Arroyo Seco Trail - Linking South Pas to Pasadena and Beyond

This is a great 'go to' run. With so many different variations, coupled with an easy grade and multiple access points, this is the perfect trail for anything from a quick after work run to marathon training.

In a Nutshell

• Trail Surface: Hard packed dirt, some sand & loose rocks
• Difficulty: Easy - mostly flat
• Bathrooms/water: Both can be found at the Casting Pond off Arroyo Drive and Lower Arroyo Park
• Dogs: Must be leashed

Routes

The beauty of this trail is that it links urban communities with open space and provides a really cool running experience. If you want to, you can run from Debs park in South Pasadena to the Angeles National Forest/San Gabriel Mountains by following this trail system.

There are innumerable variations of trail routes within this system. Indeed the Arroyo Seco Trail is much like an arterial, with on ramps and exits. You can join up with the trail in a dozen or more so places throughout South Pasadena, Pasadena, and Altadena.

For this post, I’ve included access points in South Pasadena and Pasadena, with two different route lengths. Look for a future post that focuses on the Rose Bowl and Altadena areas.

4 Mile Route

Colorado Street Bridge from Arroyo Seco Trail

 

Starting and ending at the Casting Pond, this is a nice easy and flat route that goes up one side of the Arroyo Seco channel and back on the other and passes under the famous Colorado Street Bridge as well as the freeway.

6 Mile Route

Arroyo Seco Channel and Adjacent Trail

This route starts in South Pasadena in the parking lot at Marmion Way and Arroyo Verde Street. There’s a small park here and access to the Arroyo Seco Bike Path as well as the trail heading north. From the north side of the parking lot, pass between the horse trailers and chickens and go underneath the Marmion Way Bridge. The trail starts immediate to the right after the bridge. From here, it passes through the South Pasadena Nature Park and then along a trail next to the golf course. It passes underneath Highway 110, and by the Lower Arroyo Park, past the equestrian stables and then up the steep switchbacks to Arroyo Drive. The route then follows the road for a bit of sidewalk running, but after a block or so, the sidewalk turns into a dirt trail that parallels the road. The route continues on along Arroyo Drive to W California Blvd, and then heads down the dirt ramp back into the Arroyo. Continuing on the Arroyo Seco Trail to the Casting Pond area, it then crosses the channel to the west side and heads back south, continuing on the west side of the channel all the way to the San Paqual Street bridge. Here, the route joins the street to go across the bridge rejoins the Arroyo Seco Trail once again on the east side of the channel. From here, it retraces the route back to South Pasadena.

If You Go

It’s worth noting that most of this trail is open to horses. You’ll likely notice the horse dung, but some sections are narrow so keep your eye out and remember to yield.

Trails Abound in the Verdugo Mountains

Yesterday, I headed over to Glendale to get in some serious hills at the Verdugo Mountains. 

Snow capped San Gabriel Mountains from Verdugo Mtwy.

In A Nutshell

The Verdugo Mountains are a rugged island of chaparral covered slopes, reaching over 3,000 feet. The mountains are bounded to the south by Burbank and Los Angeles, to the southeast by Glendale and to the north by La Crescenta. Not a single paved road crosses the mountain range; dirt fire roads rule.

•  Trail surface: packed dirt/loose gravel, short paved section up top
•  Bathrooms/water: At Brand Park, none at Beaudry Fire Road trailhead
•  Dogs: Must be leashed.

Typical width and surface of the fire roads in the Verdugos.

My Route

I did a loop that came in just under 7 miles, starting and ending at the Beaudry Fire Road off of Beaudry Boulevard in Glendale.

After going past the yellow gate and the signs warning of wildfire, I continued on Beaudry Fire Road aka Beaudry North Mtwy. After about a quarter mile, I took a right at the junction of Beaudry North and Beaudry South, staying on Beaudry North (you can do the loop either way). From there, it was just up, up, up. I was looking for a 7ish mile day, so I went past the next junction (with Verdugo Mtwy) and continued to the saddle and trail junction with Brand Park Mtwy (3 miles from the start). Here, I turned back, retracing my steps until I once again reached the junction with Verdugo Mtwy. Here, I stayed right, going uphill, turning left onto Beaudry South to descend past the radio towers, winding my way down, ending back up at Beaudry North and back to the trailhead.

If You Go

Several city and state parks lie within the mountain range and trail access can be found in numerous places. From Glendale, you can park at Brand Park to get to the trails via a paved access road, or you can head over to north side, and access the trail network at the cross streets of Beaudry Boulevard and Beaudry Terrance. The Beaudry Fire Road starts from right here.

Both access points detailed above take you to the same place – the spine of the mountain range with precipitous views in all directions. On a clear day you can see the Pacific Ocean.

Debs Park - An Urban Jewel for Trail Runners

This morning I headed over to Ernest E. Debs Regional Park for a 3.5 mile run with the pup. It was already hot at 7am, and I was reminded that this run doesn't offer much in the way of shade. Nonetheless, it's one of my favorite local trail runs.

A hiker along the trail at Debs Park.

