Ballona Creek Bike Path: West LA’s Secret 7-Mile Escape
Most people who live in West LA don't know there's a completely car-free, paved bike path running through their neighborhood from Culver City all the way to the beach. The Ballona Creek Bike Path follows the north bank of Ballona Creek for approximately 6.5 to 7 miles, passing through Culver City, West LA, past Sawtelle, and ending where the creek meets the Pacific Ocean at Marina del Rey.
It is flat, well-maintained, and deeply underused. On a Sunday morning it's one of the best ways to spend two hours in West Los Angeles without getting in a car.
"Seven miles of car-free pavement through your own neighborhood, ending at the beach. And somehow it's never crowded. West LA's best-kept cycling secret."
The Route
The eastern terminus is Syd Kronenthal Park in Culver City (at Jefferson Blvd and Duquesne Ave). The western end is the Ballona Creek Trail connector at the Coastal Bike Path in Marina del Rey, near Fisherman's Village. From there you can continue north or south on the Coastal Path.
The path passes major cross streets at Overland Ave, Sepulveda Blvd, Sawtelle Ave, Inglewood Blvd, Centinela Ave, McConnell Ave, and Lincoln Blvd. Each of these has street-level access, making it easy to join mid-route from the Sawtelle or West LA area without driving to a trailhead.
What to Expect
The path is a Class I facility — meaning it is separated from vehicle traffic by a physical barrier or grade change, not just paint. The surface is paved concrete, well-maintained, and suitable for road bikes, hybrids, or anything with tires above 28mm. It is also open to pedestrians and joggers.
The creek itself is a concrete flood-control channel — not scenic in the way a mountain trail is scenic. But the path is lined with vegetation, the light is good in the morning, and the flatness is genuinely unusual in a region where most cycling involves hills or traffic. Migratory birds use the creek corridor in fall and spring; birders occasionally stop at the Ballona Wetlands area near the western end.
The End: Marina del Rey
The western end of the path drops you at the Marina del Rey waterfront near Fisherman's Village, where you can lock up, get coffee, and watch boats move in and out of the channel. The Coastal Bike Path connects here heading south toward Venice, Playa del Rey, and El Segundo, or north toward Santa Monica. A full loop — Sawtelle to Marina, north on the Coastal Path to Santa Monica, back inland — is a satisfying 12–15 mile morning.
Getting Started
No parking, no fees, no permits needed. Any entry point on the list above works. A basic hybrid or road bike is ideal. The path is open during daylight hours. Lighting is minimal in some sections after dark, so plan accordingly.
