The Los Angeles River #10: Long Beach from Del Amo Bl. to The PCH

Greetings fellow Canine Angelenos!

Welcome to Part 10 of my dog-centric look at the Los Angeles River.


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In Part 9, I made it to Long Beach, the 11th and final city I'll visit on this journey. Today I'll continue walking south toward the sea on the LARIO Trail, beginning at the Del Amo Bl. bridge.
 

Starting to see more seabirds - I must be getting close.

As soon as you pass Del Amo, the Dominguez Gap Wetlands come into view. You can access a loop trail from the bike path or from a spur trail just east of the bridge. There is parking near the spur trail or you can park near the south end and take a short equestrian trail into the wetlands.

So peaceful...you almost forget the 710 is just across the river.

Opened in 2008, the 37-acre wetlands are a flood protection and water treatment facility managed by the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. An additional wetland area is on the west side of the 710, but safe access wasn't available as of July 2015, so we'll have to check that out another time.

Flood control & habitat restoration working together.

The mile-long "park" is full of native plants and has two wildlife observation decks, info signs, and benches along the trail. Water fountains, trash cans and poop bag dispensers can be found near the entrances too.

Of course the birds love this place, but they aren't the only wildlife around. Watch out for the coyotes. They may be our canine cousins but they're not here to make friends - make sure your pack has you on a leash.

I see you hiding over there Mr. Coyote

After you've done the loop around the wetlands, return to the bike path and look across the river to see its confluence with Compton Creek.

 The creek flows here from South LA, over 8 miles away.

Continue south on the bike path. Soon you'll walk beneath the Blue Line rail bridge that runs between the Del Amo and Wardlow Metro stations.

Why aren't Blue Line trains blue?

The equestrian trail that runs intermittently alongside the bike path in south Los Angeles County reappears once you pass the Blue Line. When I'm doing an out-and-back adventure like today's, I like to take the bike path one direction and the equestrian trails on the other. You just never know what you might find on the horse path..

Those horses look a lot like rabbits to me :-p

About 1/2 mile south of Dominguez Gap is the 405 Freeway. A short asphalt path branches off the bike path and provides an up-close view of the freeway before rejoining the bike path.

Just beyond the 405, a staircase leads toward the east end of Baker St.. At the bottom of the stairs, a fence blocks access to the street. I can see a small park a few hundred yards up Baker St. but you can't get there from here. I hope this situation is temporary.

A few more minutes of walking alongside an open field which could (should) be parkland takes me beneath the Wardlow Rd. bridge.

Nature is slowly returning to its rightful place by the river.

There's no access to the bike path at Wardlow, but a pathway to the west end of 34th St. appears shortly. Walk down to the street and check out the Earth Day Gate. The gate, dedicated on Earth Day 2007, was made by Michael Amescua, whose iron work is seen all over Los Angeles.

I'd like one of Mr. Amescua's gates on my doggie door.

From 34th St. to Willow St., just under a mile to the south, the Wrigley Greenbelt separates the bike path from DeForest Ave. What was once unused LA County Flood Control District land has been converted to green space. A fence prevents access to the greenbelt from the bike path but you can see it up close from DeForest Ave.

I know what the sign says...it's part of the Wrigley Greenbelt

Just north of the Willow St. bridge, near the access ramp to 26th St. and DeForest Ave. (another good place to park), turn around and look at the concrete channel that stretches north into Los Angeles...say "goodbye".

The last stretch of the concrete riverbed.

Now turn around and walk under the bridge. Before you is the Willow Street Estuary which marks the end of the river's concrete cage and where it returns to its natural, soft-bottomed state. The change is sudden and dramatic.

The estuary is the end of the line for any 'snacks' swimming upstream.

The mile long walk between Willow St. and the Pacific Coast Highway is a beautiful vision of what the river could be someday - alive with plants and birds and fish. I could feel the cool ocean breezes while I watched pelicans diving for breakfast; some crazy little black and white birds following them around hoping for scraps. It was awesome.

Mother Nature is much better at this than people are...just sayin'

Continuing south, you'll see a path that takes you to the corner of 25th St. and DeForest Ave. and, about 1/2 mile south of Willow, some stairs that provide access via another path at Hill St. 

Almost 1/2 mile beyond Hill St., the bike path dips and bends as it goes beneath the Pacific Coast Highway.
 

The PCH: one of the best roads to hang your head out the window on.

