Santa Ana River Trail & Pkwy

Cycling enthusiasts, community members and representatives from local and state agencies gathered last Thursday to celebrate the opening of a new 3.8-mile extension of the Santa Ana River Trail from Waterman Avenue in San Bernardino to California Street in Redlands.

The completion of Phase III marks the end of the trail within the Fifth District and the beginning of the segment in the Third District.

San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman and Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe and Vice Chair and Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, highlighting the collaboration between the county’s Regional Parks and Public Works departments, along with support from the California Coastal Conservancy and the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority.

“This 3.8-mile extension is a major investment in Redlands and the surrounding communities,” Rowe said. “Redlands has a proud cycling tradition and a strong outdoor culture, and this trail strengthens both. It provides a safe and scenic space for residents and visitors to ride, walk and connect with nature.”

When completed, the 110-mile Santa Ana River Trail will extend through San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties, linking the San Bernardino Mountains near Mentone to the Pacific Ocean in Huntington Beach.

Beahta Davis, director of Regional Parks, said the ribbon-cutting represents significant progress toward completing the full trail corridor. Upon completion, the Regional Parks Department will manage 22 miles of the trail from Mentone to Colton.

Supervisor Baca, Jr. emphasized the trail’s role in expanding access to outdoor recreation. “This trail creates new opportunities for families to enjoy the outdoors at no cost,” Baca said. “It gives our residents a safe place to bike, walk and stay active, while also offering an alternative mode of transportation.”

Members of Trilogy Trikes of the Inland Empire rode approximately 1.5 miles east from the San Bernardino County Hall of Records on Hospitality Lane to attend the ceremony near the Employment Development Department Tax Division building on Brier Drive in San Bernardino. Randall Swedlove, a Trilogy Trikes member, said the new segment offers both beauty and safety.

“Anyone who hasn’t explored the trail is missing out,” Swedlove said. “Even if you’re walking, this section is the most peaceful.”

Public Works Director Noel Castillo thanked his staff for their work on the project’s design and construction. He described the trail as a Class I bike path, meaning it is fully separated from vehicle traffic.

“This is one of the most meaningful community projects that we have delivered,” Castillo said. “We build flood control systems, transportation corridors and bridges, but projects like this have a direct and lasting impact on residents’ quality of life.”

San Bernardino County Assistant Executive Officer Michael Vu, who oversees Regional Parks, said the trail supports recreation, alternative transportation and economic activity.

“This project represents an investment in outdoor recreation and in our communities,” Vu said. “It improves quality of life for families and supports local businesses along the corridor.”

Amy Hutzel, executive officer of the California Coastal Conservancy, spoke about the vision of connecting the Inland Empire to the coast.

“Connecting the Inland Empire to the coast is an ambitious vision,” Hutzel said. “It requires partnership among counties and cities, and it’s a powerful example of collaboration in California.”

The Coastal Conservancy administers the Santa Ana River Conservancy Program, which works to protect and restore habitat, expand public access and help communities adapt to climate change.

Through a Proposition 84 grant, the Conservancy provided nearly $6.9 million for Phase III and has committed additional funding for Phase IV-A, which will extend the trail east from California Street in Redlands to Orange Street in Mentone.

An additional $1.1 million for Phase III came from the state’s Active Transportation Program, established under Senate Bill 99 to encourage walking and bicycling.

Phase IV will be constructed in segments from A through E. Phase IV-A is currently in the design phase with construction anticipated to begin in mid-2027.

There are currently two gaps in the trail: From Green River in Orange County to Hidden Valley Wildlife area in Riverside County and from California Street in Redlands to the National Forest boundary line near Mentone. 

Regional Parks is responsible for the creation, operation and maintenance of 22 miles of trail with four phases of development.

Phases I, II and III are complete and and comprise 11 miles of trail west from San Bernardino County border at Riverside Avenue east to California Street in Redlands. Phase IV-A is in design.

Phase IV will run from California Street in Redlands to Orange Street in Mentone. The additional segments of Phase IV (B through E) will eventually connect the trail up to the San Bernardino National Forest for a total of another 11 miles.