On a fully paved path between the Pacific Ocean and the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, the San Gabriel River Trail connects more than a dozen communities east of Los Angeles, Following a channelized river, the 39-mile trail travels through an exceptionally diverse landscape of residential and industrial areas, with scenic vistas of the surrounding mountains providing a striking backdrop.
About the Route
The San Gabriel River Trail’s northern endpoint is in Azusa, on Gabriel Canyon Rd/CA 39, about 1 mile east of its intersection with Ranch Rd. Heading south, the trail meets the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, a large open area with a nature center and reservoir. Be prepared for sun exposure in this drier terrain, and a short segment of steep elevation change near the dam. At the south end of the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, a short spur takes the trail west across I-605, into Duerte, to the Duarte/City of Hope A Line Metro station.
Further south of the Santa Fe Dam, the trail comes to Whittier Narrows, a large natural expanse with a nature center, offering an opportunity for bathrooms and drinking water. Shortly south of here, in Pico Riviera, the trail crosses over to the eastern bank of the river and passes under San Gabriel Parkway, before continuing south. After crossing under a railway bridge, the trail hugs a branching Union Pacific railway line southward, as it passes Pío Pico State Historic Park, home to adobe buildings and Mexican-American War era history.
South from Pió Pico State Historic Park, a 3.5 mile stretch takes the trail to Santa Fe Springs Park, roughly the trail’s midpoint, with amenities for a rest stop, water or bathroom break. Heading south from Santa Fe Springs to Bellflower, the trail passes several more community parks with numerous recreational facilities.
Entering Long Beach, the trail passes through the much larger El Dorado East Regional Park, which offers an archery range, a nature center, fishing lakes, and a plethora of other amenities. South of the El Dorado East Regional Park, a bridge crosses over Coyote Creek, just before it merges into the San Gabriel River.
The trail continues to hug the river and continue south for 4 miles, heading through an industrial area before passing under CA-1, before nearing the river mouth in Seal Beach. The San Gabriel River Trail’s southern endpoint is at the aptly-named River’s End Park, in the oceanside town of Seal Beach.
Connections
The San Gabriel River Trail connects to the Rio Hondo River Trail, the Bellflower Bike Trail, and the Coyote Creek Bikeway.
A on a short segment of unpaved trail and on-road connections, the trail also offers a connection to the Whittier Greenway Trail.
Trail History
The San Gabriel River trail runs along its namesake river. The Tongva people living along the basin used the river for fish and game for thousands of years. The river was named after Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, a nearby colonial mission established by the Spanish in 1771. In the mid-1800s, miners flocked to the river after gold was discovered there. Mining towns sprang up, especially in the mountains just north of the present-day trail.
In the 1900s, the river became a major mining source of sand, gravel and rock, used for construction material as the Los Angeles metropolitan area boomed. An estimated one billion tons of aggregate have been mined from the San Gabriel River, materials today found in roads, freeways, parking lots and buildings throughout the region. After a series of damaging floods in the early 20th century, the river was channelized in the mid-20th century, in wide-ranging development plan for the region’s watershed that took decades to complete.
The San Gabriel River Trail runs between San Gabriel Canyon Rd/CA 39 (Azusa), and River’s End Park (Seal Beach), with parking available at both trailheads.
Parking is also available at:
There are numerous parking options along this route, see TrailLink Map for all parking options and detailed directions.
The trail can also be also be accessed by rail from the following public transit stations
If taking your bike aboard a train, please observe the transit agency’s rules.
The best trail for triathlon bike in LA
From Seal Beach to Los Alamitos this is fun. After that you hit sone random cool spots up into Bellflower. After that its all industrials, menkey back yard ranches, dried up river beds, homeless camps & trash. Im continually blown away by how many people live in the California river beds.
Use trail at your own risk! I am 65 yrs old and have been running, skating or bicycling this trail at the southern end for over 40 years. In the last 5 years it has deteriorated into a free for all playground for any type of speeding motorized vehicle imaginable. Dirt bikes, ATV's, UTV's, Mini-bikes...and worst of all, E-bike riders that speed along at 30 to 50 mph and pass within inches of you. Now there are teenager E-bike "gangs" that take over both lanes of the path and flip you off when you tell them to move over. It's completely out of control now. I personally know of one man that was taken to the emergency room at Los Alamitos for broken ribs after being forced off the path and into the rocks by E-bikers. Motor driven vehicles of any kind should never be allowed into this HPV trail and I hope something is done about it soon before someone is killed, if that has not already happened. I feel my safety is threatened to bicycle in the SGRT any more. It's safer in marked bicycle lanes in traffic now IMO.
Ride this trail from the beach to about the 10 mile marker. Nice well maintained. A bit nervous if you don't like steep drop off both sides.
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