Woodbridge Trail

The 2.91 mile Woodbridge Trail, while short, is the most scenic of the Irvine bike trails. Views of the two lakes and mountains unfold around each bend. Its a great ride for families and kids  and that is what you will find there, so, while the trail itself may be high speed, the curves and the traffic enforce a slower pace. Certainly so on a sunny weekend, with walkers, kids on Razors, mums with prams and such. It is well connected trail, crossing the San Diego Creek and Freeway Trails and ending at the University Trail. To the north, 0.7 miles of bike lanes take you to the Walnut (AT&SF) Trail, with connections to the Peters Canyon Wash Trail. It starts at the north end of North Lake at East Yale Loop and works south along the lake, then inland to get around a neighborhood and the beach club, then back along the lake to the overpass at Barranca Parkway. On the far side is the Woodbridge Village Shopping Center (shopping mall/food/parking, etc.). Cross the parking lot to the San Diego Creek Trail junction on the far side. The Woodbridge Trail takes the ped/bike bridge over San Diego Creek to the far side where the Woodbridge Community Park will be your full service trail head. The trail swings around the park, crossing Alton Parkway on an overpass. Check out the South Lake Gazebo and viewing deck just beyond. The trail diverts around a lakefront neighborhood to the tennis club junction. Straight ahead is more direct, but the right hand trail takes you back to the lake and a delightful bridge (not on the trail) as it swing around the tennis courts, down to the bottom of South Lake. Here East and West Yale Loops meet at Yale Ave. The trail is on the far side  up Yale Ave.  which dead ends in the Yale Ave. ped/bike overpass on the San Diego Freeway. There is also a side trail to the Freeway Trail. On the far side you can use the bike/walk on the east side of Yale to get down to University Drive. Cross at the lights and drop down to Water District Junction on the University Trail, where the Woodbridge Trail ends.

These two "trail head" facilities are between North and South Lakes, in the middle of the trail, adjacent to the San Diego Creek Trail. There are no convenient trail heads at the ends of the trail. Woodbridge Community Park  20 Lake Rd., Irvine, CA. Three restrooms, two drinking fountains, parking, etc. Woodbridge Village Shopping Center  Barranca Parkway x Lake Rd., Irvine, CA. Parking, shopping, restroom, drinking fountains, assorted food options, etc. San Diego Freeway in Irvine to Culver Dr., N. on Culver to Barranca Parkway. E. on Barranca to Lake Rd. Right on Lake and pick either the mall or the park beyond.