San Gabriel River bicycle path
Encyclopedia
The San Gabriel River Trail (also known as "SGRT") is a bike path in Los Angeles County
, California
, USA.
The South end of the SGRT is Seal Beach
. From Seal Beach there are opportunities to ride North or South along the coast.
The northern segment begins near Whittier Narrows
Recreation Area, where riders can continue North into El Monte
(via the Rio Hondo), North into Azusa
and Duarte
(via the San Gabriel River Trail), or South to Long Beach
(via the Rio Hondo bicycle path
and the Los Angeles River
).
The San Gabriel River Trail can be ridden as part of a 61 miles (98.2 km) loop that is mostly bikeways: North on the SGRT, cross to the Rio Hondo
at Whittier Narrows, then South (downstream) to the Los Angeles River
, and continuing to Long Beach. In Long Beach, take the Shoreline Pedestrian Bikepath
(and surface streets) South/East to the SGRT and head North, returning to the starting point.
Traveling North from Wilderness Park, the path switches from the East side of the river to the West side of the river over the San Gabriel River Parkway Bridge, which is designated as a bike route by the city of Pico Rivera
.
From Whittier Narrows, the path follows the River north into South El Monte, Baldwin Park
and Irwindale to the Santa Fe Dam
. The path crosses the river on Arrow Highway next to the main spillway, then loops back to climb a steep ramp up to the rim of the dam. The path traces the rim of the dam around to the east of the flood basin and park, with access at Azusa Canyon Drive (main entrance to park). The path runs to the end of the dam abutment near the Miller Brewery and turns west to jog back to the river. The path finally ends at State Route 39 where it exits the narrow canyon in the extreme north of Azusa
.
To plan a nice trip downhill into the Whittier Narrows Area, start near the north (uphill) end of the trail on the Duarte-Azusa border (see Entry Points section) and travel south. The only reliable public transportation for this is Foothill Transit Bus Route 187 (a separate bus line and extra fare from MTA) which is a 25 minute ride east from the MTA Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line train station. From the entry point near Encanto Parkway and Huntington Drive it is a comfortable 12 miles (19.3 km) downhill ride (up and over the Santa Fe Dam) to the Rio Hondo bicycle path
and Lario connector trail just south of State Route 60 (Pomona Valley Freeway). This connector trail takes you back (west) to Whittier Narrows Recreation Area. You can then catch MTA Route 266 back to the Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line Station. If you have the energy, however, you may prefer to continue through the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, go about 4 miles (6.4 km) north (slightly uphill) on the Rio Hondo Bicycle Path up to the El Monte Bus Station (LACMTA station)
, from where you can connect to many MTA and Foothill transit bus routes, including MTA Route 287 which will take you back to the Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line station. If your point of origin is really closer to Union Station there are many bus routes that will take you there, such as Foothill Transit Silver Streak (express bus) and Route 481 as well as MTA Bus Routes 70, 76, 370, 376, and 490.
The San Gabriel River Bike Path Rehabilitation project involves re-paving, striping the pavement, and updating the gates on the section of path from the Whittier Narrows Dam to Florence Avenue. Design is complete for this project, construction is expected to begin at the end of May 2006 (ref. missing).
The Commuter Bikeway Signage project involves the placement of signs and pavement markings along the river bike paths including the San Gabriel River path. This project is currently in the design phase, which will include an evaluation of signage at San Gabriel River Parkway to inform bicyclists that the bike path switches from one side of the river to the other at this location.
The City of Whittier plans to open the Greenway Bike Trail in February 2008. [Ref. 1] There is talk of this trail extending into Orange County and, eventually, connecting the San Gabriel River Trail to the Santa Ana River Trail.
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA.
The South end of the SGRT is Seal Beach
Seal Beach, California
-Neighborhoods:Seal Beach encompasses the Leisure World retirement gated community with roughly 9,000 residents. This was the first major planned retirement community of its type in the U.S...
. From Seal Beach there are opportunities to ride North or South along the coast.
The northern segment begins near Whittier Narrows
Whittier Narrows
The Whittier Narrows is located at the southern boundary of the San Gabriel Valley, in Los Angeles County, California. It is a gap in the Puente Hills where the Rio Hondo and the San Gabriel River diverge....
Recreation Area, where riders can continue North into El Monte
El Monte, California
El Monte is a residential, industrial, and commercial city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city's slogan is "Welcome to Friendly El Monte," and historically is known as "The End of the Santa Fe Trail." As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 113,475,...
