LAist City Treks is a series of easy hikes and walks that will help you explore the parts of Los Angeles and SoCal that we rarely get to see — or only see through the car window. Expect to get about 5K steps, and plenty of photos for your social media channels. Keep scrolling, because you'll also find recommendations for grabbing a bite to eat once you're finished, so you can make a day of it. If you go, tag us on social media @LAistOfficial and #LAistTreks

Where are we headed?

Get your kicks (and steps) on Route 66 in San Bernardino — or at least, in the old road’s general vicinity — while also taking in an iconic train station, all backdropped by the majestic San Bernadino Mountains.

Why now?

As a city that gets prominent billing in the song “Route 66,” San Bernardino has nothing left to prove regarding its place in history. But the problem with history is that it’s… history. Like a lot of towns left to wither after freeways rendered the so-called Mother Road irrelevant, San Bernardino has the feeling of being left behind. This easy trek uncovers its past glory, reminding us that this Inland Empire hub was, and remains, an important county seat.

Quickly, what can I expect?

• Trail conditions: Flat, paved, with a few stairs
• Difficulty: 2 on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the hardest
• Distance: 2.9 miles
• Duration: About 120 minutes
• Dog friendly: Yes, but no dogs are allowed inside the train station
• Costs/Parking: Park for free at the San Bernardino Depot; the station is also served by Metrolink and Amtrak
• Bathroom at the start: Yes

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Okay, let’s get started…

In the 1870s, Los Angeles boosters flipped out because San Francisco-based Southern Pacific Railroad was planning to run a railroad directly to San Bernardino, bypassing L.A. altogether. Angelenos ponied up to swing the railway through L.A. first. Had it not, it’s possible San Bernardino would have become the Southland’s first big metropolis — not the City of Angels.

San Bernardino never achieved L.A.’s heights, but it thrived anyway, coalescing around portions of U.S. Route 66 (or Route 66-alternate) routes. Many downtown structures from “San Berdoo’s” heyday are still around — historic landmarks awaiting your admiration!

When railroads ruled

The exterior of the San Bernardino Depot is known for combining several architectural styles.

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A good place to retrace the city’s narrative is at the San Bernardino Depot, a 1918 stunner that combines Mission, Moorish, and Spanish Colonial Revival styles. Once the largest train station west of the Mississippi River, it was situated off Route 66 and is now an attractive stop for Amtrak and Metrolink passengers. Take a moment to appreciate its attention to details — from the lobby’s tiled floors and coffered ceilings, to the expansive antechambers for the men’s and women’s restrooms, to the array of Santa Fe Railroad logos tucked between support beams of the depot’s avocado-green steel awnings. (An adjacent train museum is open Saturdays.)

Exit the depot’s parking lot by heading east on W. 3rd Street. Turn right on N. K Street, and left on W. 2nd Street. After walking under the 215 Freeway, proceed one block and turn left on North G Street. On your right is a mammoth abandoned mall that is in the process of being torn down, another casualty of hollowed-out retail centers across America.

Downtown, then and now

After making a right on West 4th Street, you’ll know you’ve entered historic downtown when you come across the exquisite California Theatre at 562 W. 4th St. So old that it used to host Vaudeville acts, it was also Hollywood’s go-to venue to test-screen classic movies such as The Wizard of Oz and the original King Kong. A Wurlitzer organ survives to this day, still fired up for various events.

This vintage theater was used to test screen the likes of The Wizard of Oz and the original King Kong.

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Leaving the theatre, go right on North E Street to its junction with East Court Street, a two-block corridor of power whose name recalls a county courthouse from 1874. On the northeast corner is the American Trust Building. Despite its handsome edifice, the structure once reportedly fronted a brothel in the 1930s. (I’m sure its proximity to local bureaucrats was entirely coincidental!) Just past the Trust Building is the Heritage Building, whose historical marker reminds us that it was modeled after the ornate City Hall in Seville, Spain. Sadly, it’s just one of many buildings here that have struggled to retain tenants, with long spells of vacancy.

Tread a few hundred feet past North D Street. On your left is an old Fox West Coast Theatre — a shabby cousin of the California Theatre, which was also run by Fox. Peer to the end of Court Street to find the current County Courthouse, a Classic Revival monolith that has stood sentry since 1927.

Retrace your steps back to D Street and head south. Half-a-block to your right is the San Bernardino Civic Plaza. The modern complex hosts several governmental offices, including City Hall. Ascend the short staircase on the right that parallels a nicely shaded, cascading water fountain.

The shade, and this outdoor fountain, provide relief on a warm summer's day.

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When you get to the upper plaza, there’s a short flight of stairs to your right that takes you down to a pretty neat mural of a Route 66 map, which spotlights the various towns — including San Bernardino — name-checked in the song.

Last hurrah

Return to the upper plaza and descend its western staircase to E Street. (The elevated walkway to your left, by the way, is another relic. It used to serve the eastern entrance of the condemned mall.) Once on E Street, turn right for half a block, crossing over to the other side of E Street at Court Street. Then hang a left, going south, to find two more historic beauties from 1927 — the Andreson Building at 320 E. St. and, just south of the elevated pedway, the Harris Company Building. For decades, this Harris flagship was the premier department store in the entire Inland Empire. Long boarded up, you can still marvel at the façade’s Italian marble, intricate ironwork, and swirling Churrigueresque masonry.

Back in the day, residents from all corners of the county used to hop on a train toting bags from Harris’ for their trip back home. You, dear walker, shall now follow in their footsteps. Turn right on West 2nd Street, right on K Street, and left on 3rd Street to return to your point of departure.

McDetour

Before leaving, we must give a shout-out to the fact that San Bernardino helped give rise to the fast food industry. The site of the original McDonald’s is a seven-minute drive from the depot (1398 N. E St.). There’s no restaurant there, but there is the First Original McDonald’s Museum. Check its hours — currently open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. But even if you find the interior closed, worry not; its parking lot includes all the vaguely psychedelic characters from the chain’s ’70s zenith, including Mayor McCheese, Grimace, Fry Guy goblins, and The Hamburglar (imprisoned behind bars, natch).

This French fry goblin kiddie ride? Just part of your average trippy McDonald's playland in the 1970s.

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Done! Where to eat?

LAist's Associate Editor for Food and Culture Gab Chabrán suggests the following spots in the area, so you can make a day of your adventure:

Mitla Cafe

Happy Family Vegetarian

Birdcage Comics Cafe

Where to next?

Any suggestions for great hikes in and around L.A.? Don't keep it to yourself! Let us know, and we might check them out for a future story.