Switchbacks and Sweeping Views

Bicycling the Donut Loop on the Palos Verdes Peninsula

A fierce workout and killer coastal views—that’s the fabled Rancho Palos Verdes Donut Loop. One of the best road rides in SoCal, this 24-miler is named for its shape—a loop—and not, alas, for any actual donuts along the way. You can begin anywhere and ride in either direction. Clockwise means right turns only, but you won’t be on the coast side of the road. Counterclockwise means some tricky left turns, but you’ll be on the coast side, making selfie stops more dramatic. Getting lost is not an issue, as the streets all bear the same name, Palos Verdes Drive. Just remember north, west, south, and east, and follow the loop like circling a compass. Or a donut.

Abalone Cove Shoreline Park is a good place to park, and you can stay parked there until dusk. If you ride counterclockwise from the park, you’ll tackle the challenging climb up Palos Verdes Drive East—6 miles of steep switchbacks—early in the ride. You will definitely feel the burn! This toughest part of the ride also boasts the best views—panoramas of the California coast, from the glittering mansions of Rancho PV to the ports of San Pedro and Long Beach. Once you enter the residential area, the ride gets more mild and includes flat and downhill stretches. Most of the 1,800 feet of climbing is behind you.

As you approach Palos Verdes Drive North, the scenery changes drastically. Hint: Watch out for horse crossings! At this point, the bike lane narrows and the road gets busier. The gentle 10-mile stretch along Palos Verdes Drive West and South is a relaxing way to end the ride. Plus those incredible coastal views are back. You might even see some whales!

To begin at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park, take the 110 south toward San Pedro, then make a slight left turn onto N. Gaffey St., followed by a quick right onto W. 1st St. Make a left on Western, then a right onto W. 25th St., which turns into Palos Verdes Dr. South. Abalone Cove Shoreline Park will be on your left: *5970 Palos Verdes Dr. S., Rancho Palos Verdes*. To make the counterclockwise loop, turn right out of the lot, ride south for 3 miles, and turn left on Rancho Palos Verdes Dr. East.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  2. Hike the Oursan Trail alongside Briones Reservoir in the East Bay

    Opt for Oursan

    Hike the trail less traveled in the East Bay's Briones Regional Park. The Oursan Trail is pure serenity on a wide hiking path skirting the northern shores of Briones Reservoir.

    View
  3. Most Peaceful Hike of All

    Is this the most peaceful one-hour hike in the Bay Area? It's got our vote! Lake Lagunitas is the smallest lake in a series of five found on the north side of Mount Tam, so it’s got that tiny but mighty charm. Do a 1.5-mile loop around the lake's shore-hugging trail.

    View
  4. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  2. Lace Up for Lacy

    Lacy Park in San Marino is a hidden gem that may very well be the most pristine green space in greater Los Angeles, and a concealed pair of nearby stairways makes it all the more appealing.

    View
  3. Hiker amid trees at Oak Glen Preserve in Yucaipa Southern California

    Apple of Your Eye

    That fall feeling is definitely in the air and on display at the Oak Glen Preserve. Apple orchards and colorful leaves are a bonus, as are the apple cider donuts and slushies you can enjoy post-hike.

    View
  4. Hike San Diego Volcan Mountain Wilderness

    Planet of the Oaks

    Let us count the number of oak tree species in the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian: coast, scrub, canyon, black, and Engelmann. Five! The preserve’s Five Oaks Trail is a 3.2-mile hike that boasts all five.

    View