Touring * Fitness * Artistic *

On U.S. 101 approaching the interchange with Interstate 405, exit on Balboa Boulevard heading north. After you cross the first intersection, Burbank Boulevard, turn right onto the Balboa Lake access road. From Interstate 405 just north of the U.S. 101 interchange, take the Burbank Boulevard exit and go west past the golf course to the intersection with Balboa Boulevard. Turn right onto the Balboa Lake access road. Park near the lake.

The Sepulveda Dam in the San Fernando Valley's huge Sepulveda flood control basin is tucked right up against the busiest freeway intersection in the whole world, where U.S. 101 meets Interstate 405. When not holding back floodwaters, the basin does double duty as the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area, complete with the clean and attractive Lake Balboa. Other recreational facilities here include Woodley Avenue Park, a wildlife preserve, and on the west side of Balboa Boulevard, the Balboa Park and Sports Center.

People come here to skate the concrete bike path that makes a big loop around the developed part of the recreation area. In addition to the wide greens you would expect to see with two golf courses, the trailside scenery also features fields, trees, and natural grasses. On a clear day, the surrounding mountains add depth to the vista.

The big loop around the golf courses and Lake Balboa is the best for lap workouts. To start, find the bike trail just south of the road and skate west back toward the Balboa Boulevard entrance. Shortly after the bridge over a small creek, the trail forks. Take the right fork and skate up Balboa Boulevard to Victory Boulevard. Turn right on six-lane Victory and skate on the concrete sidewalk. A parking lot for the new Busway is on the right. On our last visit the pavement looked quite inviting. Turn right at Woodley Avenue and enjoy a long stretch of trail next to the Woodley Lakes Golf Course and the model airplane airport. At Burbank Boulevard, turn right to skate alongside the shady edge of Encino Golf Course. The stretch though the parking lot is a bit tricky. Be careful of cars and other trail users. A short distance past the clubhouse, you will reach the street where you started, Balboa Boulevard. Turn right and skate to the LA River.

At this point you will have completed the more scenic loop. To return to your starting point, cross the bridge and turn right onto the path that will take your back to Balboa Lake.

To continue on the second half of the 7.5-mile loop, skate under Balboa Blvd and continue on the concrete bike path that crosses the north end of the Balboa Sports Center. This takes you to the residential area on the other side. Veer right to follow the trail to Oxnard Street, on which the concrete bike lane continues west to White Oak Avenue. Skate across the Los Angeles River and turn right on Victory Boulevard. Follow Victory back to Balboa Boulevard a mile east, and cross at the light to its east side before you turn right. You'll soon come to a fork. Follow the left fork back to Balboa Lake. You can skate on the fine asphalt of the parking lots, but bikes and skates are not allowed on the lake's concrete sidewalks. Enjoy the view, and rest a while on the grass. The bike path actually continues past Balboa Lake east to Woodley Avenue, but the eastern part of this section is a bit rough and not particularily scenic.

• Sepulveda Basin Map - Not much detail, but gives a good feeling for the trail layout.