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.

The Los Angeles River #3 - East San Fernando Valley

Greetings Canine Angelenos!



Its time to visit my favorite place in town again... the L.A. River!

In Part 1 of my dog-centric look at the river, I covered the Western San Fernando Valley, from where the river starts at Headwaters to the Sepulveda Basin Dog Park.

In Part 2, I followed the river all the way through the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area.

Today, In Part 3, I'll travel through the Eastern San Fernando Valley - from Sepulveda Bl. in Sherman Oaks to Cahuenga Bl. in Studio City. 

This route will have us, for the most part, traveling along Valleyheart Dr. from West to East.

Valleyheart Dr. runs parallel to the river from Sepulveda Bl. to the edge of Griffith Park in Burbank. However, there are many places where the road disappears then reappears (an annoying trait of many roads in The Valley) and it often splits in two, thus creating North Valleyheart and South Valleyheart. 

This can be a little frustrating but as long as you drive close to the river, you'll find the road. 



* Sepulveda Bl. to Kester St.
    (Thomas Guide 561 H3 & J3)

The walking path on the South side of the river is currently (June 2014) under construction as part of the L.A. Riverfront Park Project - Phase II - its full of construction vehicles and piles of dirt. As with many city construction projects, the published planned completion dates are rarely accurate so I won't even mention them here. When its done I'll let everybody know via my Twitter feed so follow me to get the latest information.

The beautification of our river is an ongoing process.

On the North side there is "unofficial access" (aka. no fence) and you can walk along the river there - I saw people and dogs using it when I last visited.

Looking East from the Sepulveda bridge.

 

* Kester St. to Van Nuys Bl.
    (Thomas Guide 561 J3; 562 A3)

Running between Kester St. and Cedros Ave. along the North side of the river is Ernie's Walk, a 1/3 mile long path with some benches and nice shady landscaping. In the late 1980's, a local resident named Ernie La Mere took it upon himself to improve this stretch of the river by prodding city officials to clean up the area, planting flowers, and making a small cemetery for neighborhood pets. L.A. needs more people like Ernie. 

Ernie was obviously a pet lover. Thanks Ernie!

There is currently a locked gate when you reach Cedros, but extending the walkway East to Van Nuys Bl. has been proposed as part of the L.A. Riverfront Park Project.

There is no access to the path on the South side of the river.

I got an early start today at Ernie's Walk...maybe too early.

* Van Nuys Bl. to Fulton St.
    (Thomas Guide 562 A3, A4, B4, C4, D4 & D5)

There is no access to the river along this stretch through Sherman Oaks. However, between Hazeltine Ave. and Woodman Ave., on the South side of the river, there is unofficial access (as I noted earlier that just means there is no fence stopping you from walking along the path).

There is a footbridge that crosses the river on Sunnyslope Ave., between Woodman and Fulton, that connects Valleyheart and Rye St. The bridge lets you get a good look up or downstream of the river. Seems to me like an excellent access point for a future park project.



* Fulton St. to Coldwater Canyon Bl.
    (Thomas Guide 562 D5 & E5)

The Valleyheart Riverwalk Greenway is one of the nicest stretches of the river and its being improved upon as I write this blog. When completed it will make a loop trail of just over 1 mile.

This spot is beautiful. I can't wait until both sides are opened.

On the North side, The Village Gardeners, an organization made up of neighborhood LA River lovers, have created a beautifully landscaped trail with trees, benches, poop bag dispensers and trash cans. The site is under construction and there is currently no access. The re-opening and ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on June 21st at 9am - we'll be able to visit this great new addition to the river in just a few weeks.

 ***UPDATE***

THE NORTH SIDE IS NOW ACCESSIBLE AND IT IS GORGEOUS! CHECK OUT MY POST WITH THE LATEST DETAILS FROM MY VISIT IN JULY 2014

On the South side, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority and the County of LA run the Richard Lillard Outdoor Classroom. Created in 2003, it was the first LA River park in The Valley.

Designed with students in mind, there are signs along the path that display information about the river, an amphitheater, and beautiful landscaping that restored native plants and trees.

I explored and did my research at the same time. I'm a multi-tasking hound!

The park is named after Richard Lillard, who was a prominent Los Angeles ecologist that helped lead the fight against making Mulholland Dr. into a freeway and was one of the first people to propose a park in the Santa Monica Mountains to permanently preserve open space. 



* Coldwater Canyon Bl. to Whitsett Ave.
    (Thomas Guide 562 E5 & F5)

There is no official access to this section of the river, but negotiations are under way with developers of the Whitsett Golf Course to possibly/hopefully create the L.A. River Natural Park as another part of L.A. Riverfront Park Project. The all volunteer organization Save L.A. River Open Space is working hard to preserve this area; The Valley's last 16 acres of unprotected open space along the river.

