Navigating the Los Angeles River bike path

No continuous bike path links Elysian Valley and Vernon yet.

For about eight miles, you ride city streets. This Los Angeles River bike path guide shows which sections to ride. It also shows how they connect and where to get on.

Los Angeles River bike path guide: rideable sections and gaps

The Los Angeles River runs about 51 miles, from Canoga Park in the San Fernando Valley to Long Beach. The connected bikeway covers only parts of that distance.

Glendale Narrows

From: Riverside Drive and Zoo Drive Bridge in Griffith Park
To: Egret Park in Elysian Valley
Length: about 10 miles, with about 7.4 miles paved

Plan by the map endpoints, not the mileage alone.

The path switches banks at bridges and access points. Check the map before assuming a street on one bank reaches it.

Lower river bikeway

Start: Atlantic Boulevard in Vernon
End: Long Beach
Length: almost 18 miles

A 9.6-mile managed segment runs through South Gate, Paramount, and Long Beach, and it forms part of this route.

Near the Rio Hondo confluence, the route changes banks. It uses the west bank farther north. It crosses near Imperial Highway, then continues on the east bank toward Long Beach.

Rain and construction closures

Rain can close river-adjacent paths, and construction causes temporary closures on the Elysian Valley section. Check the LADOT closure map and call 311 before starting.

Elysian Valley to Vernon gap

The gap covers about eight miles. It runs through Lincoln Heights, Downtown Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Vernon, and Maywood.

Riders currently use city streets. Busy intersections sit between the two completed sections.

A cyclist rides along a paved riverside path beneath a concrete bridge, surrounded by trees and greenery. — The route between Griffith Park and Egret Park includes paved stretches as well as gaps.

Follow the marked street detour from Egret Park toward Riverside Drive. Then rejoin the river path at Atlantic Boulevard in Vernon. Treat this as an urban road ride, not a separated trail.

Interactive maps and access points help plan a specific river ride

Open the City of Los Angeles LA River Greenway map before you choose a trailhead. It separates river trails from bike-friendly river trails. It also shows access points, parking, and transit.

A woman rides a bicycle along a shaded park path, with a jogger and another cyclist ahead. — The basin’s connected paths make a loop ride practical, with several access points near transit and the dam.

Sepulveda Basin works best for a loop ride. Enter from the Sepulveda Recreation Area near the 101 freeway. You can also enter at Sepulveda Dam, the Orange Line Busway, or the dedicated bikeway.

Before you ride the Los Angeles River bike path

Check these points before you set out

Have you checked the City of Los Angeles LA River Greenway map for the section you plan to ride?

The map shows which trails are bike-friendly and where the access points are.

Have you checked the LADOT closure map and called 311 on the day you ride?

Rain and construction can close the Elysian Valley section.

Do you know which bank of the river your entrance is on?

The path switches banks at bridges and access points, so the entrance decides your route.

Have you planned the marked street detour from Egret Park to Atlantic Boulevard in Vernon?

No continuous path links Elysian Valley and Vernon yet, so you will ride city streets for about eight miles.

Have you confirmed parking at your entry point?

Street spaces near Marsh Park are limited.

Are you bringing a dog on a leash of six feet or less?

County trail rules allow dogs on a leash, but city park rules apply separately inside Los Angeles city parks.

Griffith Park has parking. Its main access points are:

Bette Davis Picnic Area
Ferraro Fields
The Autry Museum
The Los Angeles Zoo

The Autry offers free visitor parking at 4700 Western Heritage Way. The exact entrance depends on which side of the river you approach.

Marsh Park has a small parking lot in Elysian Valley. Street parking is also available, but residential supply is limited.

The Los Angeles River Center and Gardens sits near the southern end of the Glendale Narrows route. It has parking and a bicycle facility. Its River Garden Park entrance faces the Arroyo Seco confluence.

Before you pick an entrance

Open the City of Los Angeles LA River Greenway map and check which sections are bike-friendly.
Note which side of the river you approach from, since it decides the entrance.
Check parking at your entry point before you set out, since street spaces near Marsh Park are limited.

Long Beach provides access from the lower river path, Shoreline Drive, Downtown Marina, and Shoreline Aquatic Park. Metro stations sit near several river access streets. The final approach uses city roads.

Riverfront parks and landmarks divide the rides into useful stops

The Glendale Narrows ride passes these parks in north-to-south order:

Griffith Park
Atwater Village Riverwalk
North Atwater Park
Red Car River Park
Sunnynook River Park
Rattlesnake Park
Marsh Park
Steelhead Park
Egret Park

Sepulveda Basin has the main cycling loop in the Valley. It suits a short ride. The West Valley Bikeway and Headwaters Greenway need separate street connections past the basin.

A paved path curves through a leafy riverside park toward a pedestrian bridge, with a bench beneath the trees and cloudy skies overhead. — Parks along the Glendale Narrows offer useful places to pause as the ride continues south.

Route-side parks give the most reliable stops for toilets, picnic areas, water, and shade. Facilities vary, though. Check the Brookside Park listing before you count on a drinking fountain or restroom.

Metro’s planned path would connect the Valley, Downtown, and Long Beach

Metro’s LA River Path is still in planning and environmental review. The Draft Environmental Impact Report is out. The Metro Board will pick a locally preferred alternative before the Final EIR.

The project would close the eight-mile gap between Elysian Valley and Vernon. Metro estimates the initial phase will be completed in 2031.

The full proposed corridor would create about 32 miles of connected walking and cycling routes between the San Fernando Valley and Long Beach. The project itself covers only the missing central section.

Metro’s full-length project and its two options differ in length, access points, and river crossings:

	Full-length project	Option 1	Option 2
Length	About 9.6 miles	About 10.1 miles	About 9.1 miles
Access points	Nine	11	Nine
River crossings	Seven	Six	Seven

Can you bring a dog on the Los Angeles River Trail?

You can bring a dog on the County trail if it stays on a leash no longer than six feet and under control. City park rules apply separately when your route enters Los Angeles city parks.

Does the lower river trail connect to another regional bikeway?

Yes. The lower route meets the Rio Hondo Trail near the river confluence. That trail runs toward Whittier Narrows and links with the San Gabriel River Trail.

A cyclist rides along a shaded riverside path beside a rocky stream, with trees, a hillside, and a distant city skyline under a clear blue sky. — The Rio Hondo Trail connection extends the ride toward Whittier Narrows and the San Gabriel River Trail.

Who maintains the main river bikeways?

Maintenance is split by section:

The City of Los Angeles maintains the path north of the Metro project area.
Los Angeles County maintains the path toward Vernon and Long Beach.
The participating agencies will settle who maintains the future central section.

Until Metro closes the central gap, treat the stretch between Elysian Valley and Vernon as an urban road ride. Plan the marked street detour from Egret Park before you set out, and check the LADOT closure map on the day you ride.

Daniel Scott

Santa Monica Mountains & Urban & Historic LA writer

Passionate about santa monica mountains, urban & historic la, valleys & foothills, I write well-researched, accessible articles for Lamountains. My mission: to inform you with rigor and authenticity.

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