Ballona Creek Bike Path trailhead

Great trail to anywhere. Safe and only 2 homeless individuals.

Great place for a major bike trailhead, at the park and within easy access to food stores nearby. The Wrapper Building is an unusual tho good point of reference!

love to run this trail, leads all the way to Venice and Santa Monica if you continue to run and stay on the trail

Follow me to the VENICE ELECTRIC LIGHT PARADE, SUNDAY at SUNSET.. !!!

Bike lane to LA, Culver City & Santa Monica, Playa Del Rey & Mariana Del Rey.🚴🚲🚸

Solid spot for a run or bike ride! You don't have to deal with traffic lights which is a huge plus. Not the most scenic route in LA, but it's convenient, accessible, and great for a solid cardio day. ‍ I would def only do this during the daytime though.

We always enjoy riding from Syd Kronenthal Park in Culver City to Marina del Rey. The trail is very popular on the weekend and it gets especially busy with bicyclists the closer you get to the beach. The city or local volunteers should do more to keep the trail clean of litter. Graffiti seems to be the norm along the trail so that would be the only eyesore if all the trash was removed.

I have been riding on the bionic Creek Bike Path for many years. It's your connection for biking from Culver City to the beach areas such as Marina Del Rey or going south downtown Rancho, Palos Verdes. The creek when it's full is nice but when it's not fall, it might not be as nice :-). Lately, since I'm riding bikes a lot, I notice more and more people on the bike path and I'm sure will be busier this summer. Especially with all the electric bikes that are hit in the scenery around here. When you exit the bike path of viola, Creek and Marina Del Rey do you have a choice you can go north up towards Pacific Palisades or go south down towards Palos Verdes.

The beautiful bike path parallels ballona creek while connecting the pacific ocean at Marina Del Rey with Culver City, which starts at Syd Kronenthal Park and extends about 7 miles to the Coast Bike Path along the beach. The trail also connects with a beach path that continues south to Redondo Beach while at the north, which can be accessed from numerous streets adjacent to the trail, where main access points include Fisherman's Village in Marina Del Rey. I like it as a beautiful scenic trail for walking, jogging and biking.

For many years, I have been riding this path which run from Marina Del Rey Harbor to Culver City and beyond. It's like a super highway for bicycles. But I do it fast, and always with trepedation. And never with any planned stops until I get to Culver City or Marina Del Rey Harbor. I pray every time I don't have a mechanical problem. In sections, the path is infested with a mix of homeless living under the bridges operating bicycle chop shops from their daily thefts, people smoking pot, and gang members hanging out in some of the adjoining parks and neighborhoods along the way. Too many portions provide cover for bad things to potentially happen. You will never see LAPD patrolling this path because if they did, they would have to make arrests that would conflict with Los Angeles Santuary City policy that protects criminal behavior. The Ballona Creek path is the perfect place illegals set up home. Recently, one cyclist found out what happens when a city takes a liberal stance on crime here: http://bikinginla.com/2017/07/31/morning-links-bike-rider-mugged-ballona-creek-la-times-criticizes-selfish-drivers-fighting-traffic-safety/ But that's not the only incident. So as I said before and some others have written about on Yelp, only use during the day, be aware of your surroundings, and keep moving. If you have a gun and are trained to use it, bring it. Because LAPD won't be patrolling here anytime soon and you will be glad that you did. Better is to display it as you ride along, that is the best deterrent. The creek is inviting, but don't venture in as it is polluted from years of homeless debris you will see. The city does not have the money to clean it up.

It's a nice walk just too many bikers and sometimes they can be rude and not alert you that they're behind you. A couple of homeless ppl but too bad it's also pretty clean

One of the best kept "locals" secrets in Los Angeles, but something that tourists would be well advised to try. You can ride your bike from Culver City to the end of Redondo Beach and back without ever having to ride on an actual road. Seeing the planes soaring above your head as they take off over Dockweiler is a thrill and going to the Redondo Beach Pier for some classic video games at the arcade is the reward for taking this amazingly scenic ride. How lucky to have this bike path open to all. Park in a dirt lot off of Centinela and make a day of it.

