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Print Friendly MapThe channelized Deer Creek that travels throughout Rancho Cucamonga and San Bernardino County provides water for the surrounding community, but the Deer Creek Bike Path provides recreation and outdoor access along the same route.
Starting off the trails northern endpoint at Highland Ave, the Deer Creek Bike Path spends the entirety of its route following its namesake Deer Creek alongside its channel. The route includes a wide asphalt paved trail. The trail has a number of road crossings and trail users should be advised to keep aware of oncoming traffic.
1 mile south of the northern trail endpoint, the Deer Creek Bike Path meets the Pacific Electric Inland Empire Trail, which travels 20 miles East-West.
There is no designated parking along this route.
I've lived my entire sixty-eight years in the Inland Empire, the last forty-three in Rancho Cucamonga, and I must say I was absolutely stunned to recently discover that the black top running alongside the flood control channel is now on TraiLink and is called Deer Creek Bike Path (even though there are absolutely no signs anywhere designating that name to the path).
Since no one had yet to submit a review or photo, I felt compelled to do so in the hope some naive bicyclist does not set their sights on this path.
First of all, this is/was essentially a service road for the flood control channel, but the city slapped some yellow paint down the center of it and decided to call it a bike path. OK, Rancho, kudos for the thought and semi-effort, but this trail leaves quite a bit to be desired as a "bike path". Deer Creek Concrete Flood Control Channel Pedestrian Path might be a better name. I was the only person on a bike (for good reason), and in terms of pedestrians/dog walkers I only encountered four on the entire 9.6 mile round trip.
Most of it is not practical as a bike path because of the many interruptions caused by busy major thoroughfares. As a result, you then have to get on a sidewalk or that busy road to get to a traffic signal in order to safely cross and then double back to the trail. (Check out the map and you'll see what I mean.)
I would say this path is most practical for and appreciated by the residents north of Church Street as it provides a couple miles of recreational opportunity thanks to paths connecting their neighborhoods to the trail. From my experience, that's primarily dog walkers and residents getting their steps in.
North of Base Line Road it provides access to The Bark at Central Park and the city's crown jewel bike path, the Pacific Electric Inland Empire Trail (which I ride a couple of times a week between Fontana and Upland). The portion of trail north of Church Street all the way to the endpoint at Highland Avenue (which is closed to cars!) is safe, but the trail has about a million filled cracks which makes for a bumpy ride.
South of Church Street, FUGHEDDABOUDIT! It's a joke and not worth your time as it passes behind businesses, warehouses, apartments, and the unhoused and their scattered garbage. Same bumpy, cracked trail plus debris such as sand and tree twigs, plus I didn't feel especially safe as I pedaled through the less affluent south part of town.
So bikers, don't bother! This is definitely not a destination bike ride, but perfect for the nearby residents to stretch their legs or to access the dog park or the Pacific Electric Trail (a true bike path!).
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