There is unofficial access on the North side from Alcove Ave. (south of Woodbridge St.) to the golf course on Bellaire Ave.

There is also unofficial access on the South side stretching from the parking lot Behind Jerry's Deli to Whitsett Ave.



* Whitsett Ave. to Laurel Canyon Bl.
    (Thomas Guide 562 F5 & G5)

On the South side, the L.A. River Greenway Park is accessible from the Whitsett Ave. bridge. 

A paved walkway runs behind some businesses and a parking lot that face Ventura Bl. About half way to Laurel Canyon, a footbridge crosses the river on Laurel Grove Ave. and provides additional access. This area has very little in the way of amenities but does provide some natural relief from the hustle and bustle of Ventura Bl. 

I need my sunglasses - this is L.A. after all.

There is unofficial access to the North side.


* Laurel Canyon Bl. to Colfax Ave.
    (Thomas Guide 562 G5)

At the intersection of Laurel Canyon and S. Valleyheart you will find The Great Toad Gate, which is the entrance to the Valleyheart Greenway Path. This short path only goes as far East as Radford Ave. but provides a nice extension to your walk in the L.A. River Greenway Park; just be very careful crossing Laurel Canyon.

We need a Great Dog Gate somewhere along the river too...

Although the path is short, the landscaping, which includes a hummingbird and butterfly garden, makes it a pleasant trek. You also can visit the Rattlesnake Wall, a giant rattlesnake sculpture that makes me very glad they really aren't that big.

His tail is around the corner!

The path ends at Radford Ave. as the river enters the CBS Television back lot.

There is only unofficial access to the North side of the river.



* Colfax Ave. to Tujunga Bl.
    (Thomas Guide 562 H5, H6 & J6)

There are two ways to access this section from the West. You can descend the stairs on the Southeast corner of the Colfax Bridge or you can enter from the end of Dilling St., which can be reached by going North on Colfax then turning right onto Chiquita St., right onto Troost Ave., then right again onto Dilling.

From the Colfax Bridge - The Tujunga Wash merges with the river on the CBS TV lot.

A footbridge crossing the river is at the trailhead which gives you the option of walking on either side of the river. From Whitsett to the Tujunga Ave. bridge (which you'll need to cross) makes for a pleasant 1.1 loop hike. 

The South side is easier on the paws but I love a loop hike.

Also at the trailhead is a poop bag dispenser and access to another trail that heads North along the Tujunga Wash.



* Tujunga Bl. to Vineland Ave.
    (Thomas Guide 562 J6, J5 & 563 A5)

There is no access to the river anywhere along this stretch.



* Vineland Ave. to Cahuenga Bl.
    (Thomas Guide 563 A5 & B5)

There is no real access to the river here but that doesn't mean there's nothing fun to do.

The Central Branch of the Tujunga Wash, which gets it start near Valley Plaza in North Hollywood, joins the river here and splits Weddington Park into North and South sections.

South Weddington Park, which is only accessible by turning onto Valleyheart from Lankershim Bl., has plenty of things for a dog to do including running through plush grass, chilling under some shady trees, and digging at the gopher mounds that are everywhere in this park.

If you like digging for gophers (and who doesn't?), this is the place for you.

The park is divided into two sections by a couple of nice little league fields. The East side has a path that goes almost 1/2 mile around the park. The West side has become an unofficial off-leash area and gives you a good view of where the wash and the river merge. There are plenty of water fountains and trash cans around but no poop bag dispensers (the apartment complex across the street has some). There are public restrooms too.

The 'secret' off-leash park.

North Weddington Park is much more developed than the South and includes a Community Center, two gorgeous little league fields, a vegetable garden for teaching children about growing food, hand ball courts, picnic benches, a nice playground, and a 1/2 mile walking path that goes most of the way around the park. There are plenty of water fountains and trash cans but no poop bag dispensers. There are public restrooms here as well.

I think they should build a footbridge connecting these two parks.

This park is also only accessible from Lankershim Bl. Go North on Lankershim and take a left onto Acama St. which is about 1/4 mile up the road from Valleyheart.

 

The kids have their playground...and I have mine.

From here the river heads East behind the Universal City studio lot and makes its way toward Burbank - which is where we'll continue our journey in a future blog.




I hope this blog makes you realize that the L.A. River, even in the most developed areas, can be a fun place to take your pack.

See you on the river!

Chloe Canine-Angeleno




Resources used to write this blog:

Down By The Los Angeles River by Joe Linton

The Los Angeles River: Its Life, Death, and Possible Rebirth by Blake Gumprecht

KCET

The River Project

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.