Welcome to the 5th installment of my dog-centric look at the Los Angeles River.
In Part 1, I covered the Western San Fernando Valley - from the Headwaters to the Sepulveda Basin Dog Park.
In Part 2, I took a thorough sniff of the entire Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area.
In Part 3, I explored the Eastern San Fernando Valley - from Sepulveda Bl. in Sherman Oaks to Universal City.
In Part 4, I made my way through Burbank and parts of Glendale, completing our exploration of the river's West to East section.
Today we start heading South.
The river makes a sharp turn to the South in between the Glendale Water & Power Utility Operations Center to the East and Griffith Park's Ferraro Soccer Fields to the West.
The area we're about to enter is known as the Glendale Narrows and is the most popular and widely developed section of the river. There has been a lot done to improve this part of the river for recreation in recent years and now we have the Army Corps of Engineers $1 billion facelift coming - I can't wait too see what new things are on their way!
I am going to divide my coverage of the Glendale Narrows into two posts. The first part will cover the East side of the river from the Glendale Narrows River Walk, down to Confluence Park where the river is joined by the Arroyo Seco near the Riverside-Figueroa Bridge.
The second part, which I'll post soon, will cover the West side of the river from the Griffith Park Dog Park to just past Egret Park, where the bike path currently ends near the Riverside-Figueroa Bridge.
So let's get started!
* Glendale Narrows Riverwalk to Los Feliz Bl. Bridge
Just West of the Flower St. entrance to the Glendale Narrows Riverwalk (where Part 4 ends), is a short paved walkway that ends at a locked gate just as the river makes its turn to the South. There isn't anything to do here, but it does provide our first view of the river looking South and makes for a nice photo opportunity.
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| Our journey Southward begins just before the 134 Freeway. |
From this point, drive West on Flower St. then take a right onto San Fernando Road. You'll be driving through West Glendale, a busy industrial area with no access to the river. Drive South for just over 2 miles then take a right onto Chevy Chase Drive. When you reach the end of Chevy Chase, you'll be at the entrance to North Atwater Park. Park in the lot to your left.
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| Hurry up with the photo, all the fun stuff is over there... |
At the end of the parking lot is a small area full of native plants. A short pathway winds past them with the occasional informational signage telling you about the plants themselves and the park. Just West of this area is a baseball field, basketball court, volleyball court, playground, rest room and a nice grassy area to roll in. There are a couple of water fountains too...but no poop bag dispeners.
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| This park is a bit of a mutt, a little of this and a little of that...just like me! |
Just East of the pathway are more informational signs about the river and the river itself. At the riverbank, you'll be on a paved walkway but you can easily access the water and walk along the sloped embankment if you prefer (I always choose the wettest option). Head North (upstream) and splash in the bird filled river with excellent views of the mountains.
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| Standing on the bank of the river with the 5 Freeway in the background. |
After about 1/2 mile of walking, you'll come to the Los Angeles-Glendale Water Reclamation Plant Greenway, a small pathway with native plants, informational signs, benches, and a view of the pool where the reclamation of our water takes place. Take a minute to educate yourself and enjoy the view.
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| The water reclamation plant is actually the source of most of the water in the river around here. |
Another 1/4 mile North is the Colorado St. bridge. You'll need to pass under it to continue as there is no access to Colorado from here. Another 1/2 mile of walking past the bridge takes you just South of the 134 Freeway and the end of the line because the embankment becomes too steep to continue. Turn around and head back to North Atwater Park.
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| Making my way North toward the Colorado St. Bridge |
When you get back to North Atwater Park, continue South (downstream). You'll soon pass an equestrian loving neighborhood whose properties provide them access to the river, and the Los Feliz Golf Club, a rough looking par-3 course. Just before you reach the Los Feliz Bl. bridge, you'll come upon a small park with decorative benches, stonework, and the 'Guardians of the River' gate which were put here by the non-profit North East Trees organization - a group responsible for many nice mini-parks along the river.
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| Heading South with Downtown L.A. looking like Oz in the distance. |
* Los Feliz Bl. Bridge to Glendale-Hyperion Bridge
To reach the East side of the river near Los Feliz Bl. you have a couple of options:
Park in the Los Feliz Golf Course parking lot then cross Los Feliz on Glenfeliz St. before cutting through a small grassy area next to the bridge OR park at the West end of Dover St. and go through the main entrance of Atwater River Park.
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| The Los Feliz Bl. bridge from Atwater River Park |
This small park has a poop bag dispenser, benches, native plants and the Yoga Trail - a winding pathway with about 5 'stations' along it's route that have signs providing Yoga pose instructions and motivational quotes - a unique version of the popular workout routes found in many of LA's parks.
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| You guys can work on your poses...I'm going to see what these ducks are up to. |
The park ends about 1/3 mile South of Los Feliz Bl. at the Sunnynook Dr. footbridge. There is access to the river from Sunnynook Dr. and the footbridge itself crosses the river, providing a route to the bike path on the West side.
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| The Sunnynook 'paw' bridge is the safest way to cross; but we're staying on the East side today. |
Head South for approximately another 1/3 mile and you'll come to the Glendale-Hyperion Bridge.
