This is an excellent midsummer road ride around pleasant residential streets in the Palos Verdes area. Most of the route is on lightly travelled roads, and although there are some climbs they can be ridden without a granny gear.
Getting there
Given this is a loop the starting point is a matter of convenience. For this trace I parked just off Palos Verdes Drive, on the street next to Malaga Park. Google Directions to start
The Ride
0.17 miles: cross Via Almar, on to Via Media 0.63 miles: follow road to the right 0.67 miles: left on to Paseo Del Mar 1.0 miles: left (going right soon leads to a dead end) 1.07 miles: right on to Palos Verdes Drive. This section of the loop is the busiest - be sure to keep well to the right 1.84 miles: bear right 2.45 miles: left on to Chiswick Road 2.61 miles: right on to Dalton Road 2.73 miles: Left on to Cloyden Road 2.92 miles: cross Palos Verdes Drive to join Via Coronel, and start climbing 3.47 miles: bear right (not obvious, but this remains Via Coronel. This is a steady climb of almost 2 miles. 5.32 miles: left on to Paseo La Cresta 5.64 miles: right on to Via Fernandez, then immediately at 5.68 miles: left on to Via Visalia 5.93 miles: bear right 6.18 miles: sharp left on to Paseo Del Sol 6.56 miles: right (on to Via Del Monte), then immediately left back on to Paseo Del Sol 6.75 miles: pass around gate on to paved fire road - This is an excellent point to stop and take in the views. On a clear day you can see across the LA basin, making it possible to see the Griffith observatory, Mount Wilson, Mount Baldy and numerous other peaks 7.48 miles: paved road ends at fence - take short single track on the right (may need to walk if not riding a mountain bike) 7.6 miles: left on to Via Campesina 8.27 miles: right on to Via Chico Cross through parking lot on left to Via Corta 8.45 miles: cross Palos Verdes Drive to return to start
