We enjoy riding on this bicycle trail watching the many variety of birds enjoying the river. The only drawback are some of the homeless that are setting up camp and littering the area. Be careful as some areas of the path have damage from tree roots which some people have spray painted bright colors as a warning. If you are thirsty or hungry you will find along the way a brewery, coffee houses, and restaurants in the Frogtown part. read more

If you haven't gone out to explore the Los Angeles River Bike Path, we'll you're missing out! One of my favorite activities to do during warmer months. Need a date idea? This is it! That's right, do something active, fun, and entertaining. The Bike Path has a little bit of everything! Along the nicely paved Bike Path you can find street vendors selling an assortment of things. Spoke Cafe has great food and smoothies to fuel up before you trek out on the path. Or if you're in need of a bicycle, there is a bike rental spot on the opposite end of the cafe. Been on the trail for a while, Frogtown Brewery is a great stop off the path to take a break, use the restroom, and recharge with a cold beer. If you're into coffee, La Colombe Cofee is where it's at! Get out and explore what the community has to offer. It's definitely a good amount of options! Maybe even ride to another community, have lunch, then ride back. Tip: Parking is a challenge. Carpool if you are going in a group. Map out a parking area in advance. Find a park or parking area near the river basin, then head out to the path from there! read more

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Ride like wind or even walk along the LA River Bike Path. I've taken this Los Angeles must from Burbank to Griffith Park once or twice and it's very mellow, some days are more bike traffic than others. Being on the west side of the river you're directly by the 5 fwy and not far away from a lot of local favorite spots such as Frogtown Brewery on Gilroy, Salazar on Fletcher Drive Street, Ricky's on Riverside and much much more. There's street art in places, graffiti, plant life, easy bike path, underpasses and scenic sights. Definitely a must at least once on foot or pedal, though the path parallel on the opposite side of the river is more pedestrian friendly for sure. The great thing about this plus 29 mile bike path also known as LARIO is it's easy, enjoyable and open to everyone. read more

GREAT PLACE TO BIKE OR WALK =========================== I walked on the LA River Bike Path once with a friend and that was nice. Just watch out for the cyclists so you don't get run over. There are lots of restaurants to grab a bite to eat, coffee houses and little cool parks along the way. My husband and I rode our e-bikes there as well. The path is nice and I like to start just south of Fletcher Drive and go south from there. If you go on a weekday it isn't as crowded and you won't have problems finding parking. If you need a restroom and you are not eating or drinking at one of the local restaurants you can find restrooms at Elysian Valley Gateway Park. It is just south of Spoke Bicycle Cafe. read more

LONG OVER DUE.......... I've been riding this bike path for about 5 years and I love it just as much as I did 5 years ago. Yes there are lots and lots of homeless people now but they truly mind there own business and not even trying to find out about yours, they do have there own issues (duh there the ones homeless) .. anyway when you want to work out on your core or booty bike riding is the way to do it. Not only is it fun but it's also good meditation to clear the mind. If you have a partner that loves to cycle there a keeper cuz bike riding isn't for everyone. I took one star off only because I haven't seen any new upgrades since last year.. usually they plant flowers alone the path but I saw nothing this time. (Just saying) So when ever you want to ride along the L.A. river hop in your car and head to paramount Home Depot and park in there lot, Your car will be safe as you ride out to Long Beach .........Thanks 4 reading !!! " KEEPING IT 1 HUNNID " read more

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What a wonderful bike path along the LA River. Not a lot of traffic (bikes) or pedestrians. It's nice to see the River high and low points and greenery. Also a few ducks along the way. read more

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LA River Bike Path is not closed. It can be accessed through various streets off of Riverside Dr, Los Feliz and Elysian Park. read more

