Arroyo Seco Bike Path, Los Angeles

Arroyo Seco Bike Path, Los Angeles

Arroyo Seco Bike Path

Location: Los Angeles, Ca
Difficulty: Easy
Features: mountain/road biking, inline skating, walking.

First things first, the Arro Seco means dry stream in Spanish – an apt name for this clear and dry bike path. The Arroyo Seco path offers bikers a dry and extremely pleasant corridor to cruise along on their bikes. It remains closed during the rains for safety purposes.

Running about 2 miles between South Pasadena and northeast Los Angeles, the Arroyo Seco Bike Path offers scenic views of the Los Angeles skyline as well as distant mountains. The path starts from Pasadena Avenue and travels west leading to the Montecito Heights Recreation Center.

The trail end leads to the Heritage Square Museum on Homer Street, giving hikers and bikers a feel of the colorful and rich history of Southern California, from 1850 to 1950, through well preserved Victorian homes.

The trailhead begins at the Arroyo Seco Parkway. The path showcases tall sycamore and oak trees, an access to Hermon Park and Ernest Debs Regional Park, eventually leading to the bridge over Arroyo Seco and into Sycamore Grove Park. It ends at the Montecito Heights, which is quite close to the Heritage Square Museum.

Pros

• It’s a concrete path, devoid of any congestion or even traffic noise as it’s not too close to the freeway, allowing a peaceful and fun ride to clear your head or simply take in the sights along with the birdsong and other sounds for a relaxing experience. 
• It’s a short, paved, and smooth biking path with a relatively gentle slope – great for beginners who prefer a quick, recreational ride that is not too hectic. The elevation is gradual; it’s uphill from the south (Montecito Heights) to the north entrance.
• It offers interesting views as bikers traverse along a scenic corridor and go under bridges instead of the riverside trails that you typically find in LA. 

Cons

• It can be too short for experienced bikers looking to go on for miles on end. If you’re hoping for a longer bike path, it’s expected to happen eventually as in the future it may extend to the Los Angeles River Bike Trail and then continue onto downtown Los Angeles.

Top 3 Adventure Hacks

1) Beginner Friendly Trail

The Arroyo Seco trail is only 2 miles – running between South Pasadena and northeast Los Angeles. The path provides stellar views of the Los Angeles skyline as well as surrounding mountains.

One cool gear we recommend is this Genuine Leather High Quality Hiking Watch – perfect trail companion!

2) Get To Know Southern California History

The trail leads to the Heritage Square Museum. The museum provides visitors a feel of the colorful and rich history of Southern California, from 1850 to 1950, through well preserved Victorian homes.

3) Enjoy Good Music While Walking/Biking

However, there is an existing issue about the homeless population nearby Montecito Park. It is best to hike/bike in pairs or with a group.

Besides the Arroyo Seco Bike Path, bikers also love the Arroyo Seco Trail, which forms a part of a network of multi-use trails, including Arroyo bike trails in Los Angeles. It offers easy access to not only beautiful parks and neighborhoods but also crucial business points along with high traffic areas. 

Today, when there are serious concerns for planet conservation, the Arroyo Seco bike path, quite like the Arroyo Mocho Trail, offers a great way to reduce the carbon footprint. Plus, biking is a healthy, adventurous sport that provides mental relaxation and physical stimulation – both of which are much needed in the fast-paced, stressful lives that we lead today.