By toolbear on November 25, 2009
RTC has this as the AT&SF on their maps. It was part of that system. It appears to be one of two developed rail trails in town, the other being the Venta Spur. Any more out there?
But, the signage says Walnut Trail and the "City of Irvine: Named Public Paved Off-Street Trails" map showing all their Class I trails, has it as the Walnut Trail.
As previously pointed out, if you do 0.7 miles of bike lane from the Walnut to the Woodbridge Trail, you have a lot of loop options. The Woodbridge crosses the San Diego Creek Trail, the Freeway Trail and, while the City shows it ending at the far side of the 405 overpass, there is a sidewalk/bikeway that takes it down to the University Trail (Water District Jct.) in Wm. Mason Park.
You can do Figure 8s left and right and more. No more Out & Backs rides. Irvine has a great system.
ToolBear
By fgarabia on November 15, 2009
I have ridden this trail for nearly twenty years coming to it from the San Diego Creek Trail, by North Lake and north on the Yale Loop. All the descriptions and photos of this trail are great.
However, no where is the trail identified by Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe. Rather, signs posted by the city states the trail is called "WALNUT BIKE TRAIL". I photographed one of the signs and post it here.
By toolbear on November 01, 2009
ROAD BLOCK ON THE AT&SF ROAD – STILL THERE, BUT…
10.31.09
I was out exploring the loop options off the San Diego Creek Bikeway, which took me to the AT&SF. San Diego Creek is the backbone of Irvine’s 42 miles of Class I bikeways. A good number of Class I trails and Class II bike lanes intersect it. Even better, SDCB is almost seamless. There are two on-street crossings. Can’t say that for a lot of the other bikeways.
Take a look…
One loop option was SDCB to Bill Barber Park, pick up the Peters Canyon Bikeway across the street from Bill Barber, take it NE to the AT&SF, then ride the AT&SF SE to Sand Canyon Bikeway, and ride that SW to hit the San Diego Creek Bikeway. From there you can either backtrack down the creek to Jeffrey Rd for a loop down along University Drive and the William Mason Regional Park to rejoin the SDCB at University, and then home.
It was a cunning plan, but I should have read the TailLink page on the AT&SF - first. Twirlymaker warned us in 2008 that there was a block at Jeffrey. Still there and from the looks of things, I doubt that there will be an early 2010 opening. They still have to drive the underpass under the active RR tracks. What do those trails weigh? I know locomotive weight upwards of 100 tons. Better shore it good.
I came up the SDCB, hopped across the intersection at Bill Barber Park to catch the Peters Canyon Bikeway and took that NE to meet the western end of the AT&SF. This trail does not follow a rail line as much as it does a power line right of way. There is enough room that they let it curve back and forth, as you can see in Google Earth: 33.699979° -117.795284°
The AT&SF is not a destination trail (unless you live there). Too short - but a useful connection between Peters Canyon and Sand Canyon. However, it is a pleasant ride on good blacktop with over and under passes and a number of trailside water points. Sure could use those on some of the big rail trails where water points are many miles apart. Nary a restroom to be seen in the two pocket parks along the trail – Flagstone and Hoepfner. Then you hit Jeffrey Rd. where the trail is both blocked and dug up. Check the pix. Big hole there.
The Work Around was to resort to the Class II bike lanes on Jeffrey and Irvine Center Drive. I went over to Sand Canyon Ave. and back up to see the other end of the trail. It’s blocked at Sand Canyon and on both sides of Jeffrey Rd. Guess that means NO!
The rest of the loop went well. There is a nice overpass high above the San Diego Freeway on Jeffrey Rd. Someday Sand Canyon Bikeway will run over to this crossing, but not now. The regional park offered both a wild creek bottom with mountain lions and rattle snakes (none seen today) and the mowed grass picnic-in-the-park-for-a-fee type of park. Cross University Drive and a short leg puts you back on SDCB down in the tidal marsh section. From there, a few miles back to Newport Beach.
You can spend a very nice Saturday morning out exploring the miles of bikeways in Irvine. Good riding. Herds of bikies out playing in the bike lanes. One pulled up to me at a light and said he had passed me twice . Must have a loop of his own going.
Next ride – SDCB to Peters Canyon to Portola, then along Portola for a loop back. There are all sorts of bike paths up there. Do a Google Earth flyover then get your bike out and ride.
Ride on,
ToolBear