The Los Angeles River #6: Glendale Narrows West

Greetings Canine Angelenos!

Welcome to the 6th 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 my exploration of the river's West to East section.

In Part 5,  I journeyed along the Glendale Narrows by exploring the East side of the river; from the "Great Bend" to the Riverside-Figueroa bridge.

And now, in Part 6, we'll check out the West side of the Glendale Narrows.

Let's get going!



* Ferraro Fields to Los Feliz Bl. Bridge

In Part 4, we ended our West side journey across the street from the Ferraro Soccer Fields, which are in a small slice of Griffith Park that is separated from the main park by the 5 Freeway. This is a good place to park your car while we continue our journey South because there is easy access to the bike path.

Dog Park! Its not the greatest dog park in town, but I'll save that for another blog post.

Walk through the gate opening and we'll have access to the water right away - a good spot for a quick dip before we get started. After getting our paws wet, head South along the bike path and soon the riverside fence will block us from the water as we walk under the 134 Freeway.

After just over 1/2 mile of walking, the fence opens up again and we can get to the water. The vegetation that is so common in the Glendale Narrows makes its first appearance here and the birds are glad to see it. If you can put the noise of the 5 Freeway out of your mind, it looks and feels like the natural river it was so long ago.

Hello Mr. Heron!

Shortly (just over 1 mile from our start) we'll pass under the Colorado St. Bridge and another 1/3 of a mile takes us past Tunnel #1, which goes under the 5 Freeway and provides access to Griffith Park. This tunnel is mostly used by horses and their people who have crossed the river from Atwater Village on their way to have fun in the park.

Griffith Park's Tunnel 1 leads us into the park near the Crystal Springs Picnic Area

Continue South for another 1/2 mile and the fence once again prevents access to the river as we approach Los Feliz Bl.

Time to get back on the bike path...or get our paws wet walking under the bridge.

* Los Feliz Bl. Bridge to Glendale-Hyperion Bridge

Instead of going under the bridge, we decided to go over it via the Alex Baum Bicycle Bridge, which was built in 2002 to provide safe passage over Los Feliz Bl. and is dedicated to Alex Baum, a major player in the effort to turn L.A. into a bike-friendly city.

The 'arch' is supposed to represent the spokes on a bicycle wheel...

Soon after Los Feliz Bl., the vegetation grows almost to the river bank, limiting our access to the main part of the river. However, there is still water to splash in most days.

Looking North toward the Los Feliz Bridge....there's no place quite like L.A. is there?

Just over 1/3 mile South of Los Feliz Bl., there are two footbridges that provide access to the river. The Sunnynook footbridge goes over the river to the East side and beyond to Atwater Village. The Griffith Park Recreation Center footbridge takes us over the 5 Freeway and into the recreation center, where there is grass to roll in, picnic benches, water fountains, trash cans, and tennis courts.

Over the river...

...or over the freeway.

Immediately after the footbridges is the Sunnynook River Park. Opened in 2013, its almost 3-1/2 acres of native plants, benches, info signs, and the Luis McAdams Riverwalk, which ends just before the Glendale-Hyperion bridge.

The trail is named in honor of Luis McAdams, the co-founder of FoLAR.

Approximately 0.6 miles South of Los Feliz Bl. brings us to the Glendale-Hyperion bridge.





* Glendale-Hyperion Bridge to Glendale Fwy. Overpass

Walk under the bridge (or stay on the bike path) and you'll pass the Red Car pylons that still stand many years after the Red Cars made their last run. This is perhaps the prettiest section of the river and the speed of the water picks up considerably.

Check out my post about the East side of the Glendale Narrows for more about the Red Cars.

The next 3/4 of a mile is a beautiful walk leading us to the Fletcher Dr. bridge. Pass under the bridge and almost immediately to our right is a small park and a pathway leading up to Fletcher Drive. Take the pathway and check out one of the nicest of the many gates along the river.

The Great Heron Gate is the entrance to Rattlesnake Park, a pocket park with benches and trash cans that was built by Northeast Trees in 1997. The park is named after the nest of rattlesnakes they found during construction. The snakes were relocated and now this park is one of the official points for kayakers to enter the river.