Very nice place to bike! I enjoyed my ride to the beach and back to Culver City! It was definitely worth coming here all the way from the valley. We both loved it here so much! However, be cautious of homeless population in the area along the bike path. I would not go running or even biking alone ... stay safe

What's not to love?? No cars. No lights. No traffic. Beautiful views. This is hands down the best bike path I have ever ridden. The actual Ballona trail is 2 lanes. The lanes are wide. I have never felt crowded while riding. I've never had a bad experience on the path. Everyone is very friendly. If someone needs to pass, they'll pass. Even the more serious riders are cool. The path can get complicated. There are several hills, 4 back-to-back in-between Overland & Sawtelle. I've seen people get off their bikes and walk up the hills. So those sections are definitely not kid friendly. After that, it's pretty flat to the beach. It's not just for cycling, I always see tons of runners too. The trail ends at the beach. From there you can head south where the bike path widens and you ride down the coast. It's like out of a movie. Million dollar beach houses on the left, Pacific Ocean on the right.

I enjoy walking this path, it is very refreshing and I have taken the most beautiful pictures of the moon, sun and ocean, what an amazing way to start the day. However, there are several homeless people living on or near the path, please be mindful. I am out very early in the morning and must wear lights due to the darkness (a bit creepy) but am surprised at how many walkers do wear them.

Love this path as a nice alternative to a beach ride--nice rolling hills, with little traffic and very peaceful. However, there is some homeless activity as you go further on that path, so people should be careful the further inland they go to not be "surprised" by someone when things get a little narrow. I have never been bothered by anyone, but I'm 200 pounds on a bike going as fast as I can. I would not walk that path without others, and I certainly wouldn't do it after dusk. However, if you want some nice straightaways on a bike for 5 miles or so, it's a great ride. Just be smart.

I live very close to the path - I run/bike on it daily, usually in the early hours of the morning. There are some homeless people on the path, but most are friendly and will leave you alone. The path is also populated enough that if something happens, someone will be by you soon enough. I have never felt unsafe on the path as a woman. Ballona Creek beats riding/running on the streets, as there is no inconvenience of lights and cars - the only true problem I have with the path is the people riding that do not know how to ride a bike. Please review proper bike and running/walking etiquette before going out on any paths/trails. It is not the largest path, so by keeping as far right as possible/being aware of your surroundings, you are preventing a lot of accidents from happening. Often people will be riding or walking two to three people side-by-side with no space for others to pass. This makes it very inconvenient for others who are cycling or running, as they have to maneuver around so many obstacles of people. My favorite part of the path is from Centinela Ave. to the ocean - so many great views, and perfect for watching the sunrise and sunset. Sometimes it doesn't even feel like you're in Los Angeles.

This is a small review, only because I've only walked on a small portion of it between the jetty and up to Lincoln. I would love to go up further and can provide more details in an update. Although my experience was a short one, it made quite an impression and memorable to where I want to go back and want more! It's such a peaceful area and route so scenic along the way. You get nature along the way, even though I noticed there were some area with signs stating not to go in. People just go there for their routine walks, runs, bicycling etc., perfect for our furry four legged creatures to stretch their legs. Everyone was moving along and polite. I did notice some spots of homelessness, especially under trees. It's like one reviewer stated, they don't bother anyone, just go about your business and make sure if you are alone to go around times when everyone else it out (mornings and weekends) but never go alone during the late afternoons or evenings when or if secluded). I'd like to go further next time, we shall see if I make it when it's still filled with people or pry the hubby to go with me. (If there's beer at the end, he'd be right on it). Lol. I saw a few birds and butterflies (I'm not good with names, like everyone else I work with, they can describe the exact type & species). Also walking back to the jetty, was nice to see a canoeing class, looked like fun, but oh man, hard work! But good for those kids to get at it at such a young age! More to come, but in the mean time, if you haven't been and love nature you must check out! There is parking and some small parking lots, you'll have to explore!

