San Diego Creek Bikeway Easy picturesque trail to the Upper Newport Bay By katyushak in 6/18/2011 7:35:14 PM | Rode this trail in early June 2011. It is an easy 10 mile trail that is used by both casual and avid cyclists, as well as pedestrians. Rode during lunch on a week day, so there were a few pedestrians walking on their lunch break (I am assuming) on upper part of the trail. If you start the trail at the very top (Pacifica and Spectrum), you will have to cross several intersection at the regular pedestrian crossings, meaning you would have to stop, wait for the light, etc. So, it is better to start west of Alton Parkway (you can park in any number of parking lots). West of Alton, the trail passes under the bridge (except Jeffrey road crossing), so there is no need to stop at all. The elevation change from trail head in Irvine to the intersection of University Dr. and Jamboree Road is just 187 ft. It gets hilly past there, before you get to the beach. Overall, excellent trail, and definitely worth spending a day riding it on the way to the beach, spending a day there, and then riding back.