(via the Rio Hondo), North into Azusa
Azusa, California
Azusa is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 46,361 at the 2010 census, up from 44,712 at the 2000 census. Though sometimes assumed to be a compaction of the phrase "everything from A to Z in the USA" from an old Jack Benny joke, the place name "Azusa"...
and Duarte
Duarte, California
Duarte is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 21,321, down from 21,486 at the 2000 census....
(via the San Gabriel River Trail), or South to Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
(via the Rio Hondo bicycle path
Rio Hondo bicycle path
The Rio Hondo bicycle path is a Class 1 bicycle path that parallels the Rio Hondo through Los Angeles County. The North end of the path begins at the Peck Road Water Conservation Park, about 1/2 mile South of Live Oak Avenue on Peck Road, on the West side of the street...
and the Los Angeles River
Los Angeles River
The Los Angeles River is a river that starts in the San Fernando Valley, in the Simi Hills and Santa Susana Mountains, and flows through Los Angeles County, California, from Canoga Park in the western end of the San Fernando Valley, nearly southeast to its mouth in Long Beach...
).
The San Gabriel River Trail can be ridden as part of a 61 miles (98.2 km) loop that is mostly bikeways: North on the SGRT, cross to the Rio Hondo
Rio Hondo bicycle path
The Rio Hondo bicycle path is a Class 1 bicycle path that parallels the Rio Hondo through Los Angeles County. The North end of the path begins at the Peck Road Water Conservation Park, about 1/2 mile South of Live Oak Avenue on Peck Road, on the West side of the street...
at Whittier Narrows, then South (downstream) to the Los Angeles River
Los Angeles River
The Los Angeles River is a river that starts in the San Fernando Valley, in the Simi Hills and Santa Susana Mountains, and flows through Los Angeles County, California, from Canoga Park in the western end of the San Fernando Valley, nearly southeast to its mouth in Long Beach...
, and continuing to Long Beach. In Long Beach, take the Shoreline Pedestrian Bikepath
Long Beach bicycle path
The Long Beach Bike Path in Los Angeles County meanders about along the sand from Shoreline Village in downtown Long Beach, California to Bayshore Avenue in Belmont Shore...
(and surface streets) South/East to the SGRT and head North, returning to the starting point.
Traveling North from Wilderness Park, the path switches from the East side of the river to the West side of the river over the San Gabriel River Parkway Bridge, which is designated as a bike route by the city of Pico Rivera
Pico Rivera, California
Pico Rivera is a city located in southeastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city is situated approximately 11 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, on the eastern edge of the Los Angeles basin, and on the southern edge of the area known as the San Gabriel Valley...
.
From Whittier Narrows, the path follows the River north into South El Monte, Baldwin Park
Baldwin Park, California
Baldwin Park is a city located in the central San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 75,390, down from 75,837 at the 2000 census.- History :...
and Irwindale to the Santa Fe Dam
Santa Fe Dam
Santa Fe Dam is a flood-control dam on the San Gabriel River located a few miles southwest of Azusa in Los Angeles County, California. For most of the year, the -high dam and its reservoir lie empty, but can hold more than of water during major storms...
. The path crosses the river on Arrow Highway next to the main spillway, then loops back to climb a steep ramp up to the rim of the dam. The path traces the rim of the dam around to the east of the flood basin and park, with access at Azusa Canyon Drive (main entrance to park). The path runs to the end of the dam abutment near the Miller Brewery and turns west to jog back to the river. The path finally ends at State Route 39 where it exits the narrow canyon in the extreme north of Azusa
Azusa
Azusa is a Japanese feminine given name.Azusa may also refer to:*Azusa, California, a city in the United States*Azusa Street Revival, a Christian movement that began in Los Angeles*AZUSA - Radar interferometer*Azusa Yamamoto, a Japanese model and actress...
.
Entry points and parking
- Parking lot near the ranger station at the entrance to San Gabriel Canyon (a.k.a. Azusa Canyon).
- Angeles National Forest end of trail Entry & Parking at about 1900 N San Gabriel Canyon Road trail has been extended about 1 miles (1.6 km) north to elevation 825 feet (251.5 m) above MSL
- Dunlap Crossing Road in West WhittierWest Whittier-Los Nietos, CaliforniaWest Whittier-Los Nietos is a census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, near the San Gabriel River and the San Gabriel River Freeway . The population was 25,540 at the 2010 census, up from 25,129 at the 2000 census...
(No Parking Lot) - Santa Fe Dam entry east of face of dam Parking in Dam area.
