Southern California - End of SART to San Diego

I live in Redlands and rode the SART to Sunset Beach last week. It was a great ride. Had to take about 14 miles of streets in the middle (Corona-Norco). I'd like to add to the trip a bit and go south to San Diego. I've been as far south as the beach trail goes (about 15 miles after end of SART if I remember correctly). Is there a route down the coast to San Diego? Is the Pacific Coast Highway rideable all the way? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

I don't know the SART region, but here is a past ride with routeslip from Irvine Amtrak area down to SD. I don't know the routing within LA/OC though.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=369796

Do you mean you rode to Huntington Beach? Or did you ride North on PCH after you got off the trail?

The Route Slip that Dave provided is the best way...assuming that you don't like riding on freeways. Remember to bring a valid ID to get through the base.

Do you mean you rode to Huntington Beach? Or did you ride North on PCH after you got off the trail?

At the end of the beach trail I rode through the parking areas and through the last housing area (a narrow alley) until it loops around, right at Sunset beach.

At the end of the beach trail I rode through the parking areas and through the last housing area (a narrow alley) until it loops around, right at Sunset beach.

That was north, in your OP you mentioned going as far "South" as possible. San Diego would be an additional 80 miles or so south, once you reach the end of SART.

That was north, in your OP you mentioned going as far "South" as possible. San Diego would be an additional 80 miles or so south, once you reach the end of SART.

Actually, I've gone both north and south. My last long ride from Redlands was to Sunset Beach (north). I've gone from Huntington Beach south to the end of the trail and parking lots until I had to go out to PCH. I've also ridden from San Juan Capistrano to Lauguna Beach while staying in that area. There's some areas along the coast I'm not familiar with.

I've thought more about a ride and figure if I get to San Diego I'd just as well ride to the Mexican border. I'm going to be 63 next month, so I'm not into racing but I do well on long rides. I'm always looking for the next challenge. I've done 125 miles on my mountain bike which included three good climbs. That was an 11 hour day, which included fixing 2 flats. Since getting my road bike I've done one 88 mile ride in 5.5 hours. I'm thinking the San Diego ride of just over 150 miles will be a good challenge.

I've ridden from LA to San Diego many times (using SGRT and taking PCH down). The route is pretty self-explanatory, really.

I live in Redlands and rode the SART to Sunset Beach last week. It was a great ride. Had to take about 14 miles of streets in the middle (Corona-Norco).

Hey, I live in Redlands, too (well, Loma Linda, actually), and have wanted to get from our section of the SART to the section that goes to the beach. Could you share that 14-mile route through Corona-Norco that you used to connect up with the rest of the trail?

Thanks!

I've done Anaheim to Solana Beach a couple time, taking SART down to the coast, then down the coast. Here is the route as a friend of mine plotted it out:

1. From train station in Anaheim,
take a Right on Katella Ave.
2. Just after river, enter Santa Ana bike trail on Right.
**Bathrooms available along trail.**
3. Turn left on Hwy 1 (Pacific Coast Hwy) and head South (mile 14).
4. Stay on PCH (Hwy 1) through Newport Beach (mile 16),
Crystal Cove State Park (mile 22), Laguna Beach (mile 32).
5. Turn right Green Lantern St (mile 33.5; Dana Point).
6. Curves to the left and becomes Cove Rd.
7. Veers to right and becomes Dana Point Harbor Drive.
8. Turn Right on Beach Rd (mile 35).
9. Turn Right on Calle Deshecha (mile 39; San Clemente Train Station).
**Bathrooms; coffee shop available**
10. Follow bike route signs through San Clemente:
a. Right on W. Avenida Pico.
b. Left on Boca de la Playa.
c. Veer right on Calle Las Bolas.
d. Right on Calle Colina.
e. Veer left on Calle Sacramento.
f. Turn right on Avenida Florencia.
g. Left on Avenida de la Grulla.
h. Right on Calle Puente.
i. Right on W. Avenida Palizada (mile 40.5).
j. Left on N. Calle Seville. Becomes Avenida Santa Barbara.
k. Right on S. Ola Vista.
l. Left on Avenida Califia (mile 42; San Clemente State Beach).
11. Right on Avenida del Presidente.
12. Left on Cristianitos Rd (mile 43.5).
13. Quick right on Hwy 101 (Trestles Bike Path).
**Many bathrooms available along way**
14. Leave bike path; Turn Left on El Camino Real (mile 53.5)
**Bring ID for entering marine base**
15. Right on Las Pulgas Rd.
16. After Las Pulgas loop, turn left on Stuart Mesa Rd (mile 57).
**REGROUP (refuel an bathrooms) mile 62 at Stuart Mesa Exchange (on right)**
17. Turn Right on Vandegrift (mile 64).
18. Leave base (Vandegrift turns into Harbor Drive) mile 65.
(Be very careful as bikes merge left and traffic merges right onto I-5).
19. Enter Oceanside Harbor (down hill); turn left on Harbor Drive at bottom of hill.
**Bathrooms and store available in Harbor**
20. Turn left on North Pacific St (mile 66).
21. Left on Cassidy St (mile 68.5). Go under tunnel and over train tracks.
22. Quick right on Broadway.
23. Left on Eaton St.
24. Right on Hwy 101 (PCH; mile 69).
25. Turn right on El Portal Street in Encinitas to avoid traffic (mile 79).
26. Quick right on Melrose Ave. Becomes 3rd St.
27. Left on W. K St.
28. Right on Hwy 101 (PCH; mile 79.5).
29. Continue South on 101.
30. Left on Lomas Santa Fe in Solana Beach (mile 82)
31. Return to start at corner of Cedros and Lomas Santa Fe (Train Station).

Hey, I live in Redlands, too (well, Loma Linda, actually), and have wanted to get from our section of the SART to the section that goes to the beach. Could you share that 14-mile route through Corona-Norco that you used to connect up with the rest of the trail?

Thanks!

Here's my route. Sorry I do not have the individual distances.

End of SART take Arlington Ave West to California Ave
Left (South) on California to 6th St.
Right on 6th St West - becomes Norco Drive which becomes Corydon Ave
Right (West) on Rincon to North Smith Ave
Smith Ave South to Maple over the 91 FW
After RR Tracks Right on 6th St - becomes Frontage Road
Left on Surfas Club Drive
Right on Palisades Drive
Right on Green River Road to SART

All but a couple of miles of the Corona-Norco city streets have wide roads - much with marked bike lane. There is one packed dirt area on SART near the end on which you will probably need to walk a road bike for less than 50 yards.

Hope this helps.

I live in Riverside. Last summer I had some business in DT San Diego. I rode my bike to the Riverside Metrolink station and took the Metrolink from Riverside to Oceanside. I then took the Coaster to DT San Diego and rode the bike to the hotel I was staying at. The next day, Saturday, I rode back to Riverside. I got 142 miles from DT San Diego to my house. Your estimate of 150 from Redlands is probably correct. Of course I did a South to North ride. The worst part by far was PCH through Laguna. The trickiest part was getting out of DT San Diego and working my way to Torrey Pines. It was a hot August Day and I was pretty fried when I finished.