Just yards past the PCH is a popular access point. Go through the gate onto the street and turn immediately to your left. Straight ahead will be the entrance to Cressa Park. 

This tiny park goes north from here to 19th St. and was an abandoned, trash filled lot until 2010, when volunteers turned it into a refuge for birds, bugs, and native plants.

Every little piece of green space helps.

This seems like a great place to end today's trek and to take a cookie break. I'll pick it up from the PCH next time in the next chapter of my journey to the sea. Until then...


See You On The LA River!


Chloe Canine-Angeleno 





Some of the information I've shared in this blog was found at:


City of Long Beach

Los Angeles County Public Works

KCET

LA Creek Freek


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.

For pictures and information about the places I've visited upstream of Del Amo Bl., click the links below:

Part 1 - Western San Fernando Valley

Part 2 - Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area

Part 3 - Eastern San Fernando Valley

Part 4 - Burbank and Glendale

Part 5 - Glendale Narrows East

Part 6 - Glendale Narrows West

Part 7 - Downtown Los Angeles and Vernon

Part 8 - Vernon to South Gate
   
Part 9 - South Gate to North Long Beach

The Los Angeles River #9: South Gate to North Long Beach

Greetings fellow Canine Angelenos!

Welcome to Part 9 of my dog-centric look at the Los Angeles River. 

In Part 8, I reached the end of the South County L.A. River Bike Path in South Gate. To continue my journey, I must now cross the Imperial Hwy. bridge and use the LARIO Bike Path the rest of the way.

The LARIO begins at Whittier Narrows and travels for 12 miles along the Rio Hondo to its confluence with the L.A. River - just upstream of the Imperial Hwy. bridge. From there it follows the east bank of the river to the ocean.

What awaits us on the other side? The first thing you'll notice is how big the river channel is. It looks like a walled airport runway. This is the widest part of the river and it's used for a variety of things other than flood control...such as training taxi drivers!

What's more "L.A." than driving cars in the river?

While there's nothing natural about the river around here, only Glendale Narrows has more easy access to park land than this section of the trail. Surprised? I was.

About 1/2 mile downstream from Imperial Hwy. is the north end of Hollydale Park. An equestrian center occupies most of the area and a horse trail stretches between the park and bike path.

There are many horse facilities along the river from here into Long Beach.

A short walk down the bike path finds stairs that lead into the heart of this 56 acre park. The grassy field that makes up the majority of the park is split down the middle by a row of electrical towers, but there is still plenty of room to roll in the grass and play soccer.

This way to the parking lot too - a good place to start this adventure.

There are courts for basketball, tennis and handball as well as picnic benches, playgrounds, and Hollydale Dog Park, an off-leash area with a poop bag dispenser and water fountain.

What more does a dog need in a park? I give it 4 paws.

Back on the bike path, Century Bl. marks the end of Hollydale Park and the border between South Gate and Paramount. Another 1/3 mile of walking and you'll be standing beneath the 105 Freeway. Past the 105 you'll see an industrial park and some great, post-apocalyptic looking views of the river channel.

I'm not the only Canine Angeleno enjoying the river today.

About 2/3 mile south of the freeway is the Rosecrans Ave. bridge. Once you pass the bridge, you'll see the north end of Ralph C. Dills Park.

Another park so soon? Nice.

The two ends of this 9 acre park are open fields with plush grass, shady trees, playgrounds, and water fountains. The south end has restrooms (but no poop bags) and a nice picnic area too.

Ralph Dills was California's longest serving state legislator - 43 years!

Connecting the two ends is a nature trail that doesn't allow dogs on it. How can you connect two parks with a nature trail and not allow dogs?

The nature trail. I hear it's nice.

Dills Park ends when you reach the Somerset Bl. bridge. South of Somerset, a small section of Compton lies east of the river. For the next 1/4 mile or so, you'll be in the city of Compton - just long enough to walk along the fenced boundary of the Compton Par 3 Golf Course.

Who doesn't love chasing a ball around in plush grass?

Once you pass the golf course you're back in Paramount and it's 1/4 mile more to the Alondra Bl. bridge. 

The Home Depot nearby is another great place to park while you explore.

About 1/4 mile south of Alondra you'll see a long metal staircase that provides access to L.A. County's 72nd Street Arena. It's a facility for equestrian exhibitions and a nice rest stop for travelers on the bike path. There are restrooms, a water fountain, and a small picnic area next to the arena.

An obnoxious rooster will greet you at 72nd St. Arena. Trust me, you'll hear him.

