Touring * Fitness * Beginner * Artistic *

From Interstate 605 in Long Beach, exit at Spring Street and turn west. A park entrance is located off Spring Street. (If the westbound gate is closed, make a U-turn at the next light to enter at Spring Street's eastbound gate.) The entrance fee is $3 on weekdays and $5 on weekends. To park for free, continue west on Spring Street and turn right on Studebaker Road. Turn right again on Wardlow Road and then, just before you reach the river, turn right onto Stevely Avenue and park at the corner of Wardlow and Stevely. Skate across the bridge and enter the park halfway down on the north side of Wardlow at the bicycle and pedestrian gate near the fire station. (You must skate across the four-lane street without a crosswalk to do this.) Map: Los Angeles County Bike Map, available for free by calling (213) 244-6539.

There are three reasons why people come to El Dorado Park East to skate, and they appeal to skaters displaying a wide range of styles and skill levels. For recreational skaters and beginners, the Billie Boswell bike path delivers four miles of smooth concrete throughout Areas II and III in El Dorado Park East. Groves of mature, loosely spaced trees provide shade over the spacious lawns where the six-foot-wide path wends its way among the various picnic areas. Tiny hills add some thrills. Two lakes attract ducks and other waterfowl, and make inviting picnic spots. This clean and well-maintained park is an excellent site for a morning's workout or a leisurely roll with friends. Whether you pay for your parking or skate in from Stevely, be sure to pick up a map at one of the entrance stations on Spring Street so you can get the lay of the land. Eschewing the smooth bike paths, speed skaters have learned to value the loop around Area III, where Dovey Road offers some fine terrain for serious training. Actual competitions are occasionally held there, too. The asphalt on the road is rough, but with the speed and stability gained from five-wheel skates, it's not terribly noticeable. The one-way Dovey Road loop is 1.7 miles long, and traffic there is almost nonexistent during off-hours. The third reason skaters come to El Dorado Park East is to use it as a convenient entry point for the San Gabriel River and Coyote Creek bike paths. The San Gabriel River Bike Trail runs a total of 28 miles on varying paved surfaces ranging from sublime to awful (just like the scenery). Access to the trail is at the southwest corner of Area III. About a mile south down the San Gabriel River Bike Trail, a bridge marks the branch to the northeast that is the Coyote Creek Trail. These are routes for adventurers and endurance skaters who want to skate long distances without battling crowds or stopping for intersections. Here, you'll be much more impressed with the colorful jerseys worn by the cyclists who share the trail with you than by the smoothness of the pavement or the quality of the canal scenery. The San Gabriel River Bike Trail is described in this chapter (see the previous listing). For a description of the Coyote Creek Trail, see page 368 in the Orange County chapter.