Santa Ana River Trail

The Santa Ana River Trail is a multi-use trail complex that runs alongside the Santa Ana River in southern California. The trail stretches 30 miles from the Pacific Ocean at Huntington Beach along the Santa Ana River to the Orange/Riverside county line. Planned extensions of the trail reach to Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County. When completed, it will be the longest multi-use trail in Southern California, at approximately 100 miles (160 km). In 1989, the Los Angeles Times described the path as "a veritable freeway for bicycles."

In 1977, the bike path was designated a National Recreation Trail. In 1990, safety on the trail became a concern when it was occupied by homeless populations and street gangs. An increased police presence in 2009 led to a reduction in crime, though pockets of homeless camps have reappeared under some bridges along the trail. In 2016 the density of the homeless camps have increased creating excess trail debris and garbage.

In 2005, heavy rains caused extensive erosion on the path, requiring repairs from the state at about $1 million, part of an approximately $43 million clean-up in Southern California occasioned by the disaster.

The asphalt-paved path is 12-feet wide, divided into two lanes so cyclists may ride abreast; however, cyclists must yield to pedestrians and runners (who are considered pedestrians by the law) at all times. As of 2006, 70 miles (110 km) of the path were complete; when finished, in conjunction with the equestrian path, the trail is expected to bridge three counties, touching on 17 cities and two national forests.

Since 1985, the trail is the avenue of the annual "Riverside to Surfside" bicycling event, formerly known as "Smog to Surf", in which cyclists ride the trail from Riverside, Corona or Anaheim to Huntington Beach.

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Wikipedia