers. High fives to all for giving back to our trails and community!
MORCA Recognized by Monterey County Board of Supervisors
On behalf of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, District 4 Supervisor Wendy Root Askew presented MORCA with a proclamation acknowledging MORCA’s many contributions to our Monterey County community. From stewarding public lands to supporting youth and adult outdoor recreation, MORCA’s contributions to public health and our essential tourism economy produce lasting impacts that help our community thrive. It was an honor to be recognized for our volunteer-powered work – inspiration to do more and get more community members involved.
Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day Event Reaches New Heights
MORCA’s annual Take a Kid Mountain Bike Day sponsored by Montage Health hit new highs in 2025 for both participants and the number of vendors who attended. That means we got more kids on bikes and more members of our community supporting that goal than ever before – let’s go Monterey!!! Together, we are building community and building healthy, resilient futures for our kids and our trails. We extend our appreciation to all who helped make it happen: volunteers, Salinas High School and Monterey Bay Lightfighters Composite MTB teams, Monterey County Parks, local bike shops, County Supervisor Askew, and the Sea Otter Classic Foundation.
Laguna Seca Bike Park Initiative Reaches Crucial Milestones
Near the close of 2025, MORCA secured a Letter of Intent from Friends of Laguna Seca – the concessionaire Monterey County hired to operate Laguna Seca Recreation Area for the next 55 years – in support of further exploring the proposed bike park. Additionally, MORCA secured Letters of Support from Monterey County Parks and County Supervisors Kate Daniels and Wendy Root Askew. These statements of support have now enabled MORCA to apply for IMBA’s Trail Accelerator Grant, and our grant application was strengthened further when Friends of Laguna Seca and the Sea Otter Classic Foundation each donated $10,000 toward required matching funds.
These accomplishments represent continued progress and significant milestones, but more importantly they represent a growing coalition that supports MORCA’s vision for the Laguna Seca Bike Park. If MORCA is awarded this grant, IMBA will send its Trail Solutions team to do a formal site assessment, facilitate design consultation with our community, and deliver a detailed set of plans to move this project forward. These plans would in turn provide an essential foundation for fundraising – the next challenge for moving this project forward. As the saying goes, it takes a village… we invite our greater MTB community and growing coalition of supporters to get ready; help us meet this challenge and our fundraising goals when the grant awardees are announced.
Learn more about the Laguna Seca Bike Park initiative here: https://morcamtb.org/bike-park-initiative/
Year Two of Three in 8th & Gigling Road Porta Potties
Two years ago, MORCA identified the growing and somewhat dire need for restrooms at the 8th & Gigling Road trailhead near Marina and CSUMB – likely the second busiest trailhead in all of Fort Ord National Monument. The situation was getting messy and downright unsanitary, so we did the right thing – we took it on. And our community jumped right in to support the effort. With the ultimate goal of securing a proper, permanent restroom and enhanced facility for this highly-trafficked trailhead, MORCA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with County Public Works stating that if MORCA made good on securing, installing, and covering maintenance fees – approximately $6,600 a year – for portable toilets for three years, then the County would return the favor by installing permanent pit toilets.
The third and most important partner in all of this has been members of our trail community, who through donations covered the annual maintenance fees. Safe to say this was not mountain bikers alone. But there’s no denying that MORCA and our MTB community led the charge by creating an opportunity that all trail-users can plug in to and benefit from. Teamwork makes the dream work and everybody wins, including the trailhead habitat.
County Parks Signage Project
In collaboration with Monterey County Parks and through generous donations from our trails community, MORCA continues to support progress on the Happy Trail signage project. Near the close of 2025, Monterey County Parks had their GIS mapping expert assigned to the project while MORCA’s team continued identifying opportunities on the ground. Together, we headed into 2026 with nearly all pieces of the puzzle worked out and ready to start a coordinated effort to get signs in the ground. This is yet another County Parks/MORCA collaboration that will benefit all trail users for many years to come, and one that was only possible through generous donations from our trail stewardship community. Many thanks to all who contributed!
MORCA Nights at Other Brother Beer Co. Build Community and Stoke for MTB
Way back in May during California Bike Month festivities, and again during “the other bike month” aka Biketober, MORCA teamed up with Other Brother Beer Co. at their Seaside brewery. Together, we raised awareness about MORCA and local trail stewardship, promoted our membership drive, and raised money for MORCA’s general fund. Yes, we enjoyed some cold beverages too and made sure that all MORCA members in attendance received a complimentary drink. We love being out in the community building camaraderie and stoke around mountain biking and hope to keep these social events going in the new year. Many thanks to Other Brother for donating $1 from each pint sold during the events, and to those who became MORCA members!
Night Rides Shine Light on Expanded Access & Community
This year’s night ride program got off to a late start, but turnout and enthusiasm have been fantastic. There’s something quietly radical about carving out more time on the trails — not by riding more miles, but by making the trails accessible to more riders. Monterey Off-Road Cycling Association’s night ride program opens the Fort Ord National Monument to riders who can’t always make it out before sunset, welcoming beginners through experienced riders in a no-drop, guided group setting. These are organized, permitted rides that responsibly extend access beyond the Bureau of Land Management’s standard daylight hours (1⁄2 hour before sunrise to 1⁄2 hour after sunset).
Riding Fort Ord after dark offers a completely different experience — familiar trails take on new textures and demand more focus, while riders regularly spot owls, hear coyotes, and occasionally glimpse foxes, skunks, or even a bobcat moving through the landscape. The rides don’t end when the wheels stop turning; post-ride tailgating at the trailhead — sharing food, stories, and a laugh — has become a core part of the program, turning night rides into both an access win and a genuine community builder.
CAMTB Ibis Dream Bike Giveaway Delivers
For a few years and running now, CAMTB has partnered with MORCA and other California MTB advocacy orgs to help raise much needed funds; in our case for Monterey County mountain biking. This clever and cooperative fundraiser culminates with one lucky person winning the grand prize – an Ibis mountain bike of their choice!
Runner up winners also scored some sweet MTB accessories but the greatest news for our local community?… CAMTB, Ibis, and everyone who contributed helped raise $1,847 for MORCA. That’s no small chunk of change. For example, this will cover nearly half of the costs to design and print a new MORCA brochure that will help drive awareness, grow our volunteer network, build community and and keep making progress on all our goals for Monterey MTB.