South Bay Bicycle Trail

Of all the many paved bicycle paths that can be found in the Los Angeles area, the South Bay Bicycle Trail is among the most scenic. It runs parallel to the Pacific oceanfront for 22 miles between Santa Monica and Torrance. A camera is definitely one piece of equipment required to capture the fascinating beaches, piers, people, and sunsets along the way.

The South Bay Bicycle Trail is rated as moderately difficult, owing to its considerable length and some challenging street segments in Marina Del Rey. It can be traversed at any time of year but can be quite crowded on summer weekends when crowds of pedestrians and cyclists unfamiliar with the area are present.

The South Bay Beach Trail starts out north of Santa Monica in Will Rogers State Park and follows the coast north to Torrance Beach. From there, it is also possible to continue on busy surface streets through the scenic Palos Verdes area all the way to White's Point and Cabrillo Beach. Much of the trail is on the boardwalk, other than near Marina Del Ray and the Redondo Beach Pier.

Food and water are plentiful along the way, as are public restrooms. Those who ride the length of the South Bay Bicycle Trail are cautioned to obey all posted signs. Some riders have reported being ticketed for ignoring stop signs or failing to dismount and walk their bikes through the Hermosa Beach area.