Arroyo Seco Creek Path
The joys of this serene, shaded 2.2-mile jaunt more than offset its patchwork quality. The route traverses a wonderful city parkway with intimate neighborhoods as it heads from Pasadena down towards the confluence with the Los Angeles River. The route offers the unusual experience of in-channel riding, where you pass beneath a string of beautifully designed bridges as you ride a curving path beside the steadily bubbling creek and under sycamore trees. Here, you're never more than a stone's throw away from large, lush parks.
STARTING POINT
From the Arroyo Seco Park (1001 Arroyo Verde Road off Marmion Way). Follow the trail leading to the creek.
DIRECTIONS TO THE START
BIKE: You'll find bike-friendly streets toward the path on Figueroa Street, York Boulevard, and Griffin Avenue.
TRANSIT: Metro Bus 176, exit at York Boulevard, Follow York east across the Arroyo and enter the Arroyo Seco (Harman) Park.
CAR: Exit the 110 Freeway northbound at Marmion Way and enter the park on the left at Arroyo Verde Street. For Southbound 110, exit at York Boulevard. Make a left on York Boulevard and a left on Marmion Way.
ENDING POINT
The Montecito Heights Recreation Center (4545 Homer St., 90031)
ENDING POINT PARKING Enter the west end of the lot off Mosher Avenue where it becomes Homer Street.
Address: 4545 Homer Street, Pasadena, 90031
ALTERNATIVE ENDING POINT
This extension crosses the 110 Freeway and takes you over to Sycamore Grove Park
ALTERNATIVE ENDING POIN PARKING
In Sycamore Grove Park, enter off Avenue 49.
NEARBY ROUTES
This 2.4 mile route takes you to the start of the Elysian Valley bike path. Turn right on Homer Street, then turn left at Avenue 43. Make a right at Griffin Avenue, turn right at West Avenue 33 (which turns into Lacy Street), and then make a right on W Ave. 26. Turn left on Figueroa Street (it crosses over the original settlement of Los Angeles at the L.A. River) and then turn right on Riverside to enter the bike path.
NEARBY PARKS
Hermon Park
At 5566 Via Marisol in Los Angeles, this small park in the Arroyo offers barbecue pits, a children's play area, picnic tables, and lighted tennis courts.
Ernest Debs Park
This mid-sized park at 4235 Monterey Road in the Arroyo has 100 picnic tables and 20 barbecue pits.
Sycamore Grove Park
Located at 4702 N. Figueroa Street in the Arroyo, this park offers barbecue pits, a children's play area, picnic tables, lit tennis courts, a band shell, and concession stand. In the summer, the park is the site of a performing arts festival.
RESTROOMS
Best options are at Montecito Heights Recreation Center, Hermon Park, or Audubon Center at Debs Park.
SIGHTSEEING
Audubon Center
Located in Debs Park, the site is an environmental education and conservation center.
4700 North Griffin Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90031
(323) 221-2255
Heritage Square Museum
A quirky collection of historic buildings, this site is the original settlement of Los Angeles.
Lummis House
This hand-built historical house by the famed early author and conservationist Charles Lummis is now the headquarters for the L.A. Historical Society.
200 E Avenue 43
Los Angeles, CA 90031-1304
(323) 222-0546