Best Bike Trails Near South El Monte, CA

South El Monte’s weather offers an inviting landscape for outdoor activities any time of the year. If you’re looking for something a little faster than hiking around the area, you may find that the local bike trails have just what you’re looking for. You can find everything from beach side paths to urban trails to dedicated bike parks in and around South El Monte. Check out our top picks for local biking areas.

Marvin Braude Bike Trail

Photo by Coen van de Broek on Unsplash

The Marvin Braude Bike Trail — known to locals as The Strand — is one of the best-known bike paths in the Los Angeles area. This trail covers 22 miles along the coastline. On the northern end, the trail begins at Will Rogers State Beach in the Pacific Palisades. The southern point of the trail terminates at Torrance County Beach. Along the path, you’ll enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean and the refreshing feel of the salty sea breeze in your hair.

The areas around the Santa Monica Pier and Venice are the most congested, so you may want to avoid these if you’re looking for a quieter, more secluded ride. Starting in Playa del Rey and heading south to Manhattan Beach will help you avoid the crush of beach goers.

The Marvin Braude Bike Trail is asphalt and concrete, offering a smooth, easy ride along the entire length. This makes it a great choice for families who want a trail that’s enjoyable for all yet easily accessible even to younger riders. Passing by highlights like the carousel, roller coaster, and Ferris wheel at the Santa Monica Pier or the skate parks of Venice Beach can add a wide range of other activities to your day as well.

Whittier Narrows Recreation Area

The Whittier Narrows Recreation Area is accessible from March through October between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. From November through February, the park hours are from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. This spacious park covers 1,492 acres and spans the Pomona Freeway with parkland on both sides. The recreation area features an extensive trail system that’s accessible for both hiking and biking. Many of the trails run around the picturesque lakes or beside the river, providing beautiful natural scenery and easy riding.

The park offers a BMX track and BMX racing as well. This typically takes place on Tuesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There is a fee of $6 per BMX rider. Whittier Narrows as a whole has a $7 vehicle entrance fee on weekends and holidays. You can also purchase an annual pass for $150 if you’re a frequent visitor.

Jeff Seymour Family Center Bike Park

You’ll find bicycling activities of all kinds at the Jeff Seymour Family Center Bike Park. A four-foot-wide natural surface bike trail circles the entire park, offering the perfect option for an easy ride. A four-foot walking trail runs alongside the bike trail as well, so everyone in the family can come along, even if you’re not all on wheels.

If you’re interested in a more challenging experience, the park offers a beginner pump track, intermediate/advanced pump track, and trails area. At the opposite end of the park, you’ll find a kids zone with dirt rollers, a teeter, and a lumber elevated trail.

Access to the park is free, but visitors are encouraged to participate in park maintenance. Saturday mornings, volunteers gather to tackle park maintenance and new participants are always welcome. The bike park is open to the public from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

San Gabriel River Trail

The San Gabriel River Trail spans 35.4 miles between Seal Beach and Azusa. This is an extremely popular stretch for biking thanks to the easy access and smooth asphalt and concrete surface. The southern part of the trail passes through a number of neighborhoods and industrial areas, providing several urban views. Following the river, the trail still offers some picturesque scenery. 

As you go further north, you’ll find that the trail opens up to more mountainous landscapes. Here, it passes through the Whittier Narrows and Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area. The San Gabriel Trail also connects to the Coyote Creek Bikeway, Bellflower Bike Trail, and Rio Hondo River Trail, opening up a diverse range of options for exciting exploration.

Lacy Park

If you’re looking for an easy trail to help introduce kids to the thrill of biking, Lacy Park is the perfect place to go. The 30-acre park features two trails that run around the perimeter. The inner trail is about 3/4-mile in length while the outer trail is a mile long. Walkers and leashed pets are welcome along the trails as well, making this a good choice for parents who still need to stroll alongside little learners who are new to their wheels.

The park also features a picnic area where you’ll often find special events like outdoor concerts or pancake breakfasts. Check the San Marino calendar of events for the latest happenings so you’ll know what to expect during your visit. Lacy Park is open from 6:30 a.m. to dusk on weekdays and from 8:00 a.m. to dusk on weekends. There is a $5 entrance fee for visitors who aren’t San Marino residents. Children 4 and under are free. 

Chandler Bike Path

Along the Chandler Bike Path you’ll enjoy easy riding and intriguing scenery. The path is three miles each way, so you can enjoy a total of six miles out and back. The path begins near Victory Blvd and runs alongside charming tiny homes along Chandler Avenue. It then proceeds toward a series of NoHo art murals and ends at Vineland Ave. This path also branches off and connects to many other easily accessible bike paths running around metropolitan Los Angeles, so intrepid cyclers can break off and explore the city.

Did we include your favorite biking trails on our list? If we missed an outstanding spot, contact our team at Teak Master and let us know. We want to make sure we always have the best recommendations in the area for our local customers.