*What Makes A Good Park? A Paw Based Rating System...

Greetings fellow Canine Angelenos!

I've spent my entire life looking for fun places to explore in Southern California and I'm often asked what is my favorite place to visit. I really don't have a single favorite because there are so many great things to see and sniff around here that its impossible to choose one. Almost any place a dog can go has some redeeming quality to it and the incredible variety of features available from one location to the next makes it difficult to compare them.

Here in Los Angeles alone, we've got forests, beaches, mountains, deserts, and of course...parks. Heck, the word "park" itself can mean many different things and there are a lot of different types. You could visit city parks, county parks, state parks, national parks, wilderness parks, dog parks, pocket parks, and so on and so on and so on...

So just what do I consider a "park"? Wikipedia defines a park as:

...an area of open space provided for recreational use. It can be in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and is set aside for human enjoyment or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas, but may also contain buildings and other artifacts such as play grounds.

I'd call that a pretty accurate description; except I'd add 'for canine enjoyment' too.

You never know what you might find at the park! (at Franklin Canyon Park)

Because parks are probably the place you visit most often with your pack and friends, I've decided to create a rating system, based on my personal experiences, to share what I think about them.  I'll include my rating whenever I visit a park in future blogs. Notice I've mimicked the popular restaurant star rating system, replacing the stars with paws.


The Official Canine Angeleno Park Rating System:

0 Paw - Wouldn’t set paw there.
1 Paw - Its better than staying inside.
2 Paw - Its got the basics.
3 Paw - Pretty Good; has a lot going for it.
4 Paw - Very Nice; a place to visit again and again.
Tail Wag - Awesome; a doggy paradise.

What am I basing my rating on? Here are some of the major things I look for in a park:

• Surface

Is it easy on the paws? Are there bald spots, dirt, and rocks or is it lush grass that you can roll in?

Plush grass is always a good thing...

• Trees

Who doesn't like trees? They're beautiful, provide shade, clean the air, and all the boy dogs can't resist "lifting a leg" around them.

• Creatures

Trees often come with squirrels, which all dogs know are a menace to society. They must be chased back up those trees, and that's a lot of fun to do.  Many parks in greater Los Angeles are also inundated with gophers.  At least I think they’re gophers (if anyone is an expert on the topic, please comment). Gophers make those little mounds of dirt; which I just love digging in search of the little buggers.

Humans just don't appreciate how evil squirrels really are.

Carl Spackler knows what I'm talking about...

• Poop Bag Dispensers

You should always carry your own bags because you're not one of those rude jerks that doesn't pick up after your dog.  But we all forget them from time to time; and sometimes we have to go more than once... you just never know.

• Trash Cans

Because nobody wants to walk around too long with a bag full of poop.

• Water Fountains

If you know the park you’re going to has them, then you won’t have to carry a water bottle around. Just don’t forget a dish because most of us are too short to drink from the spigot. If you have a spare dish or any old container you don't use anymore, consider leaving it at your favorite park by the fountain so other dogs can use it.

There are other factors that go into my rankings such as whether or not there is any water I can dip my paws into, walking/hiking trails to explore, and interesting things for my human friends to see and do. These things aren't necessary for a typical "park" to get a high rating (its not fair of me to compare a local park to something like a National Forest) but they sure help.



*** MISC TIPS ***

• Parks that have tennis courts in them are an excellent source of lost tennis balls. Many of the City of L.A. Recreation Centers have them and the “finders keepers” rule is in full effect.

I found the Mother lode!

• If you visit a particular park regularly, pay attention to what day and time the grass gets mowed and insist on going out then. Is there anything better than rolling in freshly mowed grass? I don't believe there is...

It feels sooooooo good....

• If you think its time to go to the park but your humans aren't taking you, try to look as good as possible and don't be afraid to use those "puppy dog eyes"...

Works every time...

Well there you have it. The Official Canine Angeleno Park Ranking System. I hope it helps you when you're deciding where to explore. If you know of a great park you'd like to see me cover in this blog, please leave a comment. I love discovering new places!


See you at the park!