1/5 mile beyond the staircase is the Atlantic Ave. bridge. If that sounds familiar it's because the river has gone beneath Atlantic before - in Vernon where the South County L.A. River Bike Path begins.

We meet again Atlantic.

Somewhere between Atlantic and the 91 Freeway, which is just over 1/2 mile away, you'll enter the city of Long Beach.

I made it to LBC! I can almost smell the ocean from here!

The Artesia Bl. bridge is only a few hundred yards past the freeway. From there walls on both sides keep you on the bike path for the next 1/3 mile, until you reach the first of two entry points into DeForest Park.

South L.A. County sure has a lot of parks along the river!

Here you'll find plenty of grass to roll in, trees to sit under and squirrels to chase. A community center, playground, and courts for basketball, handball and tennis are in the middle of the park. There are also two bathrooms and a water fountain, but no poop bags.
 
Most of the park's almost 50 acres are part of the Deforest Nature Trail, a floodwater detention basin. It was closed when I visited, so we got back on the bike path via a staircase next to the nature trail's entrance.

Maybe next time.

1/3 mile south of those stairs is the Long Beach Bl. bridge, where there is access to the street and the DeForest Wetlands.

More parkland on the way? Nice work Long Beach.

The wetlands are a 34 acre former debris basin that will someday become a park. It's a work in progress, but will be a great addition to the growing chain of green spaces along the river.

It ain't pretty...yet.

You can walk through the wetlands or on a dirt path that runs parallel to them if you don't want to return to the bike path. All roads soon cross Del Amo Bl., which marks the end of the wetlands, and of today's adventure.

People often get excited about a big announcement that’s revealed at NAB or IBC, but by the time it comes out it’s already dated, or the people that were waiting for it have moved on. - See more at: http://www.provideocoalition.com/the-other-side-of-content-creation#sthash.4v1USEG2.dp
?Dominguez Gap Wetlands? Del Amo to 405? 30 acre East basin
?Compton Creek? 14 acre West basin
405/710 junction bridge
Wardlow Rd. bridge
East of 710 is LBC; West is Compton

Looking north from Del Amo Bl.

Alright! I made it all the way to Long Beach, the last city on our journey!

Subscribe to my blog, follow me on Twitter and Facebook, or visit my website to come along as I make my way to the Pacific!



See you on the river!

Chloe Canine-Angeleno 




Some of the information I've shared in this blog was found at:

Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Works

KCET 

City of South Gate

City of Compton

City of Paramount

City of Long Beach

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.



For pictures and information about the places I've visited upstream of the Imperial Highway, click on the links below:

Part 1 - Western San Fernando Valley

Part 2 - Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area

Part 3 - Eastern San Fernando Valley

Part 4 - Burbank and Glendale

Part 5 - Glendale Narrows East

Part 6 - Glendale Narrows West

Part 7 - Downtown Los Angeles and Vernon

Part 8 - Vernon to South Gate

The Los Angeles River #8 - A Tale of Five Cities

Before we get started, I would like to thank the late, great Sam Simon for all the wonderful things he's done for so many Canine Angelenos. The Sam Simon Foundation was his passion and his love of dogs knew no bounds. If there really is a 'Rainbow Bridge', many dogs are waiting there to greet him with wagging tails and sloppy kisses. Rest in peace Sam. People like you are the reason we want to be man's best friend.



Greetings fellow Canine Angelenos!

Welcome to Part 8 of my dog-centric look at our unique river.

After exploring most of the Downtown L.A. stretch of the river from the car in Part 7, I look forward to getting up close and personal with the South County LA River Bike Path; which begins on the southwest corner of the Atlantic Ave. bridge.

The Atlantic Ave. bridge and Downtown L.A.

Park on District Bl., just south of Atlantic Bl., and join the path through an opening in the fence about 50 yards downstream from the bridge. There is plenty of free parking and it's much safer than dodging the heavy traffic on Atlantic.

Walk down into the river channel and dip your paws before heading south on the graffiti stained path. A chain link fence blocks us from the river for the next half mile but tall grasses give it the illusion of being almost natural (OK, I admit being under 2 feet tall helps).

So happy to put 'paws on the ground' again!

About 1/4 mile south of Atlantic is the unmarked border separating the cities of Vernon and Bell. For some reason (Pack Leader says "politics"), Bell's border is only as wide as the river for close to a mile, separating the so called 'riverside cities' of Maywood and Commerce from the river.