This is a great path for people looking to bike a short distance, approximately 14 miles round trip. This path runs along the LA River and the 5 freeway, so it's nice to ride your bike and look at the different things around the area. What better than exercising for free and in nature! When you get to the bike path, I'm sure there are many places to park, but a good spot is at the LA Zoo parking lot. It's a 2 minute bike ride from the lot to the bike path. Also, the LA Zoo parking is free! You'll notice that there are many other bikers there to park there car. Just try to stay at the very end, near the entrance because that's the closest spot to the bike path. The path is pretty leveled, so you won't have a hard time riding up and down the path. My favorite thing about this path is that there's shade! I'm usually biking at the San Gabriel River Trail which has many inclines and no shade at all! The shade doesn't cover the entire bike path but a good portion of it. This path offers a lot, you'll see many people biking, running, fishing, and kayaking! I'm surprised you can fish and kayak. I didn't think there were fishes. Also, the river didn't look deep enough so you can kayak. There were about two different kayak vendors for you to rent kayaks, including tours. Maybe that is something that I will try next time. The bike path is also next to a recreational center, so you'll see a couple people doing tai chi, singing, and playing instruments. You won't see too many professional cyclers out at this path because the round distance this too short. You'll see most of the professional cyclers at the San Gabriel River Trail because the round-trip for that ride is approximately 55 miles. Make sure to put on some sunblock and enjoy the bikepath. I highly recommend this place. read more

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When visiting Los Angeles a week ago, I did a hike along the LA River Bike Path. I had read a column in the Times by Charles Fleming about this urban walk/hike, and I knew it was one I'd have to do when I had the chance. Saturday morning after breakfast, I parked near the Mulholland Memorial Fountain at Riverside Drive and Los Feliz Boulevard. Fleming described an entrance to the path accessed from behind the soccer field by the tennis courts. Sure enough, as I neared the rear of the courts, there were some bike tire tracks and I saw a small ramp to a bridge going over the 5 freeway. It's always fun to cross the freeways on bridges like this and I got a photo of an accident that was backing up AM traffic on the freeway. I was glad I was walking safely. Once over the bridge, you can take the bike path north along the LA River and then cross at a bridge to the east side which is just a walking path. Instead, I chose to do Fleming's hike in the opposite direction and I was glad I did. I saw people fishing in the river and I got a great photo of a beautiful heron. If you're walking, you can walk down the concrete riverbank right to the river. I went south to Rattlesnake Park and the Great Heron Gates to the park before coming back and crossing east on Fletcher Road and then north and back to the walking path. It ended up being about a 4 mile round trip hike and it was a lot of fun. The bikers were very considerate of those walking and I returned the favor. This is a super place to ride or walk. read more

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Long and shows you Los Angeles diversity. You go from fancy, young and trendy, urban, industrial and questionable all in the same path. Access points all over. Near Toluca Lake, Griffith Park, Los Feliz, Atwater Village... Gotta love LA! read more

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I did a 5 mile walk along the bike path today! Although I love this path, I was infuriated to see so much dog poop all along the path., Millions of dollars have been pumped into this River, so we can all enjoy it. Businesses, exercise equipment, clean bathrooms, small park stations along the way make this walk so pleasant! I love listening to the water, watching people bike and kayak too! I hate for the river to deteriorate due to irresponsible dog owners! I don't understand, why do you leave these poop bags behind? Or some owners don't even bother with the bags! They just let their dogs poop and keep on going! There are bag stations all along, the city gives you the bags for goodness sake! The least you can do is drop it in the trash can PLEASE!!! read more

A WELL TRAVELED PATH BACKGROUND: The first 3.2 miles, from Riverside Dr. (at Victory) down as far as Los Feliz Blvd., had been opened to the public for quite a few years. The next mile and a half, as far as Fletcher Drive, opened in 2000. The Los Feliz overpass was finally completed, and lighting is now installed all the way. STATS: Travel as far as you like Minimal elevation gain or loss Buggy at times Not crowded ESSENTIALS: Walking/running shoes Bike A partner of some sort EXPERIENCE: Couple years ago a friend and I did a 21 mile bike ride though Griffith Park that included several miles on the LA River Bike Path. The path wide and fairly well kept up. Free from cars and gangs of people, one can really pedal at top velocities. The past year I have been a caretaker for a friend has two canines. One of da furs has anger management issues towards other four legged creatures. To ensure her and her step-sister enjoy the great outdoors, we walk along the LA River on the bike path as so many others do. The path is a great place to walk with or without fur because of the wide path, clear line of sight for a long distance, which helps when I'm on path with da fur. It gives us a chance to either prepare for a potential outburst from da fur or to simply turn around and go the other way. Walking on the path along the moving river is a great place to unwind and enjoy the sites of the native birds and the growing greenery in the river. Also, there are areas along the path that is full of bushes and trees, which is great for da fur to take care of business. Forgot your poop bags? No worries, there are poop bag dispensing posts at some entrances to the path as well as trash cans. I have yet to try kayaking in the river. I know it can be done, but I'm unfamiliar with this activity in the river. The LA River Bike Path is not just for cyclists, but also walkers, runners, and peeps who only want to hang out on the river. The downside to the path is that it runs along the 5 freeway and it is a bit noisy, also there is some graffiti on the asphalt and water pipes, at least in the section of the path I frequent. Some may think this is a not so safe area, but I feel safe walking along the river. SIDEBAR: During the rainy season, the river swells quickly and many have been suddenly swept up and taken away sometimes found dead miles away. Don't mess with Mother Nature, she ALWAYS wins. read more