This bike/run/walk trail is as good as it gets. From start to finish you WILL get a good workout in while also being able to enjoy the beach and ocean during or after! You know it can't be BEFORE otherwise you just might not get on this trail. I mean, it is after all the CREEK. It's not glamorous but it does the trick. It provides us with a car traffic free and paved (not gravel) road from Culver City to Playa (through Marina del Rey). For the most part you won't get the stink eye from the avid bicyclists if you're walking or running. Just be mindful of them by trying to go the opposite direction so you can see them comin your way. No drinking fountains or bathrooms along the way. It's a CREEK people! Oh, please don't do your business in the CREEK though. Please. So, plan accordingly. This includes being safe - especially if you're training for a triathalon or a marathon or one of the "'thons". I would highly suggest that should you choose to come with smaller kids, pad them from head to toe and tote them along on your own bikes instead of having them ride their own. It's just not that kind of path. One more thing - ride/walk/run at the BC during the day. No lights or other emergency phones or what not on the trail. With all of that - it is the trail I've been frequenting for a long, long time. It's gotten so much better over time - safer. With about 3 miles or so along the BC you can go back/forth or just part of it pretty easily to meet all kinds of needs. Entries from Centinela or Inglewood offer good parking areas if you're trying to get a good few miles of a workout in! Venture off the path mid-point to the Fisherman's Wharf where you can ride along the marina or get a bite to eat!

This is a great place to bike, taking you from Culver City to Marina Del Rey. You are totally separated from cars the entire way. The creek is a concrete channel, so it is not the pretties ride in the world. When you get closer to the beach it goes by some preserved wetlands, so that is nice.

What the city of los angeles needs are more designated bike routes for the increased bicycle traffic. This route is great! Really a nice way to get tot he beach of come at the city. Its next to the new expo line being opened so you can increase your reach and become more green. I have been riding this route for years. Only complaint is the occasional beer bottle broken or the foliage that has grown wild into the lane. The latter the city is slow to clean up. The broken bottles we have started taking care of ourselves. Take care of each other out there. If you see a downed cyclist stop and see if they re all right. They will return the favor. GIve them that extra tube of co2 you have to get them back on the road. What goes around comes around. TRust me as cyclist i have seen this so many times. We should lead by example. Ballona creek is a great route for us.

Ever since my Canadian relatives visited and got attacked by a transient, perhaps drug-user, or mentally ill individual), I have been reluctant to recommend the bike path. How embarrassed was I when I highly recommended the bike path as a wonderful "field trip" day for my Canadian relatives looking for a local, fun, inexpensive thing to do on one of their "non-touristy days" when they came home battered, freaked-out and reluctant to stay in the area even one more day? It was horrifying to learn of their experience and the trauma they left here with. Here's the story...the "mugger(s)" chose to attack my uncle. He had little command of the English language and stood over 6' tall. He was no waif and certainly didn't carry the disposition of someone fearful, shy or easily intimidated. Further, he and my Aunt were peddling calmly and lazily along the path enjoying the sights and sounds. It was a beautiful day by many accounts. Out of almost nowhere...near one of the overpasses...my Uncle was attacked in a rage by a complete stranger who knocked him off the bike and proceeded to beat on him as my Aunt observed in shock and fear. She apparently shrieked and screamed for help making quite a scene. My Uncle fought back and defended himself and my Aunt until the vagrant(s) ran off. Unfortunately my Uncle's bike was damaged with the front wheel getting warped to the point of un-usability and there were many bumps & bruises on his chest, arms and knees. They were unclear in their explanation about 1 or 2 attackers because many other vagrants were apparently in extremely close proximity and coupled with their broken English, I cannot say with certainty if the attacker was one or two individuals. They walked the bikes back to the house. When they got home, they were shaking and notably upset. After doing their best to recount their story in broken English, (French is their native language) I suggested we file a police report. They did not "want to cause any trouble here" and insisted on putting this incident in the past and moving-on with life...and what was left of their vacation. Needless to say, I've only been back on the bike path once since this happened...but somehow felt safer because I wasn't alone on the path. I'm happy to see that others have posted that police will be monitoring the bike path. But I, for one, will never go on it alone. Its too risky. I'm thankful I live on a street where there is no easy access to/from the bike path. I'd be scared to death if I lived near one of the open gates for fear of drug deals, thievery, trash, drug paraphernalia, human waste, bed bugs, scabies, and above all being attacked and beaten. Hopefully, the community and/or law enforcement will take action to protect the quality of life and well being of our environment. Culver City should remain safe for kids and adults alike, to enjoy life without being fearful of flagrants. Many know that residents are doing their best to keep Culver City nice by affording the exorbitant property taxes and ever increasing cost of services. It should be a no-brainer to protect those who are making this a desirable place to be. Measure HHH and Measure H seem to be proving themselves to be a total loss and waste of hard earned taxpayer funds. I pray for the future of this City and for some common sense initiatives to combat these disturbing and concerning issues. OK, rant over. Thanks for reading.