Nice gate......so you're sure the rattlesnakes are gone?

Return to the bike path and walk another 1/4 mile to reach the Glendale Freeway (Rte. 2) overpass.

Under the freeway is one of the most popular spots for fishing on the river...that's right, I said fishing.

* Glendale Fwy. Overpass to Riverside-Figueroa Bridge

The next 2.3 miles is by far the most developed section of the river for recreation. There is a lot to see here and it seems like every couple of months brings us something new to explore.

Just beyond the overpass is the newest addition to the river's fun spots. Phase II of Marsh Park just opened in August 2014 and its sure to be a hit for years to come.

Near the riverside entrance to the new Marsh Park Phase II

There is a big parking lot here with EV charging stations, a building to host events, restrooms, an exercise course, lots of grass, benches, poop bag dispensers and a dog-friendly water fountain.

Any park that has one of these is OK in my book...

Back on the bike path, another 1/4 mile brings us to the original Marsh Park with it's funky playground, benches, grass, a water fountain and poop bag dispenser.

Well this isn't something you see everyday at the playground...

Just past Marsh Park, the vegetation in the river grows right up to the bank, blocking access to the water for almost a mile. However, there are plenty of things to keep us busy along the way.

About 0.6 miles South of the Glendale Freeway is tiny Elysian Valley Gateway Park. This was the first park built along the river back in 1996. It has picnic benches, a poop bag dispenser, trash cans, and a water fountain. There's some grass to roll in too. Not bad for a little park.

Its been 18 years since this park opened...a lot has happened since then.

A two minute walk past Elysian Valley Gateway Park and we're at perhaps the coolest and certainly most unique new feature of the Glendale Narrows...The Frog Spot.

"The Frog Spot serves as both a community gathering space and as a launching pad for excursions into the river..." say the good people at FoLAR, the creators of this wonderful idea.

An "oasis" along the banks of the LA River

Underneath their shady canopy you'll find a concession stand where you can buy snacks, a cool drink, or a hot cup of coffee. The first thing they asked Pack Leader when we got there was "Can I offer you some water for your dog?" Are these people great or what?

On the weekends there are often bands playing, barbecues, and a variety of educational programs for kids and their Pack Leaders......I mean parents.

The next mile or so along the bike path takes you past the occasional bench to take a break at and offers views of the Taylor Train Yard across the river. Soon the vegetation recedes from the bank and the river can be seen again in all its glory.

My sentiments exactly.

At just over two miles South of the Glendale Freeway overpass you'll find Steelhead Park. Here there's a small amphitheater used for educating kids about the river, info signs, a water fountain and a little bit of grass. There are no poop bag dispensers.

The Steelhead trout was once very common in the river.

Go South for another 1/4 mile to arrive at Egret Park and the end of the bike path. The small park has benches, water, trash cans, a porta-potty, poopbag dispenser, and a bunch of info signs.

If you like fancy gates, it really is hard to beat the parks of the Glendale Narrows.

You can see this awesome mural while relaxing on the benches of Egret Park.

The bike path may end here for now, but you can walk South of Egret Park along a dirt path that takes you to the construction site of Riverside-Figueroa bridge. The path ends at the train tracks near the junction of the 5 and 110 Freeways near Avenue 19. When we took these pictures in August 2014 you could see both the new bridge and the old one. Since the old bridge is going to be demolished, you'll have to get there soon to see it.

An effort to turn the old bridge into a park recently failed....

We found some strange things underneath the old bridge...

The end of the trail....and the Glendale Narrows.

We did it! We've covered the LA River from it's Headwaters to the end of the Glendale Narrows. Next stop is Downtown LA. Be sure to subscribe to my blog or visit my website to join me as I make my way toward Long Beach and the Pacific Ocean.


See you on the river!

Chloe Canine-Angeleno





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.

The Los Angeles River #4 - Burbank, Glendale, and the "Great Bend"

Greetings Canine Angelenos!

Welcome to the 4th 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 Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area.

In Part 3, I explored the Eastern San Fernando Valley - from Sepulveda Bl. in Sherman Oaks to Universal City. 