Chloe Canine-Angeleno





All photographs were taken by my pack leader, Jim Gross

Everything else was discovered by getting my paws dirty and the extensive use of my nose.

*Solstice Canyon Park in Malibu

Greetings my fellow Canine Angelenos!

When its hot in the Valley and smoggy in the Basin, what's a Canine Angeleno to do?

I say go to Malibu!

And this week's adventure takes us to a classic Malibu romp - Solstice Canyon!

Solstice Canyon Park is part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and has a variety of hiking options from an easy stroll through the canyon to some strenuous single tracks up the side of the mountains. On this trip I did the Solstice Canyon Loop Trail, which is actually composed of three different trails and is approximately 3 miles long.

But before I talk about the hike, let's discuss what many Canine Angelenos enjoy just as much as the trail - the car ride there:

If your coming from the L.A. Basin or Ventura County, just take the PCH to get there. I don't think I need to tell anyone how nice it is to stick your head out the window as you cruise down one of the most beautiful roads on the planet. If your coming from the Valley, take the Las Virgenes Rd. exit off the 101 and head South. When you get to the Mulholland Highway, the road becomes Malibu Canyon Rd., an officially designated scenic road that ends at the PCH and is another excellent place to stick your head out and enjoy the smells and scenery.

Solstice Canyon is located about a half mile North of the PCH on Corral Canyon Road. (Thomas Guide 628/C7) there's a free parking lot but you had better get there early if you want a space. If no spaces are available, you can always backtrack to one of the many roadside parking areas near the entrance to the park. 

Our hike begins from the parking lot on the Solstice Canyon Trail.

The trail follows a creek for 1.2 miles all the way to Tropical Terrace. Along the way there are ample opportunities to dip your paws and you'll pass the ruins of the Keller House, thought to be the oldest stone structure in Malibu.

Tropical Terrace was the site of an amazing home built in 1952 for the Roberts Family by renowned architect Paul Williams. The home was featured in Architectural Digest Magazine and is the perfect place to take a break, have a snack, and drink up.

SIDE TRIP
When you're at Tropical Terrace, there's a small waterfall that is one of the only year-round falls in the Santa Monica Mountains. Unfortunately for me, dogs are not allowed at the falls so you'll need someone to hold the leash if you plan on checking it out. :(

When you're ready to move on, look for the Rising Sun Trail sign at the Northwest corner of Tropical Terrace. This trail starts climbing right away and is definitely the most strenuous part of this trip. Fortunately, its only about 0.3 miles to reach the crest of the hill and you will be greatly rewarded for your efforts with a spectacular ocean view and a nice breeze.

From here, the trail goes mostly downhill for another 1.25 miles to its intersection with the TRW Loop Trail. 

Take a right at the intersection then walk downhill for about half a mile and you'll be back at the parking lot where our adventure began.

FUN FACT (from the National Park Service pamphlet):
Solstice Canyon was an important site of early pioneering space research. Technology laboratories, Inc., a subsidiary of Thompson-Ramo-Wooldridge (TRW), rented 10 acres from the Roberts Family from 1961-1973. The site was used to test satellite equipment for space missions, including the Pioneer 12. Solstice Canyon was one of only three places in the world chosen to conduct such tests, due to the lack of man-made or natural disturbances. At the TRW overlook you can see the foundations of the TRW buildings, all that remain after the Corral Fire of 2007.


I hope you enjoy your next trip to Malibu and Solstice Canyon; I sure did.





In my next blog, I'm going to share with you at all the things I look for in a great park and I've devised a rating system to help us understand the best places to visit and areas where some parks could use some improvement. Until then...

I'll see you on the trail!

Chloe Canine-Angeleno




Much of the information I've shared in this blog came from the following sources:

Afoot & Afield Los Angeles County (Wilderness Press)
Santa Monica Mountains NRA

All photographs were taken by my pack leader, Jim Gross

Everything else was discovered by getting my paws dirty and the extensive use of my nose.

*Doggie Do's and Dont's: The Things You Need and Need To Know For A Great Adventure

Greetings fellow Canine Angelenos!

