Explore the best rated trails in Irvine, CA. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Santa Gertrudis Creek Trail and Coastal Rail Trail. With more than 70 trails covering 443 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
In the Friendly city of Whittier,California. The Greenway Trail is a Scenic and Safe destination for the whole Family. Remember to bring water ! 6miles long + since the extensions are finally taking place! Will be connected to La Habra in OC very soon keep in your to do list!
On 06NOV2022 I chose to attempt a 7(ish) mile run along the LA river starting at the trail's terminus in Long Beach. The run took me from Golden Shore up to about Willow. Nearly as soon as the trail turns north from the trailhead the nature of this trail becomes apparent - This is not a safe trail for pedestrians. There are multiple campers, addicts, feces (human and otherwise), and piles of garbage all along the trail. It is an absolute human rights atrocity. Some of the campers have built decent sites off of the trail but most have built castles of garbage and some have built literal fortresses out of the riprap that is used along the river wall. Some of the people along that route were friendly enough and said hello as I passed. Others were not welcoming and a couple were down right threatening including one that tried to block my path and stop my run. This brings up perhaps the most dangerous part - there is no way to escape the trail should trouble happen. There is a high chainlink fence that runs between trail access. If a person finds themselves being chased or assaulted they cannot get away. This portion of this trail needs to be avoided if on foot. There were a lot of cyclists and perhaps this is an option if you are moving quickly, but even then this should only be attempted if part of a large group.
This trail has the potential to be awesome, but the current issues make it downright intimidating and dangerous.
The views aren’t pretty when you leave out of the Culver City entrance to the trail, and it doesn’t particularly smell great either, but the views quickly get better, especially when you get closer to Playa De Rey beach. The beach itself is a sweet reward for a semi challenging, sometimes hilly ride. If you drive there, set your GPS to Syd Kronenthal Park for 4 hours of free parking. There’s also a rec center there with bathrooms and a fountain to refill your water bottle before your start. The entrance to the path is a steep slope, so save some energy for your exit back up it. Also, be mindful of what hour you head out as I encountered a large group of students on the path during school dismissal hours. The students were nice enough to clear a path (with some heavy bell ringing).
I was on the Arroyo Seco Bike Path traveling east from LA towards South Pasadena on my bicycle commuting from work. There was some thick glass hidden in some dirt that caused my bicycle tire to be flatted with a loud, sharp sound. It felt like it was a booby trap intentionally causing bikes to have flat tires. I see a lot of broken glass and try to miss it. There seems to always be broken bottles and vandalism to intimidate residents from using the path.
My bike's flat tire brought me to a halt and some shirtless man approached me and asked me for fifty cents. He was walking right at me and appeared he was homeless. I felt I was in danger. I told him to stay back a few times.
This could be a great commuting and recreational pathway but it is unkept and littered with trash and encampments full of intimating homeless. A few weeks ago I saw a minivan on fire and like the other reviews on this website show that LA needs to get involved.
This concrete trail is very well maintained and worth your time. Good workout on a bike. My first time on the trail was from Portola to I-5 where I diverted left to Sand Canyon and accidentally discovered the Walnut trail :). Irvine has so many good trails!
Its pretty and plenty of shade. Many residents are walking and riding on this one so I’ve not seen any creepers lurking. Read “toolbear”’s review its quite in depth and still spot on even after 13 years :).
The end section in San Marcos is quite good, the part along Mission Ave. in Escondido is OK. But in between the cities are a number of locations where tree roots have severely damaged the asphalt, some in shadow area surprising you when you hit them with your bike. So if coming from Escondido by bike I take Rancheros Dr. down to Woodland Pkwy, take a right and then a left on Mission Ave all the way to Twin Oaks Valley RD and get back on trail there. This is to bypass the poor section of trail.
Fantastic views make this walk worth the effort of stairs.
A nice meandering route which is great for one and all!
I started at the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve Interpretive Center. There was lots of parking there and on the street next to it. The trail starts along the preserve and winds through Irvine. You can really tell you are in an upper class area as the trail was not only beautiful but well maintained and totally free of trash and homeless issues. It was well marked and well maintained. This is a trail I will do again in the future. You feel very safe on this trail during the entire route.
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Scan the QR code to get TrailLink on your phone