When we were children and living in Mar Vista Gardens we used to climb the fence and walk to Playa del Rey. That was in the 1960's when there was no bike path. The creek was full of garbage so we walked in an upper area to stay away from it. It was a nice walk though.

CATEGORY: RECREATION Th Ballona Creek Bike Path starts at Syd Kronenthal Park in east Culver City and extends about 7 miles to the Coast Bike Path. I usually run this path about 5 times a week, it does amazing help for my cardio needs. I enter at Inglewood and run to the beach. Many bikers frequent this bike path as well, biking back and forth. Once you start in Culver City, you have a couple options once you get to Marina Del Rey. You can either head into the touristy part of the Marina, or you can continue towards the Manhattan and Hermosa beaches by utilizing the path. If you run or bike this thing consistently, you will start recognizing regulars, as some people actually frequent the bike path everyday. Also, they are steadily doing improvements on it, such as marking distances to the beach, repainting the yellow lines on the path to give it a fresher look. At one point, the bike path had a bad element as many vagrants and sometimes illicit activities would happen here. However, there has been a larger presence of patrol on the bike path and its been appreciated. Physical fitness resonates throughout your demeanor in a positive fashion, if you want to push yourself by running or biking, Ballona Creek Bike Path provides the perfect outlet.

Relaxing bike ride to the beach. We usually enter at Duquesne and turn around at Playa del Rey. Lots of birds, some turtles in the water and along the shoreline. Busier from Fiji Way, but during the week not too busy with other riders and pedestrians.

This is a semi nice bike trail. It's safe once you hit Sepulveda and from there it starts getting sketchy all the way up to National going inland. The the population of people dwindles down to almost zero. There are some homeless people here on the path so I'd say night riding alone would not be recommended. If your a girl on a beach cruiser riding alone, totally not recommended at any time of the day. If your going west towards the beach it's much safer and a lot more people so it's cool. LA does need more bike paths connecting to major arteries yet safe bike paths so people can ride without worrying about their safety. This paths connects the South Bay Trail to Santa Monica Bike Path and those paths are a lot more safer. Just don't go inland if your not prepared.

An L.A treasure. Riding my bike down Ballona Creek is one of my favorite things in the world. If you can get a windless afternoon in fall, all the better. Recently upgraded, beautified by the Parks Commission - this has to be one of the best bike paths in the city. From Hermosa Beach north to Marina Del Rey and then either up the aqua duct into Culver or westward to Venice and Santa Monica - it offers you a nice 10, 20 or 30 mile return ride along the ocean and waterways of LA. A must do if you cycle, or want to cycle LA.

So relaxing! Beautiful sunset ride with dedicated bike paths away from vehicular traffic melt away stress. Some parts are a little bumpy but great ride overall.

If you are looking for an easy place for a weekend ride to avoid the crowds along a straightforward path instead of weaving along the beachside path, this is it. It is not scenic, apart from the pelicans, egrets and various other bird life. Services (aka toilets/water fountains) are not available 24/7 only open at peak times and no lighting (so evening riders could benefit from a headlamp). Even on a perfect sunday afternoon it was quite desolate, so solo riders may not feel secure on weekdays or odd hours. Still a great place to ride without any congestion.

Great Bike Path Great parking at the Sid Kroenenthal Park and riding along the Ballona Creek Trail to the beach, then down Dockwiler Beach, to Manhattan Beach, then to Redondo Beach to Palos Verdes.

Simple flat out trail, yes it has slight incline and decline hills but still a nice concrete jungle with a creek. You can get a nice cadence and top speed on many parts of the path. Conditions... smooth for a majority of the path, though closer to the ocean it does get rough on road bike tires. As others have commented the path could use some repaving in spots. But nothing dangerous to warn anyone about at the time we rode on it. We hit the path mid afternoon on a Thursday so it was quite empty, 1 to 2 other cyclists and a jogger. Though there are quite a lot of homeless people living under the bridge so beware, however the ones we drove past seemed friendly enough. Wished I could of brought my CF road bike, instead of the folding for faster repeats but from coming from -4 degree weather to 70 degree weather I am not going to complain one bit =)