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One of my absolute favorite parts of Los Angeles. It's no coincidence that it's also one of the strangest, spookiest parts of the city too. For the last three months or so, I've made it a point every other week to walk or bike the path between the Victory blvd entrance and Atwater Village and always go home with a bizarre sighting or unusual find. While it is common knowledge that many homeless people camp out along the river, there are all kinds of weird stories and rumors about a strange guy who either lives in the brush within the riverbed or spends a lot of time spooking pedestrians and riders. The "hiding man" as the posted signs along the path warn you, is a pale-faced (masked?) man who will occasionally peer out from the brush and according to a few anonymous message board posts, can also be spotted walking along the riverbed. To say that I find this extremely fascinating is an understatement and makes every visit something of an expedition. Hopefully, one day, I will get to actually spot him myself (I added the only pic of him I could find). A few things that I have seen and/or found: a hand-carved, very well-endowed and articulated wooden doll; syringes; men at two different ends of the path at night, using flashlights within the brush; someone using a laptop within a tent within the brush; a knife handle; a rubber baby doll fully swaddled and soaked in dirty water; cat tail; bones of unknown origin; "wild" chickens; warning signs posted about the hidden man, a headless man, robbers along the path, wild dogs and people in the pipes with the cat faces; a stash of unopened microwave burritos. So much mythology! Add all of that to the fact that right smack in the middle of congested, choking Los Angeles, you can spend some time away while looking at wildlife, lush greenery and, technically, a running river. It's sort of like a tiny pocket universe in some stretches. It's also typically isolated, aside from cyclists, it stays pretty quiet and calm all day so a good place to enjoy a book or a little scotch while you think about things. Walking it at night is a bit trickier and typically advised against but I did it a few weeks ago and found it pretty exciting, albeit a little dangerous once I saw the flashlight guys in the brush. There are very few things one could be doing with flashlights in the dark in the middle of the river! I've read several other articles/posts/blogs that mention gang activity but I have yet to encounter any of it. read more

Update: don't come here. Just went this Jan and it's so ugly since the rain knocked everything over, trees, etc and washed up so much trash. Not coming back for six months. :( Before the rains: I'd walked this stretch many times, usually I park on the golf course parking lot and then head in at the gate in the back of the lot, just be careful if you come late because they'll close the gate on this lot and also you'll be there. Late. Which I'm sure it's super sketch at night. I feel pretty safe during the day, however, and I read that a 2015 grant has been issued to make this area by the river even better, which I'm happy about because I sometimes see trash and feel sorry for the animals in this area. I love this walk because you can hear and see the 101 freeway in places and yet you're in the middle of a lot of nature and it's a juxtaposition that kind of represents Los Angeles pretty well, I think. There are a lot of horses and stables nearby, but apart from that it's pretty quiet, with the occasional biker going by up top and the golf course flanking the other side until it turns into stables and then parks and fields. read more

