[photo credit: Visit Pasadena]
The Rose Bowl Loop Trail, open daily from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., is free to use and draws walkers, joggers, cyclists and dog-walkers seven days a week, according to Modern Hiker. The flat, accessible route offers views of the San Gabriel Mountains and sits adjacent to Brookside Park, which the City of Pasadena’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department describes as the city’s largest fully maintained park at 61.1 acres, with playgrounds, picnic areas and sports fields. The loop is also frequently used for fundraiser walks and runs, according to Visit Pasadena.
The trail wraps around the Rose Bowl Stadium, at 1001 Rose Bowl Dr., which was designed by architect Myron Hunt for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association and opened in October 1922, at a construction cost of $272,198, according to the Calisphere digital archive. The stadium was designated a National Historic Landmark on February 27, 1987 the highest level of historic designation in the United States, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy. With a seating capacity of 92,542, according to the Rose Bowl Stadium, the venue has hosted five Super Bowls, two FIFA World Cup finals and two Olympic Games, and has served as the home field for UCLA Bruins football since 1982. The city-owned venue also hosts the Rose Bowl Flea Market on the second Sunday of each month.
Parking is available in Lot I, which holds approximately 1,400 cars, according to LAist. Parking in the stadium lots is free on non-event days, according to California Hiking Adventures. Street parking can also be found along Seco Street, West Drive and Rosemont Avenue, according to Modern Hiker. The loop is closed to vehicular traffic, though vehicles accessing the Brookside Golf Course are guided through by traffic monitors. The trail is also accessible via the Metro A Line; the closest stations are Memorial Park, Del Mar, Lake and Allen, according to Visit Pasadena.
The paved route is virtually flat, with an elevation gain of roughly 124 feet, according to AllTrails, making it accessible to users of all ages and fitness levels. The loop encompasses the stadium and the adjacent Brookside Golf Course, passing along West Drive, Rosemont Avenue and Washington Boulevard, and crossing over the Arroyo Seco on the southwest side, according to Modern Hiker. Most of the route is exposed, with limited shade, though tree cover increases along portions of West Drive.
Brookside Park, located at 360 N. Arroyo Blvd., sits just south of the stadium and operates from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to the City of Pasadena. The park contains the Jackie Robinson Baseball Stadium with seating for 4,200, two lighted softball diamonds each with 240-seat capacity, a large lighted multi-purpose field for flag football and soccer, a speaker’s platform with permanent seating, picnic tables with barbecue pits in most areas, a playground and restrooms with drinking fountains, according to the department’s website.
Also within the Brookside Park complex are the Kidspace Children’s Museum, at 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., and the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that opened in 1990 and serves more than 250,000 patrons annually, according to Visit Pasadena. The aquatics center features two Olympic pools, a diving well and a therapy pool. The venue is scheduled to host the diving competition during the 2028 Summer Olympics.
IF YOU GO: Rose Bowl Loop Trail, 1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena, CA 91103. Phone: (626) 744-7500. Open daily, 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Free. Parking in Lot I (free on non-event days). Dogs allowed on leash. Accessible via Metro A Line (Memorial Park, Del Mar, Lake or Allen stations). The adjacent Brookside Park, 360 N. Arroyo Blvd., is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Information: rosebowlstadium.com/walks-and-runs or visitpasadena.com/directory/rose-bowl-loop.
The stadium is undergoing an $80 million renovation called the Lasting Legacy Campaign, with upgrades scheduled to be completed by the 2028 Summer Olympics, according to the Rose Bowl Digest website. The loop trail, which predates any modern renovation plan, remains open during construction.