Just did the safe bit (ocean to first net) of this trail last Sunday. I've previously ventured further only to be intimidated by homeless camps and roaming men who appear to be loitering without purpose. Well, there's new tents set up this close to beach, making every part of the trail now unsafe. Furthermore, there was a massive increase in garbage from only a few weeks ago. It's an atrocious disgrace Los Angeles allows it's creekbed to be filled with garbage. The increase was so notable, I suspected it may have been done/allowed on purpose to get the voters to vote for the waterway cleanup tax on the upcoming ballot. The presence of camping humans engenders a fetid aroma, reminiscent of urine. I don't understand why LAPD doesn't patrol the area. The area east of the first net is very scary for this lone woman.

Today, I rode this bike path to work from Duquesne Ave westward to Sawtelle at 8:30am and then back at 6:30pm from Sawtelle eastward to its end at Syd Kronenthal Park. I was apprehensive at first because I read about a bicyclist getting mugged on this bike path 2 years ago. That mugging took place west of the 405, and I was east of the 405, but still! My concerns were quickly put to rest almost as soon as got on the path. Both in the morning and evening, there were plenty of other bicyclists and/or joggers. Especially in the morning, I saw several women running solo with baby scrollers. The path had a few spots with overgrown weeds making me go into the oncoming lane, but a gardener was in the process of cutting it back. I saw only a few homeless encampments in the distance, but nothing to be concerned about. I'm definitely making this path part of my commute.

Been meaning to write a view of this bike path for a while now. I used to go running here. I started at Duquesne and headed west to Marina del Rey. Not very scenic, but a nice straight shot without street traffic or lights to deal with and slow you down. Just a warning to the females... BEWARE !!! If you want to use the path, don't go alone. It's best to travel with someone else. Parts of this bike path are sketchy. There are a few shady characters and homeless people hanging out at times. Sometimes there are packs of teens hanging out behind the columns and under the overpasses. I was attacked on this path at the Overland entrance around 12:30pm with male biker right next to me by two guys. They got on each side of me and tried to rip my Ipod off my arm out of my arm band. They only got my headphones, my ipod fell on the ground. When I realized what was happening, I picked it up and they chased me. Scary to say the least. I'd always been a little sceptical about being on here. Unfortunately, I haven't been back since-although I'd really like to see the improvements that were made. Perhaps I'll hop back on but only if I travel in multiples.

Ballona Creek is a path that I grew up near and started running and riding my skateboard on as a teenager around 20 years ago. Recently, I have been riding the path on my bike and found that it is a great place to ride without needing to worry about cars and the other congestions of city life that can make street riding dangerous. However, Ballona Creek is far from perfect and does have some things that you have to be mindful off when traveling the path. The further East that you go, the sketchier it gets. It is fairly well maintained on the West side, but the East side has lots of cracks, rocks, protruding shrubbery, graffiti, and sometimes glass. The East side of the path also seems to have some shady individuals hanging around that are not there to use the path for recreational purposes. There are several homeless people who live under the bridges and I have frequently seen teenagers hanging out on the sides of the path who are up to no good. It is not more dangerous than much of the rest of LA, but I would suggest riding the path with others if possible. The bike path is relatively short, and goes from Culver City to Marina Del Rey. If you are new to the path, it can be pretty difficult to find the entrances. The Culver City side begins at the far end of Syd Kronenthal Park, and the Marina Del Rey side begins on the South side of the Marina. The Marina side also connects to the beach bike path, so you can continue your ride going through the Marina or in the other direction towards Redondo Beach. When you get on the beach bike path you will immediately notice how much smoother the ride gets, but you will typically also see an increase in the amount of bike and pedestrian traffic. I love riding on the Ballona Creek path, but it isn't without it's faults. Be careful, and enjoy your ride!

Things must be changing for the better with this bike path. Despite some reviews from 2008-2009 about the sketchiness and unsavory characters, my ride today from Culver City to MDR beach was outstanding! For the first time since I bought a bike in LA, I had the liberating feeling of being free of traffic and the constant feeling that I might get run over by a car. Moreover, I got that feeling of excitement that I remember from being a kid of whizzing down a hill full speed to help get up the incline on the other side. I even found this path very beautiful, despite what other reviewers have mentioned. Going west, you watch the creek grow and feed into the ocean, and ducks become sea gulls and other sea birds. The concreteness is serene, and i enjoyed the patches of wild poppies in bloom, passing by parks including one where a group of men were singing while one played a guitar, and seeing a Sunday soccer game at a school. It's rare to get that feeling of connectedness in LA. Best of all? You can get off the path at Sepulveda and treat yourself to Mateos Ice Cream and Fruit Bars on the way to or from the beach.