 As you know, this blog is all about exploring the great outdoors of Los Angeles from a canine perspective. Nothing is more rewarding than bonding with your pack members while enjoying the wonders of the world around us. But to make the most out of your time together and to help avoid some of the potentially negative consequences of visiting Mother Nature, there are some basic items every pack leader should have to make sure your adventure is safe as well as fun.

*ESSENTIAL GEAR:

You'll need a way to carry your stuff around and a BACKPACK is the best way to do it. There are many styles and sizes to choose from but the only absolute requirement is that the shoulder straps are padded. Some models have a waist strap too for carrying heavier loads but that's not necessary for most day trips. There are also backpacks for dogs that let us carry our own stuff but remember not to overload us and be careful of what you put in there; I just might jump in the river and I'm pretty sure your smart phone isn't water proof. Just sayin'...

By far the single most important thing you should put in your backpack is WATER. Make sure there's enough for everyone, including the dog(s). Its the heaviest thing you'll probably carry, but nothing will end a fun time quicker than running out of water; and unless you want your canine companion to drink from your water bottle, you'll need a WATER DISH just for them. There are many brands of lightweight, collapsible fabric bowls to choose from or you could get my pack leader's favorite, the expandable plastic kind.

We'll also need some SNACKS. We burn a lot of calories while were out and about and a mid-trip energy boost is a must. My pack leader usually brings a couple of my favorite cookies or some cooked chicken for me to nosh on.

A small FIRST AID KIT is something that people forget to bring with them all the time but is worth its weight in cookies if you or your dog get hurt. Cuts, scrapes, stings, twisted joints and a variety of other minor injuries can be easily dealt with if you have some basic supplies. The things you'll find in a first aid kit for people will also work for the dog; no need for two different kits.

Of course you'll need POOP BAGS and a bag to put any trash you accumulate into. Never leave anything behind that wasn't already there. In fact, do something good and take a piece of someone else's trash you find on your adventure and put that in your trash bag to help clean up the place.

Last and by no means least, you need a MAP or some sort of information that will prevent you from getting lost. Some places are easy to navigate while others can be quite confusing. GPS works great for this but you may not be able to get a signal everywhere. If relying on GPS, make sure its fully charged before you start your journey.

Don't be one of those people we hear about on the news that required an expensive rescue just because your an unprepared fool. Its selfish and your putting the people rescuing you at risk.


*THINGS TO REMEMBER

Tell someone where you're going. If you have a problem and don't return on time, somebody will know your missing and will be able to tell the authorities where you might be.

Do some research about the place your going. It will decrease the chances of something going wrong and will enhance your trip by making it easier to identify the plants, animals, structures and geology you may encounter along the way.

If something goes wrong, don't panic. A level head is your best defense and will keep your canine companion from getting upset...remember that we are the undisputed masters of understanding human emotion and body language.

HAVE FUN. If you're unsure about how to have fun, watch your dog; they're really good at it.

See you on the trail!

Chloe Canine-Angeleno

The Los Angeles River #1 - West San Fernando Valley

Welcome back my fellow Canine Angelenos! 

It's time for our next adventure, and this week I'm going to cover a subject that will come up often in this blog: El Río de Nuestra Señora La Reina de Los Ángeles de Porciúncula.

That's quite a mouthful isn't it?

In 1769, Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola (apparently a man of many words) came up with that long name for what we know today as the Los Angeles River; the under appreciated and often neglected waterway that runs almost 52 miles from Canoga Park to Long Beach.

Today I'm going to cover just a short section of it, but over time I plan to cover every place a dog can get its paws wet in the river; or at least get a good look and a sniff at it.



There's only one place to start a great adventure like this and that's at the beginning...

The L.A. River begins, unceremoniously, behind the stadium at Canoga Park High School.

The Headwaters of the Los Angeles River.

Calabasas Creek and Bell Creek converge just West of Owensmouth Ave. and just South of Bassett St. in Canoga Park (Thomas Guide 530/A6), an area better known for the Topanga Shopping Mall than for being the headwaters of the longest paved waterway in the world.

