Southern California - Downey, Rio Hondo, SGRT?

I should have about three hours to kill at Downey HS on Saturdayduring the kid's marching band show. I was thinking of riding down Downey Blvd ( I think that's right) to the Rio Hondo trail up to Whittier Narrows and then back on SGRT. Any tips or advice on my route? I've never ridden any of those. I'd be on my MTB (only bike) going about 12-15 mph and hoping for about a 15-20 mile ride.
I know it's not the most beautiful ride, especially Rio Hondo.

Make sure to wear your bulletproof vest ;)

Make sure to wear your bulletproof vest ;)


Not sure if this here town is big enough for another Fixer...;)

Should my bulletproof vest be reflective?

dont forget the pepper spray.

Should my bulletproof vest be reflective?

Mine has my team logos :)

I ride these trails all the time, although I live farther North so I typically connect at the top (Peck, Arrow Hwy).

RHR is more ghetto than SGR, but it isn't that bad, and you avoid the worst parts by riding north instead of south. Your biggest problem on a weekend will be pedestrians, but @ 12-15MPH, you'll have time to react.

Looks like you want Firestone Blvd to RHRT and from SGRT. Although I hate streets and I am lucky enough to reach these trails from home with little or no road involvement.

I drew the route I'd take from Downey HS: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/358767

And for the record, there are pretty parts of RHR as you get close to WN (you cut off most of the nice areas by terminating @ WN. If you want to go 35 miles, I can show you some pretty routes) Things should be more scenic in both rivers with all the rain.

Good luck!

I ride these trails all the time, although I live farther North so I typically connect at the top (Peck, Arrow Hwy).

RHR is more ghetto than SGR, but it isn't that bad, and you avoid the worst parts by riding north instead of south. Your biggest problem on a weekend will be pedestrians, but @ 12-15MPH, you'll have time to react.

Looks like you want Firestone Blvd to RHRT and from SGRT. Although I hate streets and I am lucky enough to reach these trails from home with little or no road involvement.

I drew the route I'd take from Downey HS: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/358767

And for the record, there are pretty parts of RHR as you get close to WN (you cut off most of the nice areas by terminating @ WN. If you want to go 35 miles, I can show you some pretty routes) Things should be more scenic in both rivers with all the rain.

Good luck!

Thanks for the correction on Firestone and the Bikely route, verifies that I thought it about 20 miles or so. Don't know if the rain will make it more scenic or less, will it bring more trash or sweep more trash away?

Almost forgot, is there direct acces to both trails from Firestone? Hard to see from aerial shots.

Almost forgot, is there direct acces to both trails from Firestone? Hard to see from aerial shots.

This is the one thing I cannot confirm, as I have never used Firestone for in/out of either river. But zooming in, it looks like it. Might want to recon it in the car first.

The one thing about both river trails, is you want to ride them as early in the day as possible, unless you like wind, typically blowing east as you ride west. :bang:

My time window is about 1-4 pm. I'm familiar with SART and afternoon winds.
They suck, but looks like I'll be in them.

Yes, there's a SGRT/Firestone access. Pat's 605 Cyclery is on Studebaker just south of Firestone (right alongside the tracks). The LA Bike Routes map (I have two, and keep one in each handlebar bag) should show all the access points for both trails. Franko is the publisher.


The one thing about both river trails, is you want to ride them as early in the day as possible, unless you like wind, typically blowing east as you ride west. So the sun rises in the north and sets in the south? Or does it rise in the south and set in the north?

So how'd it go?


My time window is about 1-4 pm. I'm familiar with SART and afternoon winds.
They suck, but looks like I'll be in them.

So how'd it go?


Yes, how did it go?

I went on Sunday to the Cyclocross Festival (http://www.socalcross.org/)at Eldorado Park in Long Beach, a straight shot down the SGRT...

