The Los Angeles River UPDATE! - The San Fernando Valley Update 2

When I began my exploration of the Los Angeles River earlier this year, there were many places in the San Fernando Valley where access to the river was impossible or very impractical.

However, over the summer, a lot has changed and it seems like every passing month brings our river closer and closer to becoming an asset to Valley life instead of the concrete eyesore it's been for years.

In Update #1 I visited the Headwaters Greenway in Canoga Park and the North side of the Valleyheart Riverwalk Greenway in Studio City - two gorgeous new additions that opened this year.

Today I'm going to show you the latest piece of the 51 mile long puzzle the city is slowly putting together - the beautiful new bike path on the South side of the river that runs from the end of the Headwaters Greenway to the Van Alden footbridge in Reseda. 

Opened in late August, the bike path begins at the Mason Ave. bridge and makes it's way East for 2 miles. Along the way there are plenty of benches, water fountains, nice landscaping, and solar powered lights - but no poop bag dispensers. (I may have to start a Poop Bag Foundation or something to raise money for this issue that's all too common along the river.)

The path meanders along the Southern bank of the river and there is no access to the North side for this entire stretch - I imagine that's a project for another day.

The Mason Ave. bridge is where our journey begins.

As soon as you get on the path there is easy access to the water which, on most days, is barely deep enough to cover your paws.

Just 1/10th of a mile West of Mason brings you to the Van Owen St. bridge, where the river makes it's first of many slight turns to the South.

Access is through one of the pretty gates that are found along the entire length of the river.

A 1/2 mile stroll from Van Owen finds us at the Winnetka Ave. bridge, where you'll find a brand new exercise station similar to those found at many of L.A.'s parks and recreation centers.

Looking West at the beautiful mountains and the Winnetka Ave. Bridge.

Continue West for just over another 1/2 mile and the Corbin bridge appears just before the river takes it second slight bend to the South.

Foe some reason, we were the only ones here on a beautiful weekend morning....

A little more than 1/2 mile past Corbin is the Tampa Ave. bridge, near the busy intersection of Tampa and Victory Bl.

Everything is so new and clean around here - let's keep it that way.

Another 1/4 mile walk and we are at the end of the line, the Van Alden Ave. footbridge.

The Van Alden Ave. footbridge connects the trail with Reseda to the North and Tarzana to the South.

The first 3.09 miles from Headwaters is now complete...

That's the end of the road for now. Since there is no access to the North side of the river, this is an out and back trip of just over 4 miles... a great way to get some exercise whether you're traveling by paw or on a bike.


*Strange footnote:

On the day we visited, under each of the bridges (but nowhere else), there were dozens and dozens of spiders hanging from webs they made between the railings of the fence that separates the bike path from the river.

I've never seen anything like it before. If anyone has any idea why they do this please send me an email. Until then...



See you on the river!


Chloe Canine-Angeleno







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

The Los Angeles Times


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.

The Los Angeles River UPDATE! - The San Fernando Valley Update 1

Greetings Canine Angelenos!


As I've been making my way along the Los Angeles River, I've come across many sections where there is still no access. The dream of the Los Angeles River Master Plan, once implemented, is for us to enjoy the entire river....but for now its a work in progress.

But progress is indeed being made. 

Over the past few weeks, two new places have opened up in the San Fernando Valley, providing us with almost 3.5 more miles of trails to bike and walk on - including just under 1.5 miles of the 51 mile long river that weren't accessible until now.

*** THE HEADWATERS GREENWAY *** 

In Part 1 of my river exploration,  I covered it from its start at the Headwaters in Canoga Park to the Sepulveda Basin Dog Park. In my original post, there was no access along the river from the Headwaters to Reseda Park. 

But in early July, the grand opening of the Headwaters Project added nearly 1.5 miles of access on both sides of the river - between the Owensmouth Ave. bridge and the Mason Ave. bridge.

The starting point at Owensmouth Ave. & Bassett St. in Canoga Park - only 51 miles to Long Beach!

I started my adventure on the North side and headed East on a smooth dirt pathway that is suitable for bikes as well as pedestrians. Almost immediately, the fencing separating us from the river disappears and you can go down the steep embankment to the water. You also pass the first of many nice benches that are next to brand new poop bag dispensers and trash cans.