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My comments here pertain only to the part of this bike path that runs between the Los Feliz Bridge and where the bikeway ends near the 5 Freeway overpass. If I were rating this strictly on the bike trail itself, it would get 5 stars. I saw no spots that were in disrepair and the lower section approaching the 5 Fwy has been freshly paved with smooth asphalt. If you like riding on a relatively straight, smooth and level, paved urban bikeway, this one fits all those requirements. As a bonus, you get a range of scenery from the riverbed below to the blossoming vines and trees and clumps of wildflowers that line the other side of the bikeway. Along the riverbed you will see some lush greenery and various species of wild birds including ducks, geese, herons and many others. There are also some stretches where the water looks stagnant and scummy. All along the bikeway are various landscaped pocket parks with sturdy benches where you can stop for a rest and smell the flowers or watch the river slowly roll by. I have ridden here on weekdays and on weekends. Each time I have been here It has never been crowded and bike traffic was sparse. So you won't have to be constantly dodging other users as you would on more crowded bikeways such as the ones that run along the beach. So why am I only giving three stars? It's because of what I consider some serious safety concerns. First, the side of the bikeway facing the concrete downsloped river embankment lacks a protective guard rail for approximately the final two miles of the bikeway. This is a substantial hazard. Taking a spill down this embankment could easily result in a serious injury. My second matter of concern is personal security. I saw some pretty creepy and scary looking people lingering and loitering along this bikeway. This combined with the fact that overall there are so few people here and it is not regularly patrolled by any safety or law enforcement agency is cause for concern, especially for unsupervised kids or teens and single females. So if you choose to ride here, exercise all due caution for your personal safety. read more

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AHHH! Beware of gnat swarms in the evening, especially when it's warm. They are unavoidable. They get in my nose, try to get in my mouth, and get stuck to my sweat. ACK! But I still go. Hmph. read more

4 out of 5 only because majority of cyclists do not know how to share the path. Sorry we didn't all fall into that "European trend" and rather run with our dogs or stroll down the path for a nice walk even though I'm clearly on the side lines leaving you plenty of room to ride along. Been coming through for years and love it. Although it's popularity has grown with trendy hipsters or wannabe hipsters has the crowd seeming unfriendly. Other than that, love it! read more

LA River Bike Path - On the look out for unfriendly cyclists or hipsters, good boy - Parks Near Me

3 stars for not connecting to the Lario Bike Trail to Long Beach. This is a beautiful bike trail but it's only 7 miles long. A lot more people would start commuting if the trail connects to downtown on to over the Lario bike trail. The city is making slow progress but at least progress is being made. On this trail it's pretty nice. It's pretty serene until you hit the 5 freeway where your literally next to the cars separated by barriers. Once you get towards Elysian park it gets nice. There are some homeless in the freeway over pass but they usually leave people alone. It's relatively safe during the day time. The city just needs to connect all the bike trails together to make it happen. Bikes and cars on the road don't really mix well together especially here in LA read more

LA River Bike Path - Parks Near Me

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Nice route! As i have said before we need more bike lanes and routes in LA. They only help us all in the long run! read more

My favorite bike path in the area. Long, smooth, scenic, path. Great way to get some exercise and enjoy the day. Pros: -Nice long, smooth ride that is pretty flat and well maintained No cars/intersections to worry about :) -Lots of little parks along the side to hang out (and even a bike rider cafe) -Friendly neighbors -Fun to ride overall Cons: -Watch out for walkers/more crowded. If you are riding with a family (small kids), I may suggest the Arroyo Seco Bike path as it is shorter/less crowded/just as flat. There are real riders that ride the LA River Path at fast speeds. -Louder/smoggier along the stretch right next to the 5 Freeway. read more

We try and go as a family on weekends. Free outdoor activities are the best. My kids love it. We live really close so we trying fishing every once and a while. My daughter caught a turtle using her net. We took it home and decided after one day to release him and spread some love. So if you see our adopted turtle with a yellow heart that says love, Please say hello. read more

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I have been riding the LA River Bike Path for about a year now. I ride along the path 3-4 times a week. I usually enter the path at the southern end at Egret Park. The park is a very small park just past the roundabout on Riverside Drive. Currently, the bike path goes about 6.5 miles north to Griffith Park near the LA Zoo. It used to go about another mile or so to Riverside Drive in Burbank, but they have the path blocked off at the LA Zoo due to construction at Riverside Drive. The construction is taking forever to complete! This past year that I've been riding the bike path, it's been closed the entire time. The ride along the LA River is really nice. The river is full of trees and vegetation and a lot of water fowl. You can see egrets, cormorants, geese, ducks and many more birds. The southern part of the path is quieter, more scenic and much more pleasant. North of Los Feliz Blvd, the bike path is right next to the 5 freeway and there is a large homeless encampment just north of Los Feliz. For the most part the homeless don't create problems, but occasionally they do. So, I would be vigilant in that area. The only problem I've had is that sometimes they will just walk across the path without looking. Sometime, they will walk right in front of you as you pass. I've had that happen a few times. I've rung my bell and they still walk in front of me. Recently, the guy looked up and I swear he looked right at me. Then, just as I was passing, he walked in front of me. I had to slam on my brakes and skidded a little. Luckily, I didn't hit him nor did I go down. So, just be careful in that area and especially if there are people standing on the path. Other than that, the path is fairly well maintained and is a pleasure to ride. Also, it's nice to have such a long stretch, where you don't have to deal with vehicle traffic. read more

