Pacific Electric Inland Empire Trail:
California
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Description:
The Pacific Electric Inland Empire Trail is a great commuter and recreation trail in western San Bernadino valley, with expansive views and connections to community centers and parks. The trail follows the old Pacific Electric Railway, which was known for its red cars. One of its last remaining railway depots along the San Bernardino line is found in Rancho Cucamonga on Etiwanda Avenue, where the avenue intersects the trail.

The segment in Rancho Cucamonga includes a 10-foot-wide, concrete trail for bikes and the same width side path of decomposed granite for running, walking and horseback riding. The segment in Upland is asphalt, and is nicely landscaped, leading through residential neighborhoods and commercial corridors before connecting to Claremont. The attractive village offers shopping and the Claremont Colleges.

Fontana recently completed several new concrete segments that connect to the trail in Rancho Cucamonga. There is a gap between Cherry Avenue and Almeria Avenue in Fontana where the corridor runs through an industrial area; a connection is planned in the future.

When complete, the Pacific Electric Inland Empire Trail will run 21 miles east-west between Rialto and Claremont. The trail has possibilities for connecting to a massive network of pathways that include the Santa Ana River Trail and San Jose Creek connecting to the San Gabriel River Trail.

Every May, Friends of the Pacific Electric Trail sponsor a fun event to raise money for trail amenities.

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Parking & Trail Access:
The Pacific Electric Trail is accessible from wherever the trail intersects city streets and flood control channels. As of autumn 2011, there are three trailheads where you can park:

Central Park - 11200 Base Line Rd.
Ellena Park - 7139 Kenyon Way
Red Hill Park - 7484 Vineyard Ave.

The Route 66 trailhead is expected to be completed in January 2012 and will be located on the southeast corner of Rt. 66/Foothill Blvd., just east of the bridge. Amenities will include restrooms, picnicking and parking. A trailhead at Etiwanda Depot, where the trail intersects Etiwanda Ave, is in design.

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Reviews: [2 trail ratings]
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Trail is open from Claremont to Rialto - 21 miles
By Rneiuber in January, 2012
The PET is now completely open from it's westerly start in Claremont to it's easterly end on Maple in Fontana near Rialto. The trail offers a safe and inviting trail for bicyclists, runners, and walkers. While amenities along the trail, like the new park on Foothill in Rancho Cucamonga are still being completed, the existing parks and businesses along the trail provide adequate amenities.

Amenities near the trail include: Downtown Fontana; Heritage Park in Fontana; Exit south on Day Creek and follow the bike lane to Victoria Gardens (Rancho Cucamonga's downtown); Several parks and trail amenities like drinking fountains in Rancho; Upland's Downtown; and if you follow the bike path for a short distance from the west end of the trail you will be in Claremont's Downtown.
Pacific Electric Trail..Oct 2011
By aqtpie in October, 2011
We have been riding the PET, starting in various locations along the trail, since July.
AT first, the portion on Foothill and Baker that was under construciion was indeed a bit confusing
Now complete..It is a very nicely done addition to the trail.
Today we rode from Heritage park to just east of East Ave. The Border of Fontana and Rialto.
The Park was an excellent choice for starting the trail Eastbound.
Although we were impressed with the trail up to then, the end was very disappointing.
There was no signage telling us where to go next..
We proceeded to look for a street to continue Eastbound.
We found Rialto Ave..again to be disappointed. There were few sidewalks and absolutely no Bike Lane.
We turned around and returned to Heritage Park..
Downtown Fontana was very pleasant..They did a very nice job on their portion of the trail.


Still ends at Grove Ave.
By sageventure in April, 2011
I was very disappointed to ride east on the trail and have a fence block the train past Grove. The sign said it would be open in November 2011 (which means Spring 2012). There we no signs providing a detour. I could see that new trail had been completed but since it was block, it did not do me any good.

The Upland area of the trail is not well done; too many bumps in the road as you go from street to trail. All areas of the trail have the buttons you push for crossing put in places that are out of the way for bike riders.

Overall, the trail is nice. The problem, in general, is that the designers were not bike riders.

When you can actually ride 21 miles, it will be a good way to get across town.
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Trail Facts
Trail End Points: Claremont Blvd. (Claremont) to Cherry Ave. (Fontana) to Almeria Ave. to Maple Ave. (Fontana)
Counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino
Trail Length: 18.1 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Asphalt, Crushed Stone, Concrete
Trail Activities: Bike, Inline Skating, Wheelchair Accessible, Horseback Riding, Walking
TrailLink ID: 6054341

Related Links
Guidebook: Learn more about other Western rail-trails in RTC's Western Guidebook.