As California enters the Stage 2 phase of relaxed coronavirus restrictions, most of the bike paths and trails in Los Angeles County have reopened after widespread closures in March and April. However, access to some bike trails remains limited and visitors are still subject to restrictions, such as staying 6 feet away from others and wearing a protective face mask. In addition, the city will continue to close some of the facilities serving bike paths, such as restrooms and park offices. Before grabbing your city bicycles and heading out to your favorite spot, check this guide to review the status of L.A. bike routes.
Griffith Park and Runyon Canyon Trails
According to the Friends of Griffith Park organization, the trails surrounding Griffith Observatory are currently open. However, the park staff will monitor entry to prevent overcrowding and post updates on their website when the area reaches capacity. In general, the bike paths and trails here will be open each day from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you recently decided to buy electric bike online, you’ll love testing its mettle on the hills here.
State Parks in Los Angeles County
Many California state parks have temporarily closed to the public. In Los Angeles County, the closed parks currently include Antelope Valley California Poppy Preserve State National Reserve, Los Encinos State Historic Park, Pio Pico State Historic Park, and the county-operated Watts Tower of Simon Rodia State Historic Park.
- Los Encinos SHP
- Pio Pico SHP
- Watts Towers of Simon Rodia SHP (operated by County of Los Angeles)
In early June, the state reopened many parking lots to allow access to park facilities. In Los Angeles County, open state parks that have bike paths and trails include:
- Leo Carrillo State Park, where visitors can take advantage of 7 miles of multiuse trails with stunning ocean views. Currently, only the Staircase and South Beach parking lots are open, with hours from 8 a.m. to sunset. Visitors must either use the pay by phone app or automated pay machines to pay for parking. The County Line and North Beach parking lots remain closed.
- Los Angeles State Historic Park, which features 32 acres of open space with glimpses of architectural relics and historic buildings. Parking lot capacity is limited with the same hours and pays requirements that apply at Leo Carrillo State Park.
- Topanga State Park, a popular place for mountain bikers to explore many miles of fire roads. Topanga visitors can currently take advantage of cash-free parking from 8 a.m. to sunset at the Lower Topanga, Dead Horse, and Trippet Ranch parking areas.
- Will Rogers State Beach, where you can access the iconic 22-mile Marvin Braude Bike Trail. While the beach is open for individual family recreation activities, groups are cautioned from gathering on the beach and separate households must remain 6 feet apart. While planning your trip, double-check for closures at other spots along the bike trail.
City Bike Paths
Currently, Los Angeles has opened most public trailheads with social distancing and capacity limiting measures in place. Individuals ages 2 and older must wear protective face masks. A few facilities do remain closed, including:
- The Wisdom Tree Trail
- Venice Beach Boardwalk and Oceanfront Walk
Because conditions have been rapidly changing, check the website for your planned bike path before you throw the best cruiser bikes in your car. In addition, Los Angeles recommends that people visit only the parks near their homes at this time.
