Southern California - SGRT Questions

I've never ridden SGRT, but a friend who lives in San Gabriel suggested that we do a ride this weekend along the path, and I have some questions.

1) Is there a good site that has a map of SGRT (something with elevations would be ideal)?

2) We are thinking of doing a 20-30 mile ride on Sunday (she is relatively new to biking and I will probably be doing a longer ride on Saturday). Is there a particularly good starting point for the ride on the north part of SGRT? (Suggestions for parking also would help.)

3) How crowded is SGRT with non-bicyclists? I sometimes ride at Balboa Park in the SFV and the path there can become a minefield with roller bladers and pedestrians.

Any other suggestions would be welcome.

This may help: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=308980&highlight=SGRT

http://www.labikepaths.com/ This is a map of the river trail. It isn't that crowded with pedestraians. You can start off at different points depending where you live. I live in Montebello so I start off at either Whittier Narrows or Beverly Blvd.

Here's a motionbased link from my ride from Encanto Park to El Dorado Park and back

http://www.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3098436

Looks like about 600 feet of elevation change over the 30 miles one way. You really don't notice the elevation at all except for the ups and downs around road crossings and the dam up by Encanto.

I'd recommend doing it early as possible if it's going to be hot out there.

My gf and I did SGRT a couple of weeks ago. She is also new to riding so we kept our ride to just over 20 miles total. A fairly convenient starting point that is close to the 210 freeway is Encanto Pkwy. There is a place to park and a restroom right next to the path. Oh and I know what you mean about Balboa Park, SGRT is way more enjoyable but as others have said, it can get hot so an early start may be the way to go.



-Erik

The map that I use the most is a good old fashioned paper copy of the metro bike routes...Here's the pdf but I got mine at a bus station...The major bike paths are blue.

http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bikes/images/la_bike_map.pdf

DOT has a map, too

http://www.bicyclela.org/maps_main.htm

My gf and I did SGRT a couple of weeks ago. She is also new to riding so we kept our ride to just over 20 miles total. A fairly convenient starting point that is close to the 210 freeway is Encanto Pkwy. There is a place to park and a restroom right next to the path. Oh and I know what you mean about Balboa Park, SGRT is way more enjoyable but as others have said, it can get hot so an early start may be the way to go.

-Erik
Can you tell me where Encanto Pkwy is? I'm trying to find it on the maps linked above. That looks like a good place to start.

I'm thinking we will do a 7:30 or 8 am start, so we should be able to beat the worst of the heat.

Here's a link to the park: Google Map Link (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Encanto+Park,+Duarte,+ca&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=30.240445,69.257813&ie=UTF8&z=17&iwloc=addr&om=1)

Here's a link to the park: Google Map Link (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Encanto+Park,+Duarte,+ca&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=30.240445,69.257813&ie=UTF8&z=17&iwloc=addr&om=1)
Fantastic. That's exactly what I needed.