They should have planted some shade trees over the benches, but nice work otherwise.

You'll encounter 4 bridges on your journey, all of which provide access to the trail from the street: 


* at 1/5th of a mile into your walk you'll pass under the Canoga Ave. bridge and a Metro Orange line bridge which runs alongside it.

Looking back to the West as the bus passes overhead.

* at the 1/2 mile mark you'll pass a footbridge at Variel Ave. 

Only pedestrians and bikes can cross the river here.

* at 3/4 of a mile you'll pass under the DeSoto Ave. bridge, which only provides clearance up to 6 feet. Be careful all you bikers and tall people (its not a problem for those of us under 2 feet tall).

Share the path (and duck) if you need to.

* at 1.2 miles you'll veer off the river path for a moment to cross a footbridge where Browns Canyon Wash, a tributary which flows South for just over 10 miles from it's origins in the Santa Susana Mountains, joins the river.

The confluence of the LA River and Browns Canyon Wash

*Finally, at almost 1.4 miles, you'll come to the Mason Ave. bridge where the trail ends. At this point you can return the way you came or walk South on the bridge to a gated entrance that provides access to the South side of the river.

South side entrance from the Mason Ave. bridge.

The South side trail follows the river just as the North side does with a few notable differences:


* Right away you'll see where the path will eventually continue East, but there is a locked gate blocking the way. This section will continue on to Winnetka Ave. and is scheduled to open in August.  

Follow me on Twitter and I'll let you know exactly when its open.

Construction delays prevent us from going further East...for now.

* Another thing you'll notice right away is a paved pedestrian path that runs intermittently alongside the dirt bike path from here to the Variel Ave. footbridge.

* When you get to the DeSoto Ave. bridge you must leave the path and cross DeSoto Ave. (unlike the North side where you go under it). Be careful crossing the busy street then re-connect with the path via a gated entrance. 

*The trail stops at the Canoga Ave. bridge, leaving you with two options:

1. Go North on the bridge and reconnect with the North side trail;

or

2. Walk under the bridge along a steep embankment which has signage telling you not to do this (I can't read so I did it anyway). From here a path continues to the Owensmouth Ave. bridge, making for a round trip of just under 3 miles.


I must say that this new greenway is very nice and I'm happy to have more of the river to dip my paws into.

A wet dog is a happy dog.

*** VALLEYHEART RIVERWALK GREENWAY ***

In Part 3 of my exploration, I covered the river from the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area on Sepulveda Bl. to where it enters the Universal Studios lot near the intersection of Lankershim Bl. and Cahuenga Bl. in Studio City.

In my original post, the North side of the Valleyheart Riverwalk Greenway was not yet completed. Well, thanks to the wonderful people who make up The Village Gardeners, the end of June saw the grand opening of the completed greenway.  Now we have access on both sides of the river between Fulton Ave. and Coldwater Canyon Ave. in Sherman Oaks.

The new entrance at Valleyheart Dr. and Fulton Ave.

The trail is perfectly groomed dirt that is easy on the paws with poop bag dispensers, trash cans, benches, and beautiful landscaping along the entire 1/2 mile of new riverside access.  

The trail is fenced off from the river so you can't jump in. There aren't any fountains either, so make sure to bring water.

It sure is pretty

There is also this very neat looking fish mural made of stones.

I'm used to seeing Keep Off The Grass signs, but Keep Off The Fish?! That's a new one.

Depending on the direction you're going, you can cross either the Coldwater Canyon bridge or the Fulton Ave. bridge to make a nice 1 mile loop along both sides of the river... a great way to spend a little time on a hot summer's day.






This was the first of what's sure to be many L.A. River/San Fernando Valley updates. Of course, I'll happily backtrack along any section that I've already covered to bring you the latest info.


My next river post will cover the Glendale Narrows from the "Great Bend" in Glendale to the river's confluence with the Arroyo Seco just North of Downtown Los Angeles. Until then, visit my website at www.CanineAngeleno.com for pictures and info about lots of other fun things a dog can do in our wonderful City of Canines... ok, Angels (same thing?)






See you on the river!


Chloe Canine-Angeleno







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

The Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Daily News
The Village Gardeners
KCET


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.