Santa Ana River Trail: Biking 25 Miles to the Beach 

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These videos make my day, I am from Southern California (Placentia) and have taken this trail since I was a child. I have lived in England for the past five years and haven’t been able to visit for almost two due to Covid. When I’m really homesick I watch these videos and it feels like I am back home! Thank you so much for doing what you do.

Been away so long, Dad forgot how much he misses So Cal and the scenery there. He used to play along the Santa Ana and the bike path as a kid. Was very nostalgic. Thank you for your amazing videos. We enjoy them so much :)

When I was a kid we used to swim in the Santa Ana river. Sometimes the river was quite fast and kids would get swept away. One day my brother jumped in the pulled a little boy to the side bank. It was one great place to go.

I didn’t know you guys became parents. Congrats!

We have the Santa Ana river trail here too in San Bernardino/Colton, but it doesn’t have as nice views as this! And I don’t know why it took me forever to realize that it’s a continuation of the same trail from here in San Bernardino to Huntington Beach. I read that they’re trying to finish construction to connect the two sections, and then continue the path all the way to Big Bear. That’d would be so cool!

Back in the 1970s I rode this several times from Fullerton to the beach and back. You’re right about the wind, with a regular bike it’s much easier to ride back inland. In those days there was no wooden bridges across the river, you were diverted onto road bridges. There also were no insect parks or moon, and Anaheim stadium looked different, but the golf course is the same. Fun reliving it though this video!

I'm so happy you featured this trail! I grew up in the Inland Empire and this bike trail is reminiscent of my childhood when my family would take our bikes out on the trail from Yorba Park :)

Nice video. Good timing on the ride. A year earlier and the video would have been of one long tent city from east of Honda Center to well past Angel Stadium. Every underpass was an exercise in holding your breath against the smell of bodily waste and required extra vigilance to pass through safely. With only a few isolated examples, that situation has been remedied. Much of the length, including some previously well-traveled sections of the trail, now has additional fencing to make casual access more difficult and several previously strategic public restrooms have been closed--so take advantage of the ones in Yorba Regional Park and at the beach. Not trying to scare anyone off--things have improved and it's still a very nice ride but requires a little foresight and planning, especially due to the restroom situation. I've been biking the Trail for over thirty years and just did the portion from Yorba Linda to Honda Center this morning.

I will definitely do that trail once things get back to normal, nice to finally see Amy again.

I'm watching this on 2. 22. 21. I grew up in Anaheim. Along Santa Ana River, was orange groves. I remember when the big A was built, as well as Disneyland. Went to 6th grade at T. ROOSEVELT ELEM. THE "JET PARK", CAME A YEAR OR SO AFTER BIG A. Fowler sand and gravel was in the river bed near Anaheim (Olive) Rd, and as kids we used to hunt birds and horntoads in the then DRY river beds. I can still smell Eucalyptus trees after rain.(they were for wind breaks around groves). This was in late 50s early 60s. Class of 63 Anaheim High. Enjoyed video, only question, where did all that water come from. Prado dam pretty much kept down stream dry.

Reminds me of the times when I started from Santa Ana where I used to live to the beach with this same river trail. Awesome seeing this video as it brings me back, thanks Josh!!

Excellent video explaining all the nuances of the river. I’ve only discovered the trail since the pandemic but have ridden it many times since. It’s a perfect trail to get in some exercise but you are right, there’s always a headwind going towards the beach, which makes coming back a breeze. Next time, reward yourself by going about six miles further towards Huntington Beach. Such beautiful views if you have the time.

Thank God they got rid of all the tents and homeless along there.

I really appreciate all of the content and beautiful views and scenery that California has to offer. With so much negativity lately about the so called California exodus I say good riddance to those who leave. Born and raised in California I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Once again, hands down the best channel on all things California and congrats on the babies!

California is so beautiful 🤩🤩

Glad you made it all the way without getting mugged ! I just kept waiting for an encounter with some tweekers. 🙀