You can easily see the Headwaters from the the Owensmouth Ave. bridge. You can't park on the bridge but there is plenty of street parking available on Owensmouth or Bassett St.

On the Owensmouth Ave. bridge...I can't wait to start exploring!

Currently there's not much to do here, but a Headwaters landscaping project is currently under construction just west of the bridge that will have a walkway, benches and some signage.

 ***UPDATE 1***

FROM HEADWATERS TO THE MASON AVE. BRIDGE IS NOW ACCESSIBLE AND IT IS GORGEOUS! CHECK OUT MY POST WITH THE LATEST DETAILS FROM MY VISIT IN JULY 2014

.

Looking West from the Headwaters

 

 ***UPDATE 2***

FROM THE MASON AVE. BRIDGE TO THE VAN ALDEN AVE. FOOTBRIDGE IS NOW ACCESSIBLE! CHECK OUT MY POST WITH THE LATEST DETAILS FROM MY VISIT IN AUGUST 2014 

After taking a couple of pictures, hop back in your vehicle and head East on Vanowen St. You'll soon leave Canoga Park and enter Winnetka where you'll drive over the river on the first of many East/West river crossing points, the locally controversial Vanowen/Mason bridge. 

This bridge has been under construction for quite some time now and the locals are getting anxious about it. The signs on site say construction was to be completed by November 2013, but its still not done as of March 2014. The work is interfering with traffic and is definitely not pretty to look at, but its part of the overall river landscaping project and I'm sure everyone's patience will eventually be rewarded.

SIDE TRIP:
After a few more minutes of driving you'll enter Reseda and, at the intersection of Vanowen and Wilbur Ave., you'll come across LAPD SWAT Officer Randal D. Simmons Park. Its a nice little spot with lots of grass to roll in and trees to...well you know. The are some picnic benches and a playground there too so your whole pack can enjoy the place. Its listed as West Valley Park on many maps but was renamed in 2010 to honor officer Simmons, the first LAPD SWAT officer to die in the line of duty.

a.k.a West Valley Park

After traveling on Vanowen for almost 4 miles from Headwaters, you'll come to Reseda Bl., where you should take a right and head South. You'll quickly come to your next river crossing at Kittridge St. and to your left will be our next stop, Reseda Park. There is street parking on Reseda Bl., but I recommend you take your next left onto Victory Bl. and park in the lot by the park's swimming pool, which you'll soon see on your left.

The river cuts Reseda Park into two sections which are connected by a footbridge in the Northeast section of the park.

Heading West, the river divides Reseda Park into two sections

Footbridge connecting the two sections of the park

This park has a lot to do for both canines and humans. There is plenty of grass and trees are everywhere, but there's also a pool, basketball courts, baseball fields, a playground, and a duck pond full of geese, egrets, coots, and of course...ducks.

No swimming! Bummer...

After strolling around the pond, return to your car and head East on Victory Bl. You'll soon cross the river again just West of Lindley Ave. and very soon after that you'll come to White Oak Ave. You're now at the Northwest corner of the vast Sepulveda Basin, which is the location of our final stop on this journey, the Sepulveda Basin Off-Leash Dog Park.

Hi there! Shall we roll in some mud?

This place has it all: separate sections for big dogs, little dogs, timid dogs... and plenty of grass and trees to keep any pooch happy. There's water and dishes all over the place and you can always find a tennis ball left behind by previous visitors. The river runs along the entire south side of the park as it begins its journey into the basin.

River entering the basin under the White Oak Ave. bridge

Well that's it for this adventure. We don't actually get to go in the river on this trip but don't worry, I'll get to that in a future blog. I've also saved the Sepulveda Basin for its own blog because its really big and full of great places to explore.


See you at the park!

Chloe Canine-Angeleno





Much of the information I've shared in this blog came from the following sources:

Down By The Los Angeles River by Joe Linton (Wilderness Press)
Friends of the Los Angeles River
City of Los Angeles Dept. of Recreation & Parks

All photographs were taken by my pack leader, Jim Gross

Everything else was discovered by getting my paws dirty and the extensive use of my nose.