Back Bay Loop
The classic Newport Beach loop around Upper Newport Bay: flat, scenic, and close to Irvine. It's where Wednesday Worlds rolls out, and a favorite warm-up or recovery spin.
No traffic lights on Back Bay Drive · 10.5 mi loop
Newport Beach, CA
No lights, no stopping.Three miles along the water.
Back Bay Drive, the 3-mile heart of the loop, has no traffic lights, so you can hold a steady effort the whole way along the water.
The route.
Starting at Jamboree Road by San Diego Creek and going clockwise, you reach Vista Point at Eastbluff Drive, then ride Back Bay Drive south along the water to Newport Dunes. Signed bike paths lead through the Dunes to Pacific Coast Highway. Cross the bridge, turn right on Dover Drive, then right on Irvine Avenue. Just past Santiago Drive, paved paths take you past the Muth Interpretive Center and back around via Bayview Drive to Jamboree.
Why riders like it.
Back Bay Drive runs right along the bay with no traffic lights, so you can hold a steady pace for three miles without stopping. The loop is short enough to add to any ride from Irvine, and the bay views of herons, egrets and the bluffs make it one of the prettiest rides in Orange County.
Riding it well.
Back Bay Drive is a multi-use road shared with walkers, runners, dogs and birdwatchers, so ride at a sociable pace there and save hard efforts for elsewhere. Give pedestrians room, ride single file when others are passing, and remember cars only travel north. The rest of the loop uses city streets and crosses signaled intersections on Pacific Coast Highway, Dover Drive, Irvine Avenue and Jamboree Road.
Back Bay Loop
Frequently asked questions.
Does the Back Bay loop have traffic lights?
Back Bay Drive, the 3-mile stretch along the water between Shellmaker Road and Eastbluff Drive, has no traffic lights. The full 10.5-mile loop does cross signaled intersections on Pacific Coast Highway, Dover Drive, Irvine Avenue and Jamboree Road.
How long is the Back Bay loop?
About 10.5 miles around Upper Newport Bay in Newport Beach. It's mostly flat, with a short climb or two leaving the bay.
Can cars drive on Back Bay Drive?
Yes, but Back Bay Drive is one-way for cars heading north, and it's shared with walkers, runners and birdwatchers. Ride at a sociable pace there and save hard efforts for elsewhere.
Where can I start the Back Bay loop from Irvine?
Many riders join at Jamboree Road by San Diego Creek or at Vista Point on Eastbluff Drive, then ride Back Bay Drive south along the water toward Newport Dunes.
Which group rides use Back Bay Loop?
Wednesday Worlds (Wednesday at 12:00 PM, from Bob Henry Park, 900 Dover Dr, Newport Beach).
Local riding guide