- Santa Fe Dam (southern end) on Arrow Hwy, a few hundred feet east of the Arrow Hwy East exit on the San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605). There is a dirt parking area along the north side of the road. The northbound part of the trail climbs a long steep ramp up onto the dam. The southbound portion starts on the other side of the street about 300 feet (91.4 m) east of the parking area.
- Foothill San Gabriel River crossing Entry & Parking just north of Foothill next to river also rest rooms
- Pacific Electric Bridge at about 741 Encanto Parkway Parking at Encanto Park, Duarte, about 1/2 mile north of Huntington Drive on the west side of the river basin,
- Also in Duarte, about 1/3 mile north of Huntington Drive, on the east side of the basin there is a dedicated Lario/San Gabriel River Bicycle Path parking lot with ample parking and bathrooms. You enter from Huntington Drive and a service road takes you to this area which puts you directly on the bike path. Note, however, that although this area is patrolled by the county sheriff, it is a very isolated location. To avoid any concerns about vehicle vandalism, you may just want to park at Encanto Park across the basin (see above) and take the nice bridge across back to the bicycle path.
- El Dorado Park, Long Beach - Enter park on Spring St. between I605 and the river. Plenty of parking and bathrooms.
- Todd Ave. entrance at Todd and Sierra Madre in Azusa.
- Intersection of San Gabriel Blvd and Rosemead Blvd in El Monte. This is the southeast corner of the Whittier NarrowsWhittier NarrowsThe Whittier Narrows is located at the southern boundary of the San Gabriel Valley, in Los Angeles County, California. It is a gap in the Puente Hills where the Rio Hondo and the San Gabriel River diverge....
Recreation Area and the point where San Gabriel Blvd changes name (going east) into Durfee Ave. - Santa Fe Springs Park
Entering from the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area
San Gabriel Blvd and Rosemead Blvd is a very busy intersection but there is a small public utilities driveway on the south side of Durfee Ave about 300 feet (91.4 m) east of the intersection where you can briefly pull in to unload passengers (i.e., bike riders). The vehicle gate is closed to cars but there is a small gate for bicycles to enter the path. Travel east (left as you enter the path) and go less than a mile to join the San Gabriel River bicycle path or travel west (right) to enter Whittier Narrows Recreation Area and connect up with the Rio Hondo bike path at the far west end of Whittier Narrows. If you must park your car, from the intersection of San Gabriel Blvd and Rosemead Blvd, travel north on Rosemead about 1/2 mile and park in the free recreation area parking lot next to beautiful Legg Lake (The maintenance facility just north of this lot has an address of 555 N. Durfee Ave). To get back to the San Gabriel River bike path, go to the middle of the parking lot (halfway between the two driveway entrance/exits) and carefully cross Rosemead Blvd to a wide, smooth path marked by a green sign indicating the way to a bike path. Follow that path into the brush area and always bear right (there are numerous branches that lead onto off-limits municipal property). Within a quarter-mile you will arrive at the paved San Gabriel River connector road. Turn left and shortly come to the main path and go either left/up/north or right/down/south alongside the river.Combining Bus and Rail Travel with Bicycle Travel (via Whittier Narrows Recreation Area)
If you want to leave the car at home, you can also reach Rosemead/Durfee intersection easily on public transit operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) which offers an all-day pass (good for any bus or rail line). During non-rush hours you may take your bicycle on the Green Line light rail to the Lakewood Blvd station, get on the MTA Bus Route 266 and travel north (towards Pasadena) for about 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can start at the north end of that same Route 266, at the Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line station in Pasadena, and travel south for about 25 minutes along Rosemead Blvd (NOTE: Rosemead Blvd and Lakewood Blvd are the same street, State Route 19). Most MTA buses have a rack that holds two bicycles at the front of the bus (See Reference 2 below for more information). Note that the south end of the Gold Line originates in the regional rail hub of Los Angeles Union Station, which is also the terminus for the Metro Red Line (LACMTA) subway and the various commuter rail lines operated by Amtrak and Metrolink.To plan a nice trip downhill into the Whittier Narrows Area, start near the north (uphill) end of the trail on the Duarte-Azusa border (see Entry Points section) and travel south. The only reliable public transportation for this is Foothill Transit Bus Route 187 (a separate bus line and extra fare from MTA) which is a 25 minute ride east from the MTA Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line train station. From the entry point near Encanto Parkway and Huntington Drive it is a comfortable 12 miles (19.3 km) downhill ride (up and over the Santa Fe Dam) to the Rio Hondo bicycle path
Rio Hondo bicycle path
The Rio Hondo bicycle path is a Class 1 bicycle path that parallels the Rio Hondo through Los Angeles County. The North end of the path begins at the Peck Road Water Conservation Park, about 1/2 mile South of Live Oak Avenue on Peck Road, on the West side of the street...