Great place to walk your dog, walk with your family, watch the Los Angeles River people who live on the Islands and hope they don't come rob you. . .We enter from the path from the parking lot of EatZ off of Los Feliz and walk down to the Horse Police station and make our way back home. .. it's an enjoyable view of Griffith Park and you can clearly see the hikers up on the mountain or watch the bikers on the other side of the river on the freeway side and watch the bikers and families enjoy a bike stroll. .. Lately they have new levy's up to protect the near by residents for the El Nino Of El Nino storms .. I'm just happy I bought flood insurance, You never know. read more

Living in the middle of the city, it's nice to have a place for running/biking that's easy on the legs without the threat of bad LA drivers. O.O I recommend coming an hour before sunset for shade and early morning when it's still cool. Mid day provides little to no shade... read more

LA River Bike Path - Parks Near Me

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I hiked a 7 mile stretch of the river starting near John Ferraro Fields near Griffith Park and headed south. There's a sizable homeless community inhabiting the 'islands' in the center of the river and for the first little while the trail is right next to the freeway. Felt safe though, lots of cyclists on the trail on a Saturday afternoon, a few joggers too. The trail had some decent shade when I started hiking around 4pm. I passed a few small park/seating areas. I really liked the part around Frogtown, a few business have opened up facing the river trail, and Frogtown Brewery had an inviting sign so I made a quick detour. The goal was to make it all the way to LA State Historic Park in Chinatown but around Elysian Park where the freeways cross and the trail veers away from the river I ended up in front of 14th Factory Art Gallery and decided to do that instead. All in all, good day! read more

