Azusa brings together a rich city history and access to canyon and river landscapes. Cultural highlights include historic homes and a Route 66 mural; outdoors, trails and views along the San Gabriel River take center stage. This offers different ways to plan your trip: explore architectural history or set aside time for canyon and cycling experiences.

Canyon Views and Riverside Trails

Azusa lies at the gateway to canyons and forests. Azusa Wilderness Park is located at the entrance to the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and offers views of the San Gabriel River and the canyon. The San Gabriel Canyon Gateway Center also has its own features: it includes 0.75-acre Interpretive Gardens and a Memorial Grove.

The Hilda Solis River Outlook is the starting point for a walk of about one mile along North Old San Gabriel Canyon Road beside the San Gabriel River; the round trip is two miles. There is also a garden with native plants in front of the Outlook building. This makes it possible to combine a riverside walk and a specific landscape view with a dedicated garden area.

Historic Buildings and Local Remembrance

The Durrell House is a Colonial Craftsman-style home built in 1923. The Azusa Historical Society maintains and operates it. At the Old Schoolhouse, both its architecture and its history are notable: it is one of the few surviving single-story, wood-frame schoolhouses in the San Gabriel Valley. The restored building has a permanent location on Historic Row in Veteran’s Freedom Park.

In the early 1900s, the Old Schoolhouse was used to segregate Mexican students for English and so-called “Americanization” classes. It also served as a polling place where residents of Mexican descent were allowed to cast their votes only there. These historical uses give the schoolhouse significance beyond its architecture.

The Azusa Historical Museum moved to Veteran’s Freedom Park, then called Civic Center Park, and began welcoming the public there in 1991. The Azusa Civic Center is historically significant because of its long-standing connection to the city’s development in the 20th century. Another record of the area’s history is the former El Encanto Restaurant: it was built in the 1920s as accommodation for the San Gabriel Canyon Forest Ranger.

Route 66 and Bike Routes

The Route 66 mural is located at the northwest corner of Foothill Boulevard and Alameda Avenue. It offers several photo-stop opportunities for visitors and travelers on Route 66. A separate landmark for cyclists, the Azusa Rio San Gabriel Bike Trail Head is at the intersection of Azusa/San Gabriel Canyon Road and North Ranch Road. The Azusa Rio San Gabriel Bike Trail is about 0.9 miles long and extends the San Gabriel River Bike Trail.

Along the Mountain Bike Azusa Canyon mountain bike route, there are several places to refill water bottles on East Fork Road; check their availability before setting out. The East Fork Trail is accessible from Azusa Avenue, which becomes Highway 39 and leads to East Fork Road. Road conditions can change, so check them before you travel.

Choose Hotels That Fit Your Plans

The options for getting around described with distances differ considerably in type: the walk of about one mile at the Hilda Solis River Outlook, two miles round trip, contrasts with the bike trail, which is about 0.9 miles long.

For the broader travel overview: Los Angeles.