You missed a couple of things on side paths. At the Taft/Ball bridge exit the trail and ride across the bridge to the golf center, turn right into the golf center parking and go straight to the back. There's a restroom there, not sure if it's open or what hours if it is. Go through the gate next to it into Anaheim Coves park. There's a short trail along the water there (it's actually a percolation pond). You asked where the water went all of a sudden, a lot of it goes here. Anaheim is one of the oldest towns in OC and has their own water system. The water percolates down into the aquifer and is pumped out into the system. I believe technically this is Burris Basin and has been there a long time but the park is fairly recent. Down at Talbert Preserve and Fairview park exit the trail into the preserve. Back a little ways on a wide dirt path you'll find a restroom and a very nice small park with tables. There's lots of big trees, on a hot day it's a great stop. Water is available there also. I've ridden this trail many times over the years and I still do from time to time. You're bound to see homeless here but the big homeless camps in the Anaheim area are gone. I ride more in the Irvine/Newport/Tustin area now though. Irvine by far has some of the best bike trails in SoCal. You can get almost anywhere. They had the luxury of lots of pre-planning there. I've ridden the upper trail also (through Riverside etc) but I like the lower trail better. The upper trail is better in the winter when it's not so hot inland. I don't know if we'll see them connected by class 1 trail, there's a lot of access rights needed.

Thanks for the video! I'm from SoCal but haven't been out there since 92. At some point, you crossed under West 1st street and the Hyde Park mobile home community. My grandmother lived there and one day I'm going to make it out there to pay my respects to her.

Congratulations on twins!! What a surprise!!

It's like we went on the bike ride with you! Good work!

When I was a kid me and my friends will skip school and ride our bikes though this trail to Newport beach. Once we got to the bridge by angel stadium there was allot of homeless people there.

This trail looks quite safe now. I might have to give it a try.

You are like Huell Hawser of current times .. Thanks so much for documenting all the trips so well ... I now look for your videos first before making any travel plans.

A classic. I love biking on this trail to the beach, I did it at the start of quarantine and it really cleared my head.

Loved this video! I've been on this trail many, many times over the years. Mostly across the. "boring" stretch! It really is a bike highway through the heart of OC. Great to see it from your perspective!

That’s my normal route riding from Corona to Long Beach, loved Santa Ana River bed, it’s clean and very safe to ride , I prefer Santa Ana River bed than LA or San Gabriel River bed..

Strangest bike trail yet. You do it all! So glad you could share this with us. Carry on.

I'm not a fan of the topography of much of the OC area but the beach is always a welcome sight. I had no idea you had TWINS, Congratulations! 👏🏼👶👶

Cool vid, thank you for posting it. I had heard of this bike trail, but never tried it. Your vid gives me a good idea about it now -- thanks!

Very cool bike trails but the bike can't handle the round trip for sure 😉

Thank you for this video. It brings back good memories of riding the Back Bay Trail with Dad back in the 80s. Gearless on a Diamondback. E-bikes are for wusses but that is a good pro tip about racing down under the bridges to clear the rises. That's old school. Good times. Thanks for filming the "A" at Angel's Stadium. I lived down the street from Moon Park and biked there on many weekends.

Big fan of your channel, as you give the best recommendations and video content

This is so cool...I lived by this trail for 13 years..at Lincoln and Batavia...went biking here with my kids for years😄

Thank you. I always wanted to see a complete view from Yorba Linda to the beach. Yours was the best! Another awesome video!!

I never knew there was a trail there and i’ve lived in So Cal my entire life. thanks for an addition to my bucket list

great love i have lived in orange county for 42 years

Still on my to do list since finding about this around a decade ago. I may tell my wife to wait for me at the beach vs. doing the loop lol. Good Video as always.

good job on this. I ride that trail all the time and still learned things.

What a beautiful city . And you have a beautiful familia.

Awesome Josh!! Thanks for sharing!! Very informative

The trail looks great now that it is all cleaned up.👍🏻

I road this trail every Sunday this and it's amazing!!

Awesome video as always. I'm glad you were able to check this one off. I've been riding SART years and it's funny I just picked up my first ebike today and look forward to hit that trail very soon.

thank you so much for making this video. I always want to take this bike trail to the beach from Garden Grove. After seeing you do it, I feel safe I can take my e bike on this trail. keep up the good work!

A fun trip! Thanks for the ride. Very descriptive as well. Okay, I got my exercise in for the day 😅

Congrats! And great video of our local gem.

Congratulations on having twins!

experiencing a city at bicycle/ebike pace is great fun!

Thanks for this!!!

Such an enjoyable video, Lived in So cal till 2008. Miss it so,, Moved to North Ga , and also have wonderful Greenways (bike paths) here. Thanks for all your great content! Props!

Wow.. Twins congratulations!!

Oh my god thanks I always see this trail from 91 freeway finally

You’re lucky it was a clear day! Lately it’s been so chemtrailed in SoCal when we used to have blue skies everyday!

Thanks for this. I'll do some of it in the next few days. I think I'll park and start at one of the parks along the way, because I'll have to do both directions - no shuttle.

