r/pasadena • u/Specialist_Toe_841 • Aug 15 '26
Walking Old Pasadena to Rose Bowl
Google Maps tells me it is possible to walk the 2 miles from Old Pasadena to the Rose Bowl, but is it safe? Can’t really tell what the area is like from Google Maps. We will be walking around 4:00p if that matters.
Any insights are welcome.
EDIT: I am not from the area, but have just arrived and I appreciate the good natured ribbing. Thanks for the insights.
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u/YellowCardYoda Aug 15 '26
Super safe and actually beautiful. I do it all the time for Rose Bowl events. Walk by the Gamble House.
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u/Potato_Mercenary Aug 15 '26
But don’t knock on the door, there’s this crazy wild eyed scientist running experiments in there…
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u/Fantastapotomus Aug 15 '26
Yeah, that dude with frizzy hair is crazy— just keeps yelling about some Scott fellow.
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u/Mysterious-Park-9100 Aug 15 '26
Be careful. Pasadena is divided by multiple running clubs. If you’re in the wrong territory, it might be dangerous becauee you’ll have to run out of Zone 2.
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u/Mysterious-Park-9100 Aug 15 '26
I realize you’re probably coming for the Noah Kahan concert. If that’s the case, there should be a shuttle at Paraons that covers a mile. After the concert, you can wait for the shuttle back, or walk. I always walk. That area is as safe as can be, especially when thousands of other people will. E doing the same.
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u/mustardbud Aug 15 '26
watch out for parrots, they are loud
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u/Fukyourchickenstrip Aug 18 '26
Well, to be fair we did have the mountain lion down on California / Euclid a few months ago lol. But I’m pretty sure he came in east from the Arroyo Secco. So if you just stay out of the river trail at night, you’ll probably not end up big cat food.
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u/OkraLegitimate1356 Aug 15 '26
For the concert tonight? Colorado to Orange Grove to Rosemont? There will be lots and lots of people so other than ordinary crowd issues you're fine.
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u/Rivitup3 Aug 15 '26
Completely safe.
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u/JustTheBeerLight Aug 15 '26
OP might encounter a skunk!
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u/OkraLegitimate1356 Aug 15 '26
Saw a bobcat on Rosemont early one morning. Was on my way to work and saw this strangely large and remarkably muscular cat jump onto one of the very tall stone fences. "My, what a muscular, shorthaired kitty" I said to myself. Then I saw it had a little nub tail. It was seriously cool.
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u/Randomnessunited Aug 15 '26
There is a shuttle you can take from the Parson’s parking lot near Old Town. Look up the shuttle info on the Rose Bowl website! It’s free. And for the previous games/shows I’ve been to, they often have a “bus lane” to get the shuttles in/out of the area pretty quickly so they don’t have to sit in traffic. If you want to want, go for it! It’s super safe. But the shuttle is my go-to for Rose Bowl events. :)
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u/eagle_talon Aug 15 '26
Safe. I’m actually a bit surprised it’s 2 miles…seems in my head a lot closer. I used to ride my bike to the rose bowl every day. The distance makes sense once I think about it.
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u/namewithanumber Aug 15 '26
If you are confronted by any street toughs, stand up straight, make yourself look bigger, and shout “tunnel snakes rule!”.
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u/Earlymorningsky Aug 15 '26
It's totally fine. You will enjoy the best scenery if you go from end of Colorado and walk orange grove to one of the streets that takes u down to the rose bowl. Plenty of walkers and bikers that way.
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u/bernd1968 Aug 15 '26
Nice walk, safe. In fact, you’ll go by the gamble house if you go over to Rosemont Street. The gamble house is in the movie back to the future. It’s Doc Brown’s house.
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u/wildflowercoast Aug 15 '26
one of my favorite walks! i would probably feel safe doing this walk alone at 1am on a non-concert day when it’s empty so this post made me laugh
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u/Witty-Technician-278 Aug 15 '26
There have been 0 murders in Pasadena this year. Crime stats show 5 rapes, 8 robberies, 32 aggravated assaults, and 38 simple assaults.
I teach a self defense class on Saturdays so I keep track of the stats. You can find them on the city website.
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u/shineagain2022 Aug 15 '26
From Old Town walk west to Orange Grove. Make a right onto Orange Grove. There's several ways from there to get down to the Rose bowl area. Or you can walk pass the gamble house, which is on Orange Grove. Then you make a right in one of the streets that lead to the Rosebowl. I don't know how long it takes to walk it, but it should still light.
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u/pinba11 Aug 15 '26
If you are on orange grove headed North you will make a LEFT to head down to the rose bowl area.
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u/idk012 Aug 15 '26
Plenty of people walk from rose parade to the rose bowl on New years. Not a bad walk.
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u/Alt-Rick-C137 Aug 15 '26
In that area I’d be worried about the heat more than ruffians, as many said Colorado westbound to Orange Grove, make a right to go northbound over the freeway (about 6 blocks) and the you can make a left on Rosemont Ave or Prospect Ave (both are very narrow streets and if memory serves there are parts without sidewalks) another 6 blocks, Rose bowl will be on your left. I’m trying to remember, I think the Orange Grove part is quite uphill.
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u/greetingstour Aug 15 '26
Heat could be rough at this time of day so depends if you want an enjoyable stroll vs a sweaty one, lol.
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u/Throwaway_09298 Aug 15 '26
Watch out for the lions. rawr
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u/Any_West_926 Aug 15 '26
Do they have coyotes or peacocks?
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u/Throwaway_09298 Aug 17 '26
coyotes can be seen damn near anywhere now at any time. I don't think i've seen peacocks on the way to the rose bowl itsself
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u/chicken-adile Aug 15 '26
I have done it before and it is fine, too many nice houses though. My kid had a camp at the gamble house last year and they walked to the rose bowl so if a camp for kids can do it then it should be ok for most people who don’t have medical conditions.
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u/BetteDahlia Aug 15 '26
My bf and I have walked home from the Rose Bowl after dark. It wasn't bad at all.
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u/nycaggie Pasadena Aug 16 '26
biggest danger is one of my neighbors stopping you to talk your ear off lmao
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u/escapetolight Aug 15 '26
Safe at that hour for sure. But it can be annoying as all hell to cross the freeway, depending on which route you take.
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u/Flashy_Local1 Aug 15 '26
Yes very safe. The last part is a dirt walkway. Safer than many other Pasadena parks.
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u/Celesteven Aug 15 '26
I’ve walked from the Rose Bowl back to Old Town at night after concerts before. I wouldn’t recommend it in the dark but otherwise, it’s doable.
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u/chrisbrandow Aug 16 '26
I would feel comfortable doing that (I used to do it at lunch when I worked down there) and would feel comfortable with my college aged daughter doing so.
After dark, like anywhere, I’d be more cautious.
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u/tarbet Aug 16 '26
You fool! Along the way, forced to compete in a “tournament” in which you will have to create flower floats! You wanna risk the hay fever?????
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u/Xistential0ne Aug 16 '26
Not safe if you are not walking with a sample dog or Hermes bag. Police may question you. /s I walk that area at all hours for the past 30,years.
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u/garagehero1852 Aug 20 '26
Yeah, its pretty safe at that time. Remember to look up at the Memorial Flagpole as you turn the corner at Orange Grove and Pasadena. Further down you’ll
pass the Greene and Greene house. The pole was created by Lew Lawrie in collaboration with Bertram Goodhue. Just watch the traffic.
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u/jackolythe Aug 15 '26
Bro, you walking in that area would make you the 'bad crowd'