In a Nutshell

A great park for trail running with numerous options to do different loops, adding to/shortening your run. Trails are a hilly mix of fire roads and singletrack. Views of the San Gabriel Mountains and Downtown LA.

• Trail surface: packed dirt, tiny bit of pavement along the top ridge
• Bathrooms/water: at the main parking lot off of Monterey Road, the Debs Park Audubon Center (open Tues-Sat 9am to 5pm, fantastic facility & programs), and Hermon Park off Via Marisol.
• Dogs: Must be leashed.

My Route

There are three main entrances to Debs Park, but my favorite is from Hermon Park. From here, you get to do the main uphill part of your run first. I parked at Hermon Park near the tennis courts and crossed Via Marisol right next to the entrance to Hermon Park. Directly across the street from the entrance is a dirt fire road. At first glance, it looks like it’s gated off. But if you look closely, you’ll see a singletrack trail heading off to the left that goes around the gate, dropping you onto the dirt road.

Downtown LA

From here, I headed up the hill and around three bends to a narrower unmarked turn off on the left. After about 50 yards, the trail makes another left turn, narrowing further to singletrack and switchbacking uphill. This part is steep, but levels off as it approaches the top. After a short level section, the trail rejoins the fire road and I turned left, crossing over the paved access road and heading downhill on the dirt road. The fire road rounds another bend, ascending again and I crested the hill with a great view of downtown LA opening up in front of me.

Hidden Lake

At the next intersection, I left the fire road once again and took the VERY STEEP dirt trail off to the left. This part is really more hiking than running. The trail does level out and descends slightly, rejoining the paved access road. I turned right onto the pavement and continued until I reached the hidden lake. This is one of the hidden treasures of Debs Park. I paused here a moment to enjoy the shade and the cooler air before taking the unmarked singletrack trail just to the left of the lake. It’s pretty tricky to spot it, but it’s just beyond the sign saying no swimming or boating in the lake.

Views of San Gabriel Mountains

I blasted down this part of the trail to the park-like area with benches, taking a left toward the stairs and parking lot. I skirted the parking lot on the left, staying under the shade of the pines until I reached the paved access road once again. Turning left, I followed it for a few yards and then turned right onto a side trail. From here, I headed roughly north along the singletrack. This is a beautiful rolling section that eventually meets back up with the access road. Instead of going back the same way I came, I stuck to the fire road and descended back to Via Marisol.

If You Go

Debs Park offers an experience of what the basin looked like before it became the megalopolis it is today. According to the Audubon Center at Debs Park: “More than half of the park is covered in walnut-oak woodland, grassland, and coastal sage scrub, a remnant of the native habitats that once rimmed the Los Angeles Basin.” And nature lovers, keep your eyes peeled for birds. Audubon has recorded over 140 species of birds at the park!

Lovely Sunday Run in the Altadena Foothills

Altadena Crest Trail to Sunset Ridge Trail, Millard Campground and Brown Mountain Fire Road/Truck Trail (Angeles National Forest)

View from Sunset Ridge Trail

In a Nutshell

This is a great run because there are numerous options to make it longer or shorter, depending on what you’re looking for on a particular day. It’s tough, with some sections exceeding an 8% grade. It’s never crowded and has some nice views in the higher elevations.

• Trail surface: soft packed dirt, some sandy sections, tiny bit of pavement.
• Bathrooms/water: Bathrooms at Millard Campground. No water.
• Dogs: Must be leashed.

My Route

I did an out and back run, about 7 miles roundtrip, starting at the Loma Alta Trailhead and Staging Area.

 

From the trailhead, I took the Altadena Crest Trail from the north end of the parking area. After about a quarter mile, the trail splits and I took the trail to the right. There is a white and black sign that says Altadena Crest Trail at the trail split. The next time the trail splits, there are no signs, but I stayed to the right again. The trail splits once more before reaching the crossing with Cheney Trail Road. Here, I stayed left. When I got to the road, I could easily see the trail continuing directly across the road. There’s a large log/water bar and it’s pretty steep here. I then followed the trail as it snakes its way up the hill, until topping out at another paved road (Mt Lowe Road). I ran on the pavement for about 20 yards to the Sunset Ridge Trail, which goes downhill from the intersection with Mt Lowe Road. The trail is not marked here, but there is a small kiosk with a map. From here, the Sunset Ridge Trail is rolling, mostly downhill all the way to Millard Campground (Angeles National Forest). At Millard Campground, I turned right, went past the bathrooms, and followed the dirt/sort of paved road over a stream crossing and uphill onto Brown Mountain Truck Trail (also called Brown Mountain Fire Road). I stayed on this until the intersection with El Prieto Canyon Trail. There, I turned around and went back the same way. You could easily extend this run by heading down El Prieto Canyon or continuing on Brown Mountain Road. I’ll try to post maps for those options in the future.

Stream Crossing along Brown Mt Road

If You Go

A few notes of caution – this is a shared trail, so do yield to mountain bikers and horses. Also, there’s a bit of poison oak along the trail. It’s pretty easy to avoid, but keep your eyes peeled for it. Last thing – although I’ve never seen one here, I imagine there are rattlesnakes, so it’s good to just be aware. If you hear a rattling sound, give it a wide berth.