Today we'll pick up where we left off and make our way toward what I call "The Great Bend"; where the river makes a sharp turn to the South on its way to the ocean.

     *****     *****     *****     *****     *****     *****     *****     *****     *****     *****


We last saw the river as it disappeared into the back lot of Universal Studios. From here it heads almost due East into Burbank and enters the back lot of Warner Brothers Studios, running parallel with Forest Lawn Drive. There is no public access anywhere along this stretch. 

The next place where we can walk along the river is definitely off the beaten path. At the East end of the Warner Brothers lot, a security gate marks the the start of a trail used mostly by nearby residents and horse owners. You can reach this spot by parking as close as possible to the intersection of Valleyheart Dr. and California St. in Burbank (Thomas Guide 563 E5)

The Warner Brothers lot gate you've probably never seen...

The path runs along the North side of the river for just over a mile until it dead ends where the 134 Freeway crosses the river. Along the way we'll pass a nice little park and a tunnel that takes us to the next leg of our journey:

BUENA VISTA PARK begins about 1/3 mile East of the Warner Brothers gate. Its a small park that is divided into two sections by Riverside Drive. It has plenty of plush grass, shady trees, picnic tables, benches and trash cans. Unfortunately, there is no water available and no poop bag dispensers. 

I've been known to drink recycled water... just saying.

There is an odd looking sculpture to check out and great views of the mountains surrounding the Forest Lawn cemetery. You can also see the Headworks Reservoir construction project, which will eventually have trails on the South side of the river to explore but that won't happen until 2018 at the earliest.

"Requiem", created by Erwin Binder in 1988, is dedicated to "Defenders of the Constitution"

About 1/4 mile past the East end of the park, you'll find a tunnel that goes under the 134 Freeway. Walk through the tunnel and you'll come out near the rear entrance of the Disney Animation building. A new trail starts here and heads East. This trail is used heavily by horses so watch where you step!

There are no 'pick up the horse poop' rules, so watch where you put your paws!

You won't be able to see the river for about 4/10ths of a mile but don't worry, it appears again after you pass the 134 as it crosses over the river. From there, continue on for another 1/4 mile until you reach the intersection of Valleyheart Dr. and Mariposa St. 

Now the fun really begins...

At the end of Mariposa St., a bridge used by horses and their people crosses the river. From here we have a couple of options to continue exploring the river. Our first option is to not cross the bridge and take a path that begins on the East side of the bridge, leaving us on the North side of the river; OR we can cross the bridge and turn East to explore the South side. 

Either way is a nice trip in itself and you can make it a loop hike by crossing the river or the Riverside Drive Bridge. 

The horse bridge.

*** THE NORTH SIDE ROUTE ***

Continue East past the bridge (don't cross it) and you'll be on a sandy trail that goes by the L.A. Equestrian Center. After approximately 6/10ths of a mile, the trail will bend to the North as you run into the junction of the L.A. River and the Burbank Western Channel - a tributary of the L.A. River that begins near Sunland. Almost immediately you'll see another horse bridge that crosses the channel. Cross that bridge to resume your journey Eastward.

I'm calling this section the 100 Horse Trail because you'll see at least that many on the weekend.

Now you're at the West end of the Bette Davis Picnic Area, near the intersection of Western Ave. and Rancho Ave. in Glendale. At this point you've traveled about 1 mile from the Mariposa St. horse bridge.

The West end of the Bette Davis Picnic Area

Stay to your right and follow the trail and you'll quickly come to an opening in the fence that allows access to the river. This is the first place where we can wet our paws since we left the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area all the way back in Sherman Oaks (Read Part 2 of my L.A. River blog). Its time for some serious splashing!

Remember to pack a towel or the dog will make a big mess in the car on the way home.

From this point we have two options for exploring the North side of the river. One is to walk along the river itself; the other is to cut through the Bette Davis Picnic Area, then walk along a bike path:


*** North Route Option 1 - Along the River:

Once you walk down to the river just follow it downstream, walking slightly askew along the concrete embankment. You've now entered the section of the river known as The Glendale Narrows. Enjoy the cool water and watch the many birds that take advantage of this riparian zone in the middle of America's second biggest city. 