A straight shot bike path from the west side to the beach with no streets to cross? Oh hell yes. I could be spoiled by this because the paths near my house in PDX have street crossings, so you have to stop, wait, etc. This path runs for quite a while along Ballona Creek and is a rad place to stretch the legs or get your pedal on. The creek itself is fairly wetland-y, so there are tons of birds. In one ride alone I spotted birds of prey, pelicans, white egrets, cormorants, and an innumerable amount of little seabirds I'm at a loss to identify. While it is a classic LA river style setup, with sloped concrete running down to a basin, this seems fairly (relatively) clean and established as a creek, and full of life. A great escape from the sprawl and a crazy convenient way to ride on down to the Dockweiler path, which runs north-south on the beach. My bro lives right near this (less than .5mi) so this will be an often-used access point to the beach

I was doing my usual weekday evening training ride (from playa del rey, out and back on the Ballona Creek path, loop on Perships, back home... 23 miles)... Anyway, as I was westward bound, fighting the wind, passing Mar Vista Gardens, four young kids (aged from about 5-11 I would guess) were standing there hanging out. Didn't think much about it. About 10-20 feet after I passed them I felt something hard and heavy hit my shoulder - the little f&*#@rs threw a rock at me!! I stopped and yelled "Excuse me?!" most of them ran off. I turned around and saw them coming back to see if I did in fact return. I yelled I was going to call the police and they all scattered. Not cool. Not cool at all. And just little kids. Be careful out there.

Want to get from Culver City to Downtown LA on a bike and within an hour? Better yet, do it with no stops nor traffic and get an excellent workout along the way? Ballona Creek has a 7 mile bike trail that starts at Syd Kronenthal Park in east Culver City and extends about 7 miles to the Coast Bike Path. Connected to Ballona Creek is the Expo Line Bike Path, which conveniently gets you to the Expo Line Station in Culver City. From the Expo Line, $1.50 gets you to Downtown LA within 20 minutes. Boom! I rode a mountain bike through the the bike path. Not recommended, unless you are on your way to develop freaky big calves. Since I did and I am, I struggled through the path with its occasional hilly stretches. A hybrid mountain and speed bike would be ideal for this path. There are a few joggers and other bikers that I had to play frogger with, which made the ride that much more interesting. The creek itself was not too exciting. It contained low levels of water that occasionally smelled like bad fish underneath some bridges. There are people living under one of the bridges. Winter is coming! These inhabitants have a lot of stuff. It appears these hoarders are prepared to hibernate through the winter. Overall, this is a nice path that put me in a nice state of Zen and serenity. Fix some of the broken water fountains along the way and extend the path some more and this biker heaven will get even better.

Adding this bike route to my LA bike path list! Just tried this today with the bf and it was a fun 13ish mile bike ride. Drove from DTLA to Syd Kronenthal Park in Culver City (free parking) and found the path pretty easily. The Ballona Creek Bike path begins and ends at this park. Overall, I wouldn't recommend riding this at night and it's also always better to ride/run with someone else. We went late afternoon and Daylight Savings just happened last night (1 hr back) so sunset was @ 5pm. It took as about 30 mins to reach the end which is Marina Del Rey (about 7 miles). So roundtrip is a little shy of 14 miles. There are some bumpy spots and also someincline spots but overall pretty decent ride. The Marina Del Rey part is super pretty, especially when the sun is about to set. I hear this path connects to the beach bike path too so I must give it a try next time.

Not bad and getting better & better. Who knew just as little as 2 years ago that this would become a thriving cycling paradise? Fadt forward to today and you have a busy, clean place to cycle whether your just out for a cruise orr want some hard core workout, you can't go wrong. Great way to get to the beach and connects to both North & South routes along the coast. South down to Torrance or North up to Malibu. The choice is yours! Gone are the broken bottles, trash and weeds and in with the native plants, trash cans, seating and absolutely cool gates at every exit. The real gem is that we live close so paradise is a few pedals away. Ballona Creek Renaissance with other have done an A+ job and continue to do so. Please....go...and enjoy!