and Lario connector trail just south of State Route 60 (Pomona Valley Freeway). This connector trail takes you back (west) to Whittier Narrows Recreation Area. You can then catch MTA Route 266 back to the Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line Station. If you have the energy, however, you may prefer to continue through the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, go about 4 miles (6.4 km) north (slightly uphill) on the Rio Hondo Bicycle Path up to the El Monte Bus Station (LACMTA station)
El Monte Bus Station (LACMTA station)
El Monte Bus Station is large regional transport hub in the city of El Monte just off the Interstate 10 and the San Bernardino Freeways serving the Silver Line, Foothill Transit, Greyhound and also El Monte Transit. With 22,000 passengers and 1,200 bus departures daily the station is currently...
, from where you can connect to many MTA and Foothill transit bus routes, including MTA Route 287 which will take you back to the Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line station. If your point of origin is really closer to Union Station there are many bus routes that will take you there, such as Foothill Transit Silver Streak (express bus) and Route 481 as well as MTA Bus Routes 70, 76, 370, 376, and 490.
Trail Highlights
- Just south of the San Bernardino Freeway (I-10), nearly under the Southern Pacific (Metrolink commuter rail) train bridge, is what appears to be a genuine rodeo area. On any given weekend, there will be dozens of pickup trucks parked there and various rodeo sports in full play. The closest street address might be the 3300 block of North Gilman Road but the rodeo action is only visible to outsiders from the bike path and the train.
- Just north of the Pomona Valley Freeway (SR-60) is the confluence of the San Jose Creek and the San Gabriel River. This is one of the prettiest areas of trail with sandy riverbanks, not too much traffic noise, and large accumulations of still and running water, especially after a rainstorm.
Maintenance
Maintained by Los Angeles County Department of Public Works Road Maintenance Division, swept on a scheduled basis. South of Wardlow the City of Long Beach CA is responsible for all maintenance. Also between the 405 freeway and the 22 freeway is the responsibility of Seal Beach as that section of the trial is arguably in Orange county and their city. There are maintenance agreements between the County and the two Cities. Heavy restoration began in Seal Beach late September, continuing up the path, and is scheduled to continue until December.Future plans
According to LA DWP, Public Works currently has two projects underway to improve the condition of the bike path between Wilderness Park and Whittier Narrows.The San Gabriel River Bike Path Rehabilitation project involves re-paving, striping the pavement, and updating the gates on the section of path from the Whittier Narrows Dam to Florence Avenue. Design is complete for this project, construction is expected to begin at the end of May 2006 (ref. missing).
The Commuter Bikeway Signage project involves the placement of signs and pavement markings along the river bike paths including the San Gabriel River path. This project is currently in the design phase, which will include an evaluation of signage at San Gabriel River Parkway to inform bicyclists that the bike path switches from one side of the river to the other at this location.
The City of Whittier plans to open the Greenway Bike Trail in February 2008. [Ref. 1] There is talk of this trail extending into Orange County and, eventually, connecting the San Gabriel River Trail to the Santa Ana River Trail.
External links
- Upper San Gabriel River trail Upper part of the San Gabriel River Trail
- Mid San Gabriel River trail Middle part of the San Gabriel River Trail
- Lower San Gabriel River trail Lower part of the San Gabriel River Trail
- San Gabriel River trail Pictures along the trail.
- Lakewood Accountability Action Group A group of cyclists that live in or near Lakewood, CaliforniaLakewood, CaliforniaLakewood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 80,048 at the 2010 census. It is bordered by Long Beach on the west and south, Bellflower on the north, Cerritos on the northeast, Cypress on the east, and Hawaiian Gardens on the southeast. Major thoroughfares...
that use the bike path frequently and interface with the LA County Dept. of Public Works and cities from Lakewood to the ocean (CerritosCerritos, CaliforniaCerritos is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and is one of several cities that constitute the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County. It was incorporated on April 24, 1956...
, Long Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, Seal Beach, CaliforniaSeal Beach, California-Neighborhoods:Seal Beach encompasses the Leisure World retirement gated community with roughly 9,000 residents. This was the first major planned retirement community of its type in the U.S...
) in maintaining the bike path.