The chain link fence disappears as we approach the Slauson Ave. bridge. Here you can access the path from the bridge itself or via a gateway off of District Bl. 

The Slauson Ave. bridge.

Walk under the bridge and right away you'll see the gated entrance to Maywood Riverfront Park on your right.

The river may be in Bell, but the park is in the city of Maywood.

Opened in 2006, the location of this park was once so polluted by factories that it was declared a Superfund site. Today, it's a 7-acre refuge in the most densely populated city west of the Mississippi. There is a decent amount of plush grass and dozens of shady trees surrounding picnic benches, playgrounds, basketball courts, handball courts, a restroom and a water fountain...but no poop bags.

The park more than doubled Maywood's green spaces!

When you're done rolling in the grass, head back to the bike path and turn right. Here the river bends due south and makes a beeline toward the Pacific ocean. Over the next mile we'll pass Bell's westernmost neighborhoods and a few river access points when we go under the Randolph St. railroad bridge, the Gage Ave. bridge, and the Florence Ave. bridge.

The Gage Ave. and Randolph St. bridges.

Soon after passing Florence Ave., we'll enter Cudahy, the second smallest city in L.A. County. Continue on the bike path (you'll pass an access point at Live Oak St.) until we get to the Clara St. bridge, about 2 miles south of the path's starting point on Atlantic.

Take the stairs on the south side of the Clara St. bridge down to River Rd. and you'll find the entrance to Cudahy River Park. This mini-park, opened in 2009, was another former Superfund site that now serves the city as a storm water capture and cleaning facility, as well as a nice place to relax on a bench under a shady tree.

Just like "the dog in the fight", size doesn't matter.

Walk the short path through the park which takes us back onto River Rd. Take a right onto the sidewalk and in a moment we'll pass the Park Ave. Elementary school, then another river access point just before we find the west entrance to Cudahy City Park.

This park not only has nice facilities such as well-lit basketball courts, a baseball field, multiple playgrounds, restrooms and water fountains, it's also the home of Cudahy City Hall and the Cudahy Library. You can do it all here (except find poop bags), including cooking out because most of the picnic benches come with small barbecue grills.

It's pronounced Cue-Dah-Hee.

Return to River Rd. and cross the street to access a ramp that takes us back onto the bike path. Head south, and in a minute we'll walk beneath the Patata St. railroad bridge; which marks the border between Cudahy and the city of South Gate.

This approximately 2-mile section of the path through South Gate passes an interesting mix of residential neighborhoods and industrial facilities. Access to the path can be found off the Firestone Bl. bridge, and via gateways at the western ends of Southern Ave. and Tweedy St.

Looking south from the Southern Ave. entrance.

Just beyond Tweedy St., the 710 freeway crosses the river. A ramp provides access to the river channel for the Caltrans crews responsible for maintaining the bridge.

Standing beneath the freeway.

Walk under the freeway and to your right you'll see the future home of Parque Dos Rios. This 7.6 acre plot between the 710 and the river will someday be a wildlife habitat with trails and direct access to the bike path. About a half-dozen different organizations are involved in the project, yet 7 years after it was purchased in 2008 we're still waiting for something to get done.

I see lots of potential; what's taking so long?

Look across the river and you'll see the confluence of the L.A. River and the Rio Hondo. The Rio Hondo is a 16+ mile tributary that flows here from Irwindale. The Emerald Necklace trail runs along much of the river - but that's an adventure for another day.

Concrete, concrete,  everywhere - nor any drop to drink...

A few hundred yards past the 710 is the Imperial Highway bridge and just beyond that is the end of the South County Bike Path.

The end of the line...for now.

The L.A. River master plan will someday create a continuous path along the west side of the river. But for now, to continue south, we must backtrack and cross the bridge over to the east side where we'll find the LARIO Bike Path.

Now that's what I call a U-Turn!

In Part 9, I'll resume our journey and explore the southern section of the LARIO Bike Path. Along the way we'll visit some cool parks and see if there really is any drama in the LBC. Until then...


...see you on the river!

Chloe Canine-Angeleno




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

LA Mountains

KCET

North East Trees 



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. 




For info about the places I've visited upstream from Vernon, click on the links below:

Part 1 - Western San Fernando Valley

Part 2 - Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area

Part 3 - Eastern San Fernando Valley

Part 4 - Burbank and Glendale

Part 5 - Glendale Narrows East

Part 6 - Glendale Narrows West

Part 7 - Downtown Los Angeles and Vernon