LA needs more bike paths and roads which are safe for pedestrians and cyclists like the Ballona Creek Bike Path. Its nice to not have to stop at any lights or deal with pot holes or bad drivers all the way to the beach and back. And the ocean breeze is quite refreshing. It would be nice to see more efforts to keep the creek clean as I have seen lots of trash next to the water. I usually enter through the Overland gate next to the library. I enjoy the wind going west and the fun dips under the overpasses! It can be a little annoying when people ride or walk without being more conscious of the traffic around them... but usually this ride is very relaxing and great for a non-stop workout!

Ballona Creek, or "Heavenly Gateway to the Pacific Ocean," (roughly translated, of course) is a great direct route to the solid beach path. I have ridden this quite a few times and love it. The ONLY thing that keeps it from being 5 stars: The quality of the path varies greatly. One second you're cruising on smooth asphalt, the next mile you feel like you're going over rumble strips and hope to Smokey Bear you're able to have children. Besides those things, this is a great route for those of us who want to get to the ocean without stoplights and traffic. Try it out! And if you see a goofy guy huffing and puffing, be sure to say hello to me.

Decided to beat the heat this weekend by hitting Ballona for a ride. It was much hotter in Culver City that I was expecting, but once you get closer to the water the breeze/head wind kicks in and it cools down. The path can be a bit bumpy and the creek can stink under the overpasses, but it's open space in the middle of the city and hooks up conveniently to the beach path. There can be some sketchy elements, so I wouldn't ride here solo as it's getting dark, but overall it's safe. Most people are pretty considerate - slower riders and joggers to the side, calling out passes to ensure safety, but you will encounter some oblivious people riding 2 or 3 wide going 3 mph.

This is perfect for a lunchtime stroll or if you lug around your bike, a quick ride. I usually park off of Centinela on a residential street on the east side and just head west from there. Heading west, there is a lot of headwind from the Pacific but it makes for a pretty good workout. There are a few dips under the overpasses but otherwise, it's pretty straight and flat. There are a lot of areas to enter and exit the path at all the major streets and passes. It's not the widest path in the world so if there are runners and bikers at the same area, it can make for a little maneuvering. The worst are the leisurely bikers/walkers that walk 3-4 wide and don't move when they clearly see others coming. Not too many of these people so it's not usually a problem. Once you get past Culver, it eventually merges with the path that goes through MDR so you can go right and head to Fiji Way or go straight and head to the Marina Channel and eventually cross over the bridge to the beginning of the Playa Del Rey beach area. The roads are all mile marked so you can keep track of your ride/run. Depending on your timing, the path can be very empty. A lot of people though head to the path during the usual lunch hour (12-1) and take a walk so it can be crowded. Take your lunch at 11 and it should be empty. Head out, put on your sun screen, tie on your walking shoes, and get some fresh air and exercise during your lunch hour!

This is my go to bike trail, if I'm too lazy to hit the mountains. I usually join the trail by LA Wine Co, and ride all the way down to the beach. Good 2 miles ish. (probably, i'm horrible at gauging distance). What's great is to see everyone sharing the trail, bikers, joggers, etc. But look out for lance wanna-bes, they get a little agro, and wait to scream TO YOUR LEFT a little too loudly into your ears. Take this trail all the way as far as you want, connects all the neighboring beach neighborhoods, and stop along the way for a bite. Don't want to pay for parking, just ride your bike down and mellow out in the sun.

I've run this a few times and really enjoyed my run...it's not as gorgeous like the beach run along Santa Monica still pretty nice. It's nowhere near as crowded either. I see a few runners and cyclists here and there but you should be able to run at your pace w/o having to weave around folks. The review from Lisa A. is a bit scary so I will def be more aware of my surroundings as I'm running at the Creek but so far my experience has been nothing but positive. I've yet to make it all the way down to the marina but looking forward to a good long run one of these days down to the Marina.