LA River Bike Path - Parks Near Me

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I dig cycling for many reasons. It's great exercise. It's non-impact so it's easy on my old man knees. It's the only sport where it's socially acceptable for grown men to wear skin tight spandex. I work hard on my body and it's a crime to hide it from the world. In my cycling threads, everyone can enjoy the jiggling undulations of this finely tuned machine. Plus, who wouldn't enjoy the unique sensation of being perched on an impossibly tiny seat with 95% of your body weight pressed against your crotch? After a long ride, it takes a good 24 hours before circulation returns to my nether regions. Yes, I've been told that I could alleviate this phenomenon if I wore padded shorts or invested in a different bike seat, but that would be like going to a steakhouse and ordering a salad. What's the fucking point? I've recently been riding the majestic Los Angeles River bike path. Round trip from Burbank to north of downtown is just over 14 miles. Needless to say, The Los Angeles River is a scenic wonderland of nature easily on par with our greatest national parks like Yosemite and Yellowstone. That being said, I do have some minor gripes: Joggers Why on earth would you want to jog on this godforsaken slab of tarmac? It's completely exposed to the sun with nary a drop of shade. The air is filled with noxious exhaust from the thousands of passing cars on the adjacent I-5 freeway. The hard pavement is absolutely brutal on your legs. As a jogger myself, I would NEVER jog here. The only reason I bike here is because it's one of the few stretches where you can get up to speed for sustained periods without worrying about cars. Perhaps you did not realize that Griffith Park, one of the largest urban parks in the US, is only a few steps away? There you will find many shaded jogging trails adjacent to scenic green golf courses. There are mountain trails with sweeping views of the city. Perhaps I sniffed too much glue in my youth, but my remedial brain thinks that Griffith Park would be a more ideal location for your afternoon jog. That being said, if you must jog on this "bike path", I can deal with it. We can share, just scoot the fuck over and... Headphones Do not wear headphones. Yes, I get it. You need your music. You can't live without your beloved music. You live and breathe music. You once put together an amazing track on Garageband that you know would be a huge hit if you just had connections in the music business. Here's the thing. It's a bike path. There are people speeding by at 25 miles per hour. Bicycles are not like motorcycles. You don't hear them coming. Because of this, cyclists typically announce their presence to joggers and cyclists as they approach from behind. Yes, it can be a tad jarring when I bark "ON YOUR LEFT!" as I approach, but it serves an important function. If you don't hear me coming because of your headphones, you might think it's safe to turn or change directions as I pass. I suspect you would not enjoy the sensation of being run over by a bicycle, much as I do not enjoy having large patches of my skin rubbed off by the pavement. Take off the damn headphones. Or at the very least, lower the fucking volume. When you're an old man like me, your ears will thank you for it. Wildlife Behold a flock of egrets feeding in the shallows near the shoreline. There's a family of mallards, navigating the gentle currents of the river. There's a gentleman squatting alongside the bike path, depositing his much needed organic fertilizer to the depleted topsoil. How considerate. Look, there's a hobo enjoying an afternoon nap in the beautiful Southern California sun. Or maybe he's dead. He certainly smells like a corpse. Speeding past on my bike, I don't slow down to investigate such things. Yellowstone can keep its bison, bears and elk. Our wildlife in Los Angeles is second to none. Insects Are you on one of those trendy low-carb / high-protein diets? The Los Angeles River bike path is the perfect place for you! Racing along the bike path, I found an unexpected source of protein as I swallowed between five to ten bugs on average on each of my rides. This provides much needed sustenance and prevents bonking on those longer rides. The humidity from the adjacent Los Angeles River turns the bike path into a wonderland of insect activity. The air is absolutely teeming with gnats, ideal for cycling. At high speed, be prepared to choke on a few bugs. Sure, that gnat you just swallowed was probably just feasting on a turd from the homeless shantytown you just passed. Try not to think about it too much. read more

Oh, Los Angeles. You do need more bike paths. Nature needs to be more accessible in this sprawling, polluted city. But, no one needs a bike path wedged between a freeway and a concrete river filled with trash. Because of the recent rains, the vegetation in the middle of the river had plastic bags draped like tinsel, which sounds more charming than it was. Biking from Elysian Park to the end of the trail past Griffith Park (8 miles), the first half was badly maintained (to Fletcher Road) and relatively dangerous. Definitely wear a helmet, as the path is pockmarked with tree roots and drainage ditches and I felt my bike lurch as if to throw me over the handlebars more than I care to admit. This is the more scenic part of the trail, as the river is more attractive here and there are warehouses and light industry to the west, as opposed to the 5 freeway further along the trail. But I wouldn't advise taking your eyes from the path itself, as it's quite lumpy. By the end of the 16-mile round-trip journey, my nose and throat burned from, well, breathing, during the 9-10 miles I cycled adjacent to the freeway. It's an interesting trip, and made me feel a bit like an urban pioneer, as I marveled at the graffiti adorning the river management system and gazed upon the wasteland that is the train yards, factories and freeways that follow the river. The trip's worth taking, once, to appreciate a different side of the city, but it's more like visiting a cemetery than a park. read more

I really enjoy this path. (Burbank to Downtown) I ride out from Sherman Oaks catch Forest Lawn into Griffith Park and pick up the path near the Zoo. While on the river I can ride at an easy pace look at Nature take back the man made river, stop at some of the little parks for a stretch and then ride downtown and catch the Red Line back to Universal. The police patrol it often as well and its usually cyclists and family riders. This part gets **** The lower LA River Path (South Central to Long Beach) on the other hand is a disaster. That path is made for Monster Trucks not bikes. And some of the neighborhoods you ride through look like demilitarized zones. Path is littered with trash, I've seen bullet casings and Hypodermic needles as well as a broken crack pipe as well as enough shopping carts to start your own business. Do not take the lower path alone or un-armed, You need something whether it be an AK-47 strapped to your back or a Taser and pepper spray. Do not stop for any reason. It seems like the local Gang underworld is hiding in the bushes or under a bridge just waiting for you to stop. No police anywhere on this part of the path. Very unsafe and not well kept at all. This part gets * read more

