Downtown Buzz

Bike the Pacific Electric Trail in SoCal

Bike the Pacific Electric Trail in SoCal

Biking the Pacific Electric Trail from downtown Upland to the Claremont Packing House is buzz-worthy in several ways. For starters, it’s good on a hot day because most of this 10-mile out-and-back trip is shaded by trees galore: American elms in particular, and redbuds with their vibrant pink leaves. You'll also roll right up to a popular spot for some food and artisan coffee.

A good place to start the trail from downtown Upland is off of N. 1st Avenue next to the old building with Roman-style pillars. When you pass through Upland and head into Claremont, the path starts to feel less industrial-city and more country-rustic. The pavement changes from gray cement to dark asphalt with yellow and red shrubs lining the way, and of course, the trees! You’ll really feel the rustic vibes when you cross a wooden bridge, a good marker that you’re almost at the end of the bike path.

The Pacific Electric Trail ends about a mile before the Claremont Packing House but the bike lanes on the streets are clearly marked and give plenty of space. Continue onto E. 1st Street, and on your right you’ll pass by Pomona College’s beautiful campus (well worth a stop and see). Bike straight through downtown Claremont until you see the Claremont Packing House on your left. 

The Packing House has loads of food options, and you can’t leave without trying Augie's Coffee. This small chain of coffee shops originated in Redlands, CA, and has become a staple of Inland Empire coffee lovers. A hot cup of joe (or cold, or iced, or tea if that’s your thing) is just what you need after this good day of cycling!

From the I-10, exit onto Euclid and head north for a half mile. Turn right on E. C St. or E. D St. and find parking in the downtown lots or on the street. The Pacific Electric Trail runs between these two streets. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Hiker in the forest at Mount Sutro in San Francisco

    San Francisco's Middle Earth

    No need to travel to New Zealand to visit Middle Earth. San Francisco’s Mount Sutro Open Space is practically Hobbiton—a hidden “shire” in the middle of the city. Okay, maybe not quite as magical, but still an incredible place to take a hike in city limits.

    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. Hike top Angel Island Mount Livermore San Francisco Bay

    Good Heavens

    The 4-mile hike to the top of Angel Island offers Bay-mazing scenery. Some people claim you get a five-bridge view: Richmond-San Rafael, Bay, Golden Gate, San Mateo-Hayward, and Dumbarton bridges.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

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. 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
  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. 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