It went well. Thanks to all with help and tips. I was thinking about a full report, but haven't dl'ed my pics yet.
I started about 1:30 and it was quite warm. Firestone sucked as anticipated, no room and potholes/cracks. Easy entry to Rio Hondo at the E corner. About 1/2 mile up a bridge crossed to the N side. I took it, though it looked like trail went on both sides; later it appeared to end on the S. RHT was fine and was making good time. Saw very few people but some wildlife- ducks, pigeons, and even a kingfisher. Did see one middle aged dude in jeans riding a road bike on the concrete riverbed.
Passed by a few parks that had entrances though it appeared not all streets did.
When I got to the top of the dam on RHT I saw a group of young teenagers in the bottom dirt having a bare knuckle boxing match. Full on! Two kids boxing, one refereeing and three or so cheering. When they saw me watching they ducked into the trees. Might have thought I was 5-0 as my shirt was royal blue with yellow lettering and a blue helmet.
While paralleling Lincoln a homeless looking woman walking towards me on the trail stopped and gave me a crisp, precise salute. She let it down after I passed her, she must have served.
I hit the only street stretch
(Only about a third of a mile it seemed) along ??/Durfee and then continued on Upper RHT to it's junction with SGRT.
Headed S on SGRT and after passing over the corkscrew path over the dam and past the Pico Rivera Golf Course I found the breeze. It wasn't strong, maybe only 5-8 mph. A breeze like that I don't feel helping me going downwind, but I do feel it hurting me upwind.
About there I passed a Beanz lookalike going the other way, but no famous meeting for me. The trail ended at San Gabriel River Pakway and it took me a bit to figure out how it crossed to the South side. But back on my way pushing against the wind I was. Passed a few more parks, one with a bouncy housen wheee! Some stables also, smelling ripe. The SG River bed smelled pretty ripe also. Saw about 40 people or so on SGRT, including a group under some tees, one with a gas scooter (~250 cc?)
Saw some more wildlife, ducks and some raptors.
Soon the trail hit Firestone and I turned off towards the high school and my truck.
Finished with about 21 miles in 1:45 for about a 12 mph average. I wasn't really working hard, just riding. It was about 90 degrees but honestly felt cooler on the ride than sitting in the stands watching the bands.
Of the trails I think I liked the RHT better. It was wider, not like the chain link tunnel that much of the SGRT that I rode was. It also smelled better.
The ride was basically as expected and you sure do meet some interesting people out there.
Guess that ended up being a pretty full report.

Glad it went well. I do SGRT a lot, but I'm going to start doing RHRT more often.


It went well. Thanks to all with help and tips. I was thinking about a full report, but haven't dl'ed my pics yet.
I started about 1:30 and it was quite warm. Firestone sucked as anticipated, no room and potholes/cracks. Easy entry to Rio Hondo at the E corner. About 1/2 mile up a bridge crossed to the N side. I took it, though it looked like trail went on both sides; later it appeared to end on the S. RHT was fine and was making good time. Saw very few people but some wildlife- ducks, pigeons, and even a kingfisher. Did see one middle aged dude in jeans riding a road bike on the concrete riverbed.
Passed by a few parks that had entrances though it appeared not all streets did.
When I got to the top of the dam on RHT I saw a group of young teenagers in the bottom dirt having a bare knuckle boxing match. Full on! Two kids boxing, one refereeing and three or so cheering. When they saw me watching they ducked into the trees. Might have thought I was 5-0 as my shirt was royal blue with yellow lettering and a blue helmet.
While paralleling Lincoln a homeless looking woman walking towards me on the trail stopped and gave me a crisp, precise salute. She let it down after I passed her, she must have served.
I hit the only street stretch
(Only about a third of a mile it seemed) along ??/Durfee and then continued on Upper RHT to it's junction with SGRT.
Headed S on SGRT and after passing over the corkscrew path over the dam and past the Pico Rivera Golf Course I found the breeze. It wasn't strong, maybe only 5-8 mph. A breeze like that I don't feel helping me going downwind, but I do feel it hurting me upwind.
About there I passed a Beanz lookalike going the other way, but no famous meeting for me. The trail ended at San Gabriel River Pakway and it took me a bit to figure out how it crossed to the South side. But back on my way pushing against the wind I was. Passed a few more parks, one with a bouncy housen wheee! Some stables also, smelling ripe. The SG River bed smelled pretty ripe also. Saw about 40 people or so on SGRT, including a group under some tees, one with a gas scooter (~250 cc?)
Saw some more wildlife, ducks and some raptors.
Soon the trail hit Firestone and I turned off towards the high school and my truck.
Finished with about 21 miles in 1:45 for about a 12 mph average. I wasn't really working hard, just riding. It was about 90 degrees but honestly felt cooler on the ride than sitting in the stands watching the bands.
Of the trails I think I liked the RHT better. It was wider, not like the chain link tunnel that much of the SGRT that I rode was. It also smelled better.
The ride was basically as expected and you sure do meet some interesting people out there.
Guess that ended up being a pretty full report.