One of my favorite bike paths around by far. Miles of smooth surface with no cars to worry about... It's an ideal place to hit the highest gear and test your max speed. Another perk is the beautiful view of revitalized L.A. river. This last weekend I saw ducks followed by the cutest ducklings wading around by their concrete shore. Other common sights are the majestic blue herons and snowy egrets, it's great to pack a cliff bar and sit on one of the benches they've installed along the river path to watch these rare and beautiful birds. A mile away from Fletcher, I was stopped by the sight of a man holding up a huge fish he had just caught, the thing was at least 2ft long. He threw it back of course, but I never imagined fish like that were swimming around merrily in our run-off. Final note...Ladies, if you are going to ride this one alone near dusk, pack some bear-grade mace, your black-belt in kung-fu and add 911 to your cell phone's speed dial, as the often isolated trail will take you through the backyards of plenty of vagrants and vatos. read more

Who knew the LA River could be so appealing? Or that places such as 'Elysian Park' and 'Frog Town' exist here? Easy 15 mile round-trip bike ride (I ride a single gear). Entrance to one end of the Bike Path starts down the street from the Los Angeles Zoo. Beautiful side parks along the way. Relatively empty in the mornings, before pollution from the 5 freeway rush hour blows into your face. Take a detour through Griffith Park and the golf course on your way back for variety. It's pretty romantic. This would be a good active date idea. read more

This is a great ride to take with kids. The path is smooth and well maintained. You never have to once share the ride with cars- which makes it ideal to ride with the young set. Bring binoculars, water and a bike lock. We like to start up by the soccer fields by the zoo and head south, stopping for breaks to observe wild life and birds that frequent the river. Stop for lunch at Joe's on Los Feliz and continue on down to Rattle Snake park. The more we ride, the more we enjoy the river. read more

I spent a Tuesday morning with a group of UCLA students weeding and picking up the trash along the bikeway. I haven't ridden a bike in years, and I was easily able to make the round-trip starting at Fletcher, so I would say this is a good beginner ride. We received special treatment from the LAPD who cleared the transients from the area to make sure our volunteers were not in any jeopardy. I did see one man bathing in the river, along with several tent cities and shopping carts. There was only two bumps in the path that concerned me, otherwise the path itself is in good condition. Some parts of the path felt very narrow Not a lot of scenery to take in - concrete, freeways, and weird mutant duck-geese. read more

Funny thing happened today here at the LA River Bike Path. While I was taking a picture to post up on yelp, a homeless woman walking by points out a large bird on the rivers edge. She says that those birds haven't been around here in over ten years and because the ecosystem in the river is getting stronger the birds are coming back. She then goes on to say how beautiful it all is and walks away. It amazed me that someone who doesn't have a roof over their head can still stop and appreciate the beauty that they find in their daily lives no matter how bad their situation is. If only we could all have some of that in us. Anyway that was my experience today at The LA River Bike Path. It IS a really beautiful place and I do recommend to take a bike or even just go there for a walk it but be careful of people on bicycles since it is a bike path. read more

LA River Bike Path - Parks Near Me

This just in...I see a family of six heading towards me. I also see 8 year old on a razor and he swerving In N Out of the lanes, as in going against traffic. I slow down and approached. the child still never saw me, his head was pointed down at the ground while driving his razor. he makes a last second swerve against traffic and crashed into me head on. I tried to explain to the family what happened and I tried to explain, look where the accident happened. the crash took place on my side of the lane. plus he was swerving in and out of the lanes as I could see up head. not my fault and another absent minded family that doesn't get it. read more

LA River Bike Path - Parks Near Me

I have been riding the LA River route from the Zoo to the tip of Downtown (7.4 miles stretch) for years! I can cruise it at 10 mph or hit 25 mph... This is a great place to ride and get in a good workout or prepare for a long ride (PLUG: River Ride, Chinatown Firecracker Ride, Volkswagon Ride, LA Marathon Crash...) I love it, it is a simple flat ride with only 3 small changes in elevation (2 down/ups and 1 up and down hill)... there are no cars.. relatively smooth marked pathway... nice scenic rough... There are some transients (they leave you alone)... some joggers (share the lane) ... Its a great work out without the gym membership fees! There are night lights, but try not to bike at night (I don't)... Just use common sense... There is a Coffee vender that operates right off the River around Fletcher-Marsh St. on the weekends (look for the signs) The coffee is good... PS there are LE (law enforcement) that workout off duty and are packing heat off. So that should make you feel safe... I also see LAPD Bike Patrol work out there... read more

