Down by the River

Biking Santa Ana River Trail (SART) in SoCal

The Santa Ana River Trail (SART) is SoCal’s premier multi-use recreation path. When completed, this coast-to-crest trail will offer 110 miles of traffic-free riding from Big Bear Lake to Huntington Beach. For now, there’s 50 miles to explore from San Bernardino to the Pacific shoreline (with the exception of a 15-mile gap in the trail between Norco and Green River Rd.).

Bike the 30-mile Orange County stretch by starting at Green River Golf Club in Corona, where the path gives way to some up-and-down miles near Chino Hills and enters Yorba Regional Park, a leafy picnickers' paradise with artificial lakes and a paved 5k trail. Pass the giant “A” at Angel Stadium on the way through Anaheim. The trail’s barely-there downhill grade is a treat, though headwinds can steal some momentum on this stretch, especially in the afternoon. Moon Park is a fun rest stop before the final cruise past Talbert Marsh to Huntington Beach.

FOOD & BEER BONUS: Post-ride, chow down at Anaheim Packing House, a bustling food hall just three miles west of SART and offering a cornucopia of gourmet fare, from delicious fish tacos at Urbana to soul food barbecue at Georgia’s. Slip into The Blind Rabbit, a speakeasy hidden behind a fake wall of sake barrels on the ground floor. Known for craft cocktails, this dark and cozy bar requires a reservation to enter on weekdays and Saturday evenings. For a spur-of-the-moment pint or beer flight instead, hit the tasting room at Unsung Brewing Company across the street (opened just this August).

From CA-91 west of Corona, exit Green River Rd. and head west. After a mile, Green River Golf Club will be on the right, with SART parking just after its entrance drive. 

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  3. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  4. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  3. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

    View
  4. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

    View