Trip planned to SoCal...looking for trail recs

[SalsaMTB]

My husband and I are planning a biking trip the week between Christmas and New Years. We're flying into LA and out of San Diego. Where would you recommend to ride? We're open to meeting up with people at the trails and are intermediate/moderate skill level (sport racers in Michigan)

We're looking for XC mountain bike riding.

Thanks!

Jen

[Fredwina]

The only MTB'ing i've done is a Claremont Wilderness Park. I live pretty far inland.
It 's double track, but may have more elevation gain that your'e used to.
There's also Chino Hills State Park.
most of the other trails I know are paved. The most popular is the on that runs along the Santa Ana River
BCIPam is the big MTB'er here.
I hopefully going to be gone for XMAS. The closest airport to my Family receives subsidized service, and the FAA shut down the airline doing it. There is another carrier, but it's having troubles getting planes and qualified pilot (the old one was flying 30 year old plane with "insufficient" crew training).So, I have to know If i'm flying to CGI(Via CVG), STL, or MEM