You're likely to see ducks, geese, egrets, coots, and many other species of birds...

About 1/4 mile downstream you'll pass under the Riverside Drive Bridge, the first in a series of 14 historic bridges that cross the river between here and Washington Bl. in downtown L.A.

Making my way East past the Riverside Drive Bridge.

Another 1/4 mile of walking takes you under the 5 Freeway near its junction with the 134 Freeway.

I'll bet those people stuck in traffic up there have no idea how nice it is down here

You can continue downstream for about another 1/4 mile until the embankment becomes too steep to walk on and the river takes makes its hard right turn Southward toward the Pacific.

Approaching the end of the line as the river turns South.

*** North Side Option 2 - The Park and the Riverwalk:

From the West end of the Bette Davis Picnic Area, enter the park and enjoy the well kept grass, dozens of shady trees, picnic benches, and a public restroom. 

A perfect spot for a cookie break.

The park is divided into two sections by Riverside Drive, so you'll need to cross the road over to the second section in order to continue our journey. 

Both sides of the Bette Davis Picnic Area have lots of nice grass to roll in.

Once you've entered the second section, walk to the Southern end of it (near the intersection of Garden St. and Paula Ave.) and enter the Glendale Narrows Riverwalk Park. This beautiful little park is the entrance to a 1/2 mile bike and pedestrian path that follows the river along the top of its concrete embankment. There are picnic benches, poop bag dispensers, and educational signage along the entire path. 

You can get some exercise and an education at the Glendale Narrows Riverwalk

The path ends on Flower St. close to where the river makes it's sharp turn to the South. You can return the way you came, however, about 3/4 of the way down the path there is access to the river itself, letting you make a loop hike while always being on the North side of the river.

Flower St. entrance gate to the Glendale Narrows Riverwalk

*** THE SOUTH SIDE ROUTE ***

To visit the South side, cross the horse bridge at the end of Mariposa then turn East. In a few hundred yards you'll be on a paved path that eventually takes you to the Riverside Dr. Bridge, just over a mile away. Along the way you'll pass Tunnel 6 which goes under the 134 Freeway and into Griffith Park. 

Griffith Park is too big to cover in this blog, but I'll be posting one all about Griffith Park very soon.

Shortly after you pass Tunnel 6, the fence separating you from the river opens up and you'll have access to the water just as you enter The Glendale Narrows. 

Ahhh, back to the river and all the wonderfully smelly things within it.

Once you reach the Riverside Drive bridge you have two options on how you can proceed. One is continuing alongside the river; the other is to take the very popular Glendale Narrows Bike and Pedestrian path:


*** South Side Option 1 - Along the River

Similar to the North side, from here its another 1/4 mile to the 5 Freeway near its junction with the 134 Freeway.

To continue along the river we have to walk under the bridge.

Another 1/3 of a mile of walking takes you the bend in the river, where the embankment gets too steep to continue. This is where the river ends its West to East journey and its the perfect place for us to turn around.

The wall at the "Great Bend" and the freeway interchange mark the end of the line.

*** South Side Option 2 - The Bike Path

Cross under the Riverside Drive bridge and walk up the embankment to the entrance of what's known as the Glendale Narrows/Elysian Vally Bike Path, which runs close to 7 1/2 miles from here to Egret Park on Riverside Dr.

Bike path entrance from the Riverside Dr. Bridge

You'll pass under the 5 Freeway on your way toward the river's turn to the South, all the while having access to the river through the gaps in the fence. When you reach the "Great Bend", the fence will no longer allow access to the river due to the steep embankment I mentioned earlier. 

As with the other possible routes to this point, this is where we end today's trip. We'll pick up our journey from this point in my next blog about the river.

The fence begins to restrict access to the river here - our starting point for Part 5 of my LA River exploration.

Well, that's it for our 4-part, West to East journey along the LA River. 

Subscribe to my blog and join me as I explore the North to South section and many other fun places for dogs and their pack to enjoy in our great city.

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

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.