In 2019 we did this on Friday the 13th, and had a great day, but some of us had work or school - so this year we are scheduling it as our Black Friday ride when almost everyone can make it & needs to burn off their Thursday feasting!
Join us on this year’s “Turkey Burner” train adventure that Huell Howser would’ve enjoyed! We will train to Riverside, briefly check out the extensive holiday decorations at the Mission Inn, enjoy a breakfast at Tio’s Tacos & check out their extensive sculptures & folk art before heading down the Santa Ana River Trail bikeway back toward Orange County.

Train TO Riverside:

Catch the IE/OC Line train #800 to Riverside. It leaves Oceanside at 7:39 with stops to jump on in San Clemente, SJC, LN/MV, Irvine. Tustin, Santa Ana, Orange & Anaheim Canyon. One-way from Irvine is $10.50 ($5.25 65+ senior)
Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin are a bit less, LN/MV, San Juan, San Clemente etc is a bit more…
Arrive in Downtown Riverside at 9:50

Or DRIVE to Riverside:

Ride Start: Riverside - Downtown Station
Some may live in Riverside or will prefer to drive to the start so they can return to Riverside to see the holiday lights… park at the station and greet us as we step off at 9:50. You can ride all the way to Anaheim (or Corona West) and train back via a connection to Orange (see below)

then Ride downstream:

Most of this ride really is downhill or flat!
We will ride past the famous Mission Inn, check out their extensive holiday decorations and briefly visit the Inn a bit if we can, then roll over to Tio’s Tacos - a famous landmark of of its own with quirky & giant folk sculptures & great breakfast burritos. (order to-go and to share - their breakfast are huge!)
If riding only to Corona West you will have time to catch the IE #815 train at 1:44 or plan on making it by catching the IE #817 @ 3:13...

From breakfast we will take the Santa Ana River Trail bikeway down stream from Riverside to Norco, and turn back, or continue to Corona and beyond to Anaheim…

Route Slip
(1 full page - Left half to Corona, Right half to Anaheim)

Ride to Corona-West -
23 mile short cut option

Map/Elevation - 22.9 miles Riverside to Corona (Short)
After breakfast, we all ride to the Corona-West station;
Train Home: If you can catch the #815 train back to OC at 1:44pm… (only 2 1/2 hours to cover just under 20 miles so consider skipping breakfast ! ) - If you miss it, the next & LAST train IE #817 is @ 3:13 but only runs as far as Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo, so plan on transferring anywhere from Orange to LN/MV onto OC #602.

One way from Corona-West to Irvine is $8.25 ($4 senior)
To Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin are a bit less, LN/MV, San Juan etc is a bit more…

Ride to Norco “out & back” options -
23 to 29 miles

43 too far and no desire to get on a train? If you park or started at Riverside, consider the Norco Out & Back; Follow route slip to mile 12.1 or 14.5 & then turn around & double back to the start… If you plan to train outbound back to OC, you will have to catch the IE #815 @ 1:19 or the last train is the IE #817 @ 2:48 but only goes as far as LN/MV…so plan on transferring anywhere from Orange to LN/MV onto OC #602.
double the pleasure to 23 or 29 miles… or 46 to Corona & back…

Riverside to Irvine is $10.50 ($5.25 seniors)
…to Santa Ana, Tustin are a bit less, LN/MV, San Juan etc is a bit more…

Ride to Anaheim -
43 mile full ride

Map/Elevation - 43.1 miles Riverside to Anaheim (Long)
For those with time & miles in their legs, we’ll push past Corona to the Anaheim station.
Train Home (outbound): Catch the #684 @ 2:55 (<4 hours) or the #602 @ 4:11 (43 miles in 5 hours) or the #686 @ 4:35 to Irvine.
The #602, #604 & #608 will take you past Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo.

Anaheim to Irvine is $6.25 ($3 seniors)
Santa Ana, Tustin are a bit less, LN/MV, San Juan etc is a bit more…

Train BACK to Riverside: If you started from, or parked your vehicle in Riverside, You will have to take OC #684 outbound to Orange, wait a bit then catch the IE #806 inbound @ 3:56 or take OC #602 outbound to Orange then catch the IE #808 inbound @ 4:24 or
take OC #686 outbound to Orange then catch the IE #806 inbound @ 5:20 or
Train #806 leaves Anaheim at 3:57; #808 at 4:24 :
Anaheim to Orange to Riverside costs $10 ($5 seniors)

TRAIN TICKETS

FREE PASS: Metrolink has a rewards program for all riders. “SoCal Explorer” lets you earn points for every mile you travel on Metrolink, then redeem them for free tickets. For a limited time, you’ll receive 750 free SoCal Explorer points when you sign up. (That’s enough points for a free round-trip ticket if still available!)
As always, Metrolink puts safety first. Trains are cleaned and disinfected daily using hospital-grade products and there are two hand sanitizer stations aboard each train car. Face covering / masks may still be required on trains, and the “How Full is My Train?” feature on their app helps you plan for physical distancing if still a concern.
Buying your ticket online with their app just before boarding is easy.
Sign up today for SoCal Explorer today and get enough points for this adventure !
The day after Thanksgiving is a holiday and trains only run the Saturday Schedule.