Norm's Place

Bicycle Puddingstone Reservoir

Some bike routes simply pave the way to terrific views and fluffy omelets. Ride in point: the easy 7-mile circuit around Bonelli Regional Park's 250-acre Puddingstone Reservoir and adjacent Brackett Airfield. It's an interesting place to explore both water and air—using two-wheel ground transportation! (It's also popular with cyclists getting in some cardio laps.) Starting from the airfield—where you can get up-close to runways frequented by small private planes—roll west toward the reservoir's waterfront, passing picnic tables, pavilions, and a few beaches. Your backdrop is the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains. Hills on the trail are more fun than challenging, and crossing over Puddingstone Dam provides the longest vista across its fishing-boat-dotted water. The north side of the loop joins Puddingstone Drive along the lake to close out the ride. Refuel your engine with that fluffy omelet at Norm's Hangar Coffee Shop inside the tiny terminal at Brackett Airfield. Norm's has all the coziness of a small-town diner, with huge views of the San Gabriels. Grab a seat on the patio and watch single-engine and two-propeller planes take off and land.

Take I-10 east of downtown Los Angeles and exit Fairplex Dr. Go north for 1.2 miles and turn left to remain on Fairplex Dr. (avoiding the entrance to Fairplex Park Racetrack). After 0.3 mile, when Fairplex Dr. turns right, continue straight on McKinley Ave. for another half-mile until the road becomes gated. Turn right into the day-use parking for Brackett Airfield. Begin biking straight through the gate, continuing west. Pass through another gate after half a mile and stay to the left on the paved road. Cross the RV camp and follow the bike path along the lakeshore. When the path turns away from the lake and crosses a bridge to a T, turn left (away from the swimming beach). Make a right at the next split to go under a bridge and up a rise. Cross Puddingstone Dam and turn right up Puddingstone Dr. (across from the entrance to Raging Waters water park). Bike 2.2 miles past the lake and airport to Fairplex Dr. Turn right, pedal half a mile, and turn right a final time to return to Brackett Airfield and Norm's. The bike path is dog-friendly. No dogs at Norm's.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  4. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Tram to Cool Treks

    Elevate your fun, getting whisked from palm trees to alpine wilderness on the world’s largest rotating tramcar. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway transports you up and away on a 2.5-mile scenic route from the desert floor to the refreshing wilderness of Mount San Jacinto State Park.

    View
  2. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  3. A group of people clamored around the summit marker at Mission Peak in the Bay Area

    Your Mission Is Less Crowded

    Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.

    View
  4. Vista Hermosa Park in Echo Park Los Angeles

    Vista Hermosa, Echo That!

    Tucked in Echo Park, the little-known gem of Vista Hermosa Natural Park feels worlds away thanks to its serene beauty and thoughtful design. At 11.5 acres there’s still plenty to explore. And it's got a premier view of the iconic Los Angeles skyline.

    View