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Santa Ana Pacific Electric Bike Trail

On Thursday, February 18, 2021, Elizabeth and I decided to walk the Santa Ana Pacific Electric Bike Trail from Adams Street to Chestnut Street in Santa Ana. We parked on East Central near Edison Elementry School and walked to the south end of the trail.

A neighborhood trail of the first order, the Pacific Electric Bike Trail links well-kept middle class neighborhoods on either side of tree-lined Maple Street near downtown Santa Ana. The trail runs on a portion of a former Pacific Electric interurban railway corridor that once connected the city with the Pacific Ocean beach community of Huntington Beach.

At the trail's southern end, cross East Adams Street to pick up the Alton Avenue Bike Trail - a rail-with-trail - for a longer trek through Santa Ana.

To reach the northern endpoint from Interstate 5, take the Fourth Street exit in Santa Ana. Follow Fourth Street west to Grand Avenue and go left (south) on Grand Avenue to East First Street. Turn right (west) on East First Street, and follow it to Maple Street, which is on the left (south) side of the road. Go south on Maple Street to East Chestnut Avenue; the rail-trail starts at this intersection.

To reach the southern endpoint on East Adams Street, you can either follow Maple Street all the way south to trail's start, or go west one block to Orange Avenue, which also goes south all the way to East Adams Street.

There is parking along the streets at both endpoints.

Leaving the Santa Ana Pacific Electric Depot, cars ran south on Maple Street to New Delhi, where a couple of branch lines met the main tracks and turned to the southwest for about a mile before continuing west, paralleling Alton Avenue.

We started at the south end of the trail at Adams Street and Orange Avenue. We will walk to Warner Avenue.

You cross East Central Avenue. Now you walk along the west side of Edison Elementry School.

You have reached Warner Avenue.

Cross the street.

Recross the street then return to your car. Now drive north to Rouselle Street and park along it. Walk to Warner Avenue then head north to Edinger Avenue.

Now a little story. Back in 1988 I was coaching Junior Varsity Baseball at MacArthur Fundamental School and rode my bicycle to school as we were waiting on a part for my 1964 Chevy Impala. One foggy morning as I was riding down this trail, I suddenly dumped my bicycle becuase there was a cow standing in the middle of the trail. Once I got up I made my way to the cow to make sure it was real. I then went to work and during second period PE, I saw Gus Rios, my left-handed second baseman who lived next to where I saw the cow. I asked him about itand he responded "You mean Pepe the cow!" He then conitinued to tell me that the cow's owner let him graze in the grass along the trail. We had a good laugh about that one.

You cross East Anahurst Street.

Continue north as you walk this trail.

Cross St. Gertrude Street.

Cross St. Andrews Street.

Continue walking north.

Cross Occidental Street. You will pass the Maple-Occidental Exercise Park on your way to Edinger Avenue.

You will cross Edinger Avenue.

Recross Edinger and walk back to your car. Then drive north to Hobart Street and park near the trail. Walk south to Edinger Avenue then continue north.

Cross Hobart Avenue.

You have reached East McFadden Avenue.

Cross and recross East McFadden Avenue and return to your car. Drive to any street, park then walk back to McFadden Avenue. Here there is Pacific Electric Park but no history of the line anywhere along this trail. Santa Ana needs to get their act together.

Pacific Electric Railroad Park.

Across McFadden Avenue is a sign about security lighting on this trail.

You cross Harwood Place.

You cross Normandy Place.

You cross Beverly Place.

You cross East Wisteria Place.

You cross East Wakeman Avenue.

You cross East Grant Street.

You cross East Bishop Street.

You continue to walk north.

You cross East Myrtle Street.

You are now on your final block of the trail.

You have reached the north end of the trail at Chestnut Avenue.

Elizabeth who walked the whole trail.

Chris who walked the whole trail.

This street had Pacific Electric Railway rails in it until the early 1990's.

Elizabeth spotted a rail in the pavement, the only historical feature along this trail. We walked back to the car then drove by Garfield Elementary School and the gate was open so I stopped for a picture.

The Pacific Electric Santa Ana Substation on the grounds of Garfield Elementry School in Santa Ana.

We took Greg and Marty Smith with us so they could walk the Pacific Electric Santa Ana trail on Sunday, February 21, 2021.

The group just before they started their walk. I drove the north end and parked on East Myrtle Street then I started walking south and met them near Hobart street. We rested at Pacific Electric Park before they finished the trail.

The walking group at the north end of the Pacific Electric trail in Santa Ana.

Me with Greg and Marty Smith. I wanted Greg to see the Orange County Streetcar construction on 4th Street in Santa Ana.

The tracks are down and waiting for the cement to be poured. I took them by the Pacific Electric substation before we called it a day.

Chick here for the last part of this story