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| The bridges from here to Downtown are so cool looking... |
* Glendale-Hyperion Bridge to Glendale Fwy. Overpass
Walk under the bridge and you'll immediately enter the Red Car River Park which isn't really a park but a spot in the river where bridge pylons used by the Red Car, LA's storied streetcars, still stand. There's a mural painted on the pylons and a couple of concrete "benches" to sit on but calling it a park is definitely a stretch. However, it is a very nice open spot in the river that's lots of fun to splash in. You can access the park from the corner of Glendale Bl. and Ferncroft Rd.
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| Red Cars were part of the largest trolley system in the world in the early 20th century. |
Continue walking and splashing South. You'll soon pass another river access point at Acresite St. then, about 4/5 mile from the Hyperion bridge, you'll come to the Fletcher Ave. Bridge.
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| All those cars passing overhead have no idea how much fun I'm having down here... |
There is access to the river from the bridge where a small park, built by those great people at North East Trees, features native plants, benches, and the very cool Water With Rocks Gate. Pack Leader and I stopped here for lunch and forgot to take pictures (oops) but you can check out the LA River Annex website for pics of the gate and other pieces of public art along the river.
Another few minutes of walking brings you to the Glendale Freeway overpass where you have to make a big decision. You can continue walking South on the bottom of the riverbank but there is no access to the streets (or out of the river) to the East. If you continue this way you're committed for quite a distance and I don't recommend it.
* Glendale Fwy. Overpass to Riverside-Figueroa Bridge
As I mentioned, South of the Glendale Freeway there is no access to the river from the East. The abandoned Taylor Train Yard takes up most of this area through Glassell Park and Cypress Park and its off-limits to the public.
But don't despair, there are plenty of fun things to do just off the river...
Just South of the Freeway, near the intersection of Casitas Ave. and Perlita Ave. is one of the strangest sites along the river. Created by a local artist, "The Unfinished" is a to scale replica of the famous “Unfinished Obelisk” in Egypt that has been 'excavated' in an abandoned industrial yard that is supposed to become parkland in the future.
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| Are we in Aswan? Las Vegas? No...its Glassell Park! |
The obelisk is certainly unique, but Pack Leader enjoyed the sign post leading to it even more.
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| Now you know how to spell The Unfinished in 16 languages! |
The river is close by but a high fence keeps us out. I can't wait until the project to turn this unused property into park land gets going.
After getting your fix of the Nile, I mean LA River, head back to San Fernando Rd. and head South. Just over a mile down the road you'll come to Macon St. and the entrance to the Rio de Los Angeles State Park. Opened in 2007, this 35 acre park is part of an ongoing effort to restore the area around the long abandoned Taylor Yard, which was a busy rail yard and industrial area during the first half of the 20th century.
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| They sure do like signs around here. |
The park has many fun things for you humans to use including a community room, picnic areas with barbecue pits, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball fields, playgrounds, and a bunch of soccer fields.
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| This park is the definition of a "multi-use" facility. |
There is plenty of grass for a dog to roll in too, but of particular interest to me is the Oxbow Trail, a 0.6 mile nicely graded loop that takes us through restored wetlands full of native plants, benches and water fountains. There are no poop bag dispensers yet but there are great views of the remains of the Taylor Yard.
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| Every park should have a trail...just saying. |
Currently there is no access to the river. In fact, the river is hundreds of yards to the West of the park; but that may change soon. The City of Los Angeles is close (as of August 2014) to closing a deal to purchase much of the remaining Taylor Yard property which will give us the opportunity to turn this area into a huge park with access to the river. You know I'll be back when that happens! Many people consider this to be the most important piece of property for the long term restoration of the river. Thank you to all the great people who are making this happen!
When you're done exploring this park, return to San Fernando Rd. and head South again. Another mile or so of driving will take you to the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens on your left.
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| This place was once the headquarters of Lawry's Steakhouse. Mmmm...steak. |
This beautiful property, just up the road from the confluence of the LA River and the Arroyo Seco, is a multi-use facility popular for hosting weddings and formal parties.
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| I know I'll get in trouble if I jump in...but its tempting. |
Its also the headquarters for a variety of non-profits, including FoLAR and the LA River Revitalization Corp. My favorite part is the River Garden Park which is full of shady trees, picnic benches and a small creek.
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| Its not a big park, but it sure is a pretty one. |
From the River Center, you can walk a short distance South on San Fernando Rd. to see the Riverside-Figueroa Bridge and Confluence Park. However, as of August 2014, Confluence Park is being used as a construction staging area while the new Riverside-Figueroa Bridge is being finished and the old one destroyed. I'll talk more about that in my post about the West side of the Glendale Narrows. But for now, follow me on Twitter and I'll let you know when access to the park is restored.
That wraps up our trip along the East side of the Glendale Narrows. There sure is a lot to do here! There's even more to explore on the West side of the river, the subject of my next post. So subscribe now or you might miss it!
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| This has been quite a journey! I need a drink. |
Thanks for reading and I'll see you on the river!
Chloe Canine-Angeleno
www.CanineAngeleno.com
Much of the information I've shared in this blog came from the following sources:
Los Angeles River Revitalization Corporation
LA Mountains
Los Angeles Times
North East Trees
KCET
Down By The Los Angeles River
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.