Not a bad trail but definitely cannot compare to the ones i'm used to in newport beach. The trail is relatively well maintained considering it's LA. Come around 5pm and you can laugh at all the people stuck in traffic as a fair amount of the trail runs along the freeway. When in the same direction as traffic it produces a nice tailwind to help you out on the journey back. i saw wildlife on the trail once. it was a bum read more

What a trail! This is a rarity in LA and gosh do I appreciate everything it has to offer. It is paved, wide, and accessible from many areas along its route. Not to mention the scenery. I take it from the Glendale area near the zoo to downtown. Unfortunately it is short (about 8 miles) however it is definitely worth the time on the weekends. The ride is pretty flat so you can just crank away and get your miles in. Ride hard! NOTE: I wouldn't be out here too late as you pass through some neighborhoods I wouldn't want to be seen in with an expensive bike. Also, you'll see some pretty interesting characters taking homage on the trail, so beware of hobbits. Once I saw a grown (GROWN!) man tagging grafiti on the trail, what a shame.. you will see a lot of that too. BUT it is safe in the day, i assure you. read more

Safety-Schmafety. I've been riding this path for the past 8 months, and the only time I've had any safety concerns was a couple of weeks ago when we rode much farther than we usually ride (well past the 2 freeway, at least a good mile south of there). There were several teenage kids who went down into river and they looked like they were up to no good, so we turned around. Generally we ride here on Saturday and Sunday mornings, but lately, we've been getting in some good rides between 5pm and 7pm on weekdays. The weekday rides seem a bit more crowded, but nothing a bell or shout of "on your left" won't cure. Living in Glendale, this is the closest and easiest path to ride. We always park at the soccer fields on Zoo Drive and ride across the street to the path. When we first bought our bikes last December this was where we came, and is always our default spot when we want to get in a good hour or so ride. That first day we rode all the way down to Fletcher, which was way too much for these biking virgins. I was sore for days. Now it's a nice workout. The other bikers are always friendly and smiling, unlike at the beaches. I'll come ride here anytime, alone or with a partner. read more

Ive biked this path twice this week and might go again tomorrow in my "must-bike-three times-a-week" mindset. I've been here before this week and saw I could bike more miles than I could around the Rose Bowl. One reason being that circling around the Rose Bowl, it is deceptively hilly. You wouldn't notice it much if you drove around it but if you ran or biked around you would definitely feel it in your legs. I do like the challenge and do get off the regular route of the road that circles the Rose Bowl and go off into the surrounding hills. Well I digress and move onto my two cents about the la river bike path... It's very a fast 5miles from the entrance of Flecther Road to the end, which is north on Zoo Drive. What I realized is that if you go from the entrance of Zoo Drive to Fletcher Road you would be going faster then if you were coming from Fletcher Road. Just saying. The scene is the concrete river but there's some vegetation in the middle w/ actual wildlife, not animatronics.. I only say that because we do live in la la land, Hollywood ain't far and Disney Studios is just right there. As someone said there is a certain stench you might smell going through the river but if you are on a road bike and actually using it for it's main purpose than you would just fly past that "ewwww moment". LA needs more paths like these and for one person to complain that this good path is not up to par then point us to a path within the city that is as good if not better than this path. I've said my peace Happy Riding y'all read more

LA River Bike Path - Parks Near Me

An amazing bike path for the regular bike commuter or weekend cyclist. You can go from Burbank to almost downtown. The city's crews have been doing a great job in cleaning the river and planting new stuff. It's a fast, fairly smooth ride. For the past few months, from Fletcher going south the gates have been closed "due to construction". This has been terribly inconvenient because there hasn't been any actual construction. Another issue is riding it at night. It's extremely hard to see without a bright bike light when you are going south because of the headlights of the cars blinding you on the 5N. There are street lights that line the path but they are never on. I have no idea why. Leave your car at home and ride your bike on this path instead. And maybe you'll even get to your destination faster and less stressed. read more