Azusa: Canyons, History and Cycling Routes

Azusa is located at the gateway to canyons and forests, combining impressive landscapes with a multifaceted urban history. Those who want to make their trip varied will find opportunities here for walks along the San Gabriel River, bike tours into the canyon, and explorations of historic buildings. When searching for accommodation, it is therefore worthwhile to determine your own focus: Should the stay center primarily on nature, cycling routes, Route 66 motifs, or Azusa's history?

Natural Areas and Paths Along the San Gabriel River

Azusa Wilderness Park is located at the gateway to the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. From there, visitors can enjoy views of the San Gabriel River and the canyon. The landscape experience also includes the San Gabriel Canyon Gateway Center with its 0.75-acre “Interpretive Gardens” and a Memorial Grove. These different places give trip planning several possible directions, without requiring you to commit to just one way of exploring.

At Hilda Solis River Outlook, an approximately one-mile walk begins along North Old San Gabriel Canyon Road beside the San Gabriel River; the round trip covers two miles. There is also a native plant garden in front of the building. For further orientation in the canyon, the East Fork Trail can be accessed from Azusa Avenue. Azusa Avenue becomes Highway 39, which leads to East Fork Road. This information helps you choose accommodation based on your preferred daily itinerary, without assuming a particular location or distance.

Cycling Routes on Different Scales

The Azusa Rio San Gabriel Bike Trail is approximately 0.9 miles long and is an extension of the San Gabriel River Bike Trail. The associated trailhead is located at the intersection of Azusa/San Gabriel Canyon Road and North Ranch Road. Those planning a longer canyon tour can consider the Mountain Bike Azusa Canyon route: It runs for approximately eight miles along West Fork Road, which is closed to traffic, to Cogswell Dam. Along East Fork Road, this route has several places to refill water bottles.

A shorter route along the San Gabriel River can be incorporated into the day differently from an extended mountain bike route. If you are traveling with several people, you can divide the days accordingly: While part of the group plans a cycling route, Azusa's scenic and historic sites offer further independent destinations.

Azusa Between Urban History and Route 66

The Durrell House is a Colonial Craftsman-style house built in 1923. It is maintained and operated by the Azusa Historical Society. Another historic site is the restored Old Schoolhouse on Historic Row in Veteran's Freedom Park. It is one of the few surviving one-story, wood-frame schoolhouses in the San Gabriel Valley. Its history also points to the early 1900s: At that time, Mexican students were segregated for English and so-called “Americanization” classes. The building also served as a polling place where residents of Mexican origin were permitted to cast their votes only there.

The Azusa Historical Museum moved to Veteran's Freedom Park, which was then called Civic Center Park, and began welcoming the public there in 1991. Azusa Civic Center is also of historical significance because of its long-standing connection to the development of the city of Azusa during the 20th century. Another historical trace is the former El Encanto Restaurant, which was built in the 1920s as accommodation for the San Gabriel Canyon Forest Ranger.

On Route 66, a mural offers several opportunities for photo stops. You can find it at the northwest corner of Foothill Boulevard and Alameda Avenue. The Memorial Park Recreation Center also includes the 16,000-square-foot Canyon City Skate Park. This allows a trip through Azusa to be supplemented with urban motifs and active stopovers without losing sight of the area's canyon character.

More Destinations for Planning Your Trip

If you would like to compare additional destinations besides Azusa, you can also visit Gorman, South Pasadena, Rowland Heights, El Monte, Hawaiian Gardens, Downey, San Marino and Lomita.

To the overarching travel overview: Los Angeles.