Maps, mile markers and other signs help travelers on the Santa Ana River Trail keep their bearings. This sign is at the northern end of Tyler Avenue. (Ken Crawford)
Riverside County officials cut the ribbon last month on a $941,406 wayfinding sign project that installed 230 new markers along 20 miles of the Santa Ana River Trail, addressing navigation challenges that have long plagued users of the multi-county route.
The signs include mileage markers, directional indicators, interpretive panels, and safety warnings designed to create a uniform aesthetic across jurisdictional boundaries. Funded through American Rescue Plan Act money, the project placed kiosks with detailed maps at key access points and rest areas throughout Riverside County’s section of the trail.
“The signage includes interpretive panels, kiosks with maps, monuments, directional markers, and safety signs, all designed to enhance the trail-user experience, improve navigation, and celebrate the natural and cultural history of the region,” county officials said in announcing the May 9 ceremony at Martha McLean-Anza Narrows Park.
The wayfinding system addresses a key challenge for the Santa Ana River Trail, which, once completed, will span 110 miles from the San Bernardino Mountains to Huntington Beach. The route crosses three counties and dozens of municipal jurisdictions, creating potential confusion for long-distance cyclists and hikers.
Currently, two major gaps interrupt the trail system. One runs from Green River Road in Corona to Hidden Valley Wildlife Area in Riverside County, requiring users to navigate city streets. Another gap extends from Waterman Avenue in San Bernardino to the National Forest boundary near Mentone.
The signage project implements guidelines developed in 2011 by the Santa Ana River Technical Advisory Committee, which called for uniform markers every quarter- to half-mile along the entire route. Officials estimate the complete system will require 250 to 300 individual markers when all sections are connected.
Orange County completed its 30-mile section years ago, while San Bernardino County continues work on northern segments near the mountains.
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