Spot is nice as hell

great video on the trail. I live in Chino Hills. about 10 years ago I used to take my dog ( about 40 LB) in a bike trailer and ride from the green river area on the rail all the way to Huntington Beach then up to Santa Monica beach spend the day then head back to the green river pint of entry of the trail. I did this day trip many times. recently ( about a couple of months ago) purchased a recumbent bike ( Sun Easy Sport) and went back on the trail,2 times, rode for about 20 miles ( round trip), and getting ready and getting back in shape to make a bunch of day trips to the beach and back. I love this trail and can not wait to get back on it again. PS* riding a recumbent bike is like a dream. my best experience of riding a bicycle of all time. I highly recommend it.

What a great trail ride. Well done sir

Really nice, thanks for sharing!!!

That's my lifestyle. Almost every day, e-bike + seaside ❤

I appreciate your videos

Rode the trail from Riverside to Newport Beach, before the trash started piling up; the SART actually start in the San Bernardino mountains, near Angeles Oaks. That makes it about a 100 mile one way trip to the beach.

So cool! Looks like fun. U all look great 😊

Use to take it from Fullerton to Riverside on a 20” bmx best time 1hr 45 min

Thanks for your detailed ride!

First, congratulations! Second, such a great video. A great idea for a long weekend. Keep making great content. 🙌🏾

Cool video. Used to drive on the 91 and 55 fwy for 15+ years and always wonder about this. I remember my ex-coworker would tell me his bike adventure on this trail.

That looked like a lot of fun!

Aww congrats on the twins, too cute!

Love your video like always🥰

Thank You! Enjoyed watching!

What a fun bike ride!

Dude. That was great! I've ridden parts of this trail on separate occasions. I discovered the beginning of the trail about 3 years ago! (Time flies), but have been bummed out since I the construction took over the parking. I have not ridden that section since January 2018 (Wow!). I did ride along Yorba Linda Park area by the 91 recently and loved it! I was curios about where this trail takes you. Thanks for sharing this video!!!!!!!!

It’s not surprising that you made an amazing video, but this one was extremely cool because it was so unexpected! Great job Josh. Also, great team work with Amy and the twins 🙌🏼👍🏼

your family is adorable. that bike looks kickass

Loved this video. Please do more California Bike trail videos!

Congrats for riding this. I never knew where the Trail started.

We used to bike this trail as kids in the 70s

We have electric bikes. They're so fun. Thanks for this. We've been on trails in Riverside but this looks great.

I’m glad you made this and I hope it inspires more people to do it (even if they don’t have an electric bike!). It was a GREAT advertisement tho btw. Story time: last time I did this I biked from my house to crystal cove then up the SAR to downtown Corona which is something I had always dreamed of doing and then took the SAR down back to my house in SA🙃

I drove i91 so many times,and my dream to ride santa Anna River trail like you did,thank you for the video and btw congratulation you have twins

Glad to see it all cleaned up. A few years ago there were thousands of homeless encampment around angel stadium into santa ana

Great video ! Definitely need to do this one ☝️

The reason the water "disappears" and reappears along the river is because it's a natural sand filter. The water percolates down to natural aquifers along the river and supplies a fair amount of Orange County's water. Many people don't know that the county invested millions to improve the water treatment plant you passed in Fountain Valley to treat the water to the point it can be pumped back upriver to where you entered the trail and use the natural sand filtration. After this project was finished the county now recycles somewhere around 20 to 30 percent of its water.

What a terrific civic asset. Thanks for the tour.

Great (and unique) video! Good work Josh. I used to ride my bike to work and back (for a whole month) along part of that trail 😁

I'm glad you got a sponsor.

This is a nice video Josh. Well done! Hello from Michigan. 👍

Your babies are sooooo cute!

Wow just beautiful

We’re gonna do this soon!!

I enjoyed the video Josh . Looks beautiful out there. 👍🏼

Love your channel, !!

Great video. I hadn’t heard about the trail.

I'll have to do this. Thanks 😊

when you go over the metal bridge. over the sandy river bed in HB. i live like 10. 15. minutes walk from there cool !!!!! have a good day boss

You should definitely checkout the Ventura to Ojai beach bike trail. Its beautiful throughout the journey .

Great adventure. This reminds me of a ride I love to do in Monterey. You start at Fort Ord (free parking) ride a bike trail that follows the ocean with breathtaking views. You then ride into Cannery row. Pre covid, park your bike and go check out Monterey Bay Aquarium. Then lunch at Bubba Gump. Good times. Thanks for the adventure!

I remember my first bike trail to the beach, so difficult 😅 wish I had that bike at that time lol

Those babies are so cute