I commuted to work on this path for years. Now, I just ride it for fun. There are some sketchy parts along the path so just stay alert, sometimes the creek stinks to high heaven, and once in a while a peloton will force you off narrow sections. Those are just some of the bad points but for the most part, it's an enjoyable trail to ride, run, or walk. The best the trail has going for it is that it's a straight shot from Culver City to the beach. No cars, no lights, just paved road. The trail is kept in decent condition and there were some repairs within the last couple of years to improve some areas. However, the stretch between Syd Kronenthal Park and Duquesne needs repairs, it's mostly deserted, and there is a shanty town under the National Blvd overpass. I'm focusing on the negatives, I know, but I do love this trail! it gets pretty the closer you get to the beach. It's also a good workout because you have dips and when you're riding west into a headwind, oh boy do you feel your heart working. It's a little piece of biker/pedestrian heaven.

I've been running this path a lot recently as I've been training for a marathon. I run up the beach from El Segundo and then cut over to the very start of Ballona Creek. The furthest I've gone is Overland and it's always been very pleasant. I've seen a few homeless dudes hanging around but have never felt threatened or uncomfortable. I probably wouldn't run this trail at night since there are no lights and it's pretty isolated...but other than that it feels completely safe. It's pretty nice to run through the different neighborhoods and along the creek, which provides some scenery and sometimes you can find wildlife as well (I've seen rabbits and plenty of seabirds). The only downside for me is turning around and heading back toward the beach...there is almost always headwind which will make for a cooler, more difficult return. Definitely check it out :) a nice alternative to the path which heads up to Santa Monica which has a few too many lights/congested areas for my taste.

I absolutely would love to live here permanently. This beach is definitely one of my favorite beaches along the strand. This is the best place to go for a long bike ride or jog the trail. Plenty of space to exercise or just be near the ocean. There's tons of people near the bridge on the weekends enjoying the great outdoors heading north or south, but weekdays and weeknights are my favorite times to go when there's less people to deal with on the path.

Four days later and I'm still feeling my 15 mile ride. The scenery was beautiful, save for the refineries in El Segundo. Next time though, I'm wearing proper shoes and bringing nourishment. I was expecting a nice, easy ride along the water when I suggested biking. Guess I should pay attention to who I'm making that suggestion to as they heard 'bike' and decided to take me on a marathon workout. Luckily, I'm good at rolling with the punches and survived the ride. AND with a smile on my face.

I'm looking forward to the renovations being complete on the Eastern end of this path. Otherwise, Ballona Creek is a perfectly pleasant-and-traffic-free bike artery between Culver City and the Marina. Leigh-Anne is right - you need to be aware of your surroundings as the path can attract some unsavory elements. I wouldn't worry about it too much, though. I enjoy riding East -- with the wind -- but heading West towards the sea yields a better workout. It's true the view is of the gritty-urban-bowels variety, but the flow of the water at high tide and the shenanigans of the various avian species here are enough to keep me amused.

I usually ride my bike to the Ballona Creek Bike path where it intersects with Centinela Ave. From there I hook up with the Bike Path at the Beach and continue south toward Manhattan Beach. The Ballona Creek Path is continuously used by bikers, joggers and walkers. You don't realize the narrowness of the path until you come upon some traffic. It's a relatively short but well maintained bike path that is much appreciated. There's nothing really scenic until you get close to the marina. At the marina there's the boat house for the UCLA Crew Team. They use the Creek to train as well as race. And once you've reached the bridge at the jetty you can watch all the boats and yachts coming and going. It's a nice place to take a break and hang out with your fellow bikers. Hey! I noticed the pictures provided by Yelpers make the bike path more beautiful than it really is. I didn't realize there was any greenery along the path or any blue water in the creek. I thought the water was an odor filled black color. Am I missing some thing?

I love the Ballona Creek. Having Marina Del Rey Middle School right next to the creek, this was my destination all the time everyday in summer school so many decades ago. Back then, it wasnt what it is now. The city has definitely done a great job restoring and making it a friendlier environment than what it was. Even the fences have been restored. No graffitti on the west side, however, I would not recommend going to the east side. Well, only if you are bold enough. Otherwise, just head from Culver City up to Marina del Rey. Its a very beautiful path for a bike ride, walk, or run. I would not recommend skating along this path. Its very bumpy for that purpose. To me, Ballona Creek will always have a space in my heart. Its where my sister along with other friends made memories after school. P.S... dont forget your water and sunblock. There are bathrooms towards the Marina once you are out of the creek. There you can rent bikes and do other things along the marina. Nice clean bathrooms as well.