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.

*Canine Camping Tips

Greetings fellow Canine Angelenos!


Summer is in full swing and one my pack’s favorite things to do this time of year is to go camping! And why not? Los Angeles is close to some of the most amazing natural wonders on the planet...

Is there a better way to escape the heat of the city than to spend some quiet time in the Eastern Sierras or rolling around in the cool, wet sand at Big Sur? I doubt it.

To make sure you have a safe and enjoyable adventure, here are some things to consider before camping with your you canine companions:

*** BEFORE YOU LEAVE ***

- Make sure our rabies vaccinations are up to date. There are critters in the woods that might be rabid and getting bit by one of them is bad enough... getting rabies from them would really ruin the trip.

I know the shots are necessary but that doesn't mean I have to like them.

- Apply your preferred flea medicine or get us a flea collar. Make sure that whichever method you choose also works on those nasty ticks. And don't forget to pack a brush so you can find the little buggers and a tick spoon to remove them. (Check out my blog about how to deal with ticks and other common outdoor hazards we canines might have to deal with.)


- Make sure we have some sort of ID on us like a tag or a collar with your cell number on it in case we become separated from the pack.


- Don't forget to bring any medications we are currently using.


- Find the address and phone number of the nearest animal hospital to your campsite.


- Research for activities that the whole pack can participate in - know your dog's capabilities and limitations and plan accordingly.

(Hint: National Forests are usually the most dog friendly places to camp, have the same features as many National Parks, and are usually much less crowded).

*** IN THE CAR ***

- To get to your campsite often involves a long ride in the car. To make life easier on all of us, make sure the dog has a comfortable space where they can lie down and nothing will fall on top of them if you have to hit the brakes.


- Water, a dish, and a snack or two are absolutely essential.


- Have some easily accessible poop bags for the inevitable pit stop.

That was a long ride. Let me know when you guys are done setting up camp...

*** AT THE CAMPSITE ***

- A weather-proof, outdoor bed is always a good thing to have. Of course most of us canines will just lie in the dirtiest spot we can find under a shady tree, but its nice to have a comfortable place to rest after a long day of outdoor fun.

You shall not pass...

- Bring your dog's regular food that they eat at home so they don't get an upset stomach; and of course dishes for that food and water. Its very important that you don't leave any uneaten food around as it will attract unwanted visitors (I've heard bears love dog food).

Sure I'd rather have one of your cheeseburgers, but its best for me to eat my regular food.

- Take a couple of our favorite toys along to keep us occupied while you're lounging around the campsite.


 - A shade canopy is a great addition to your camping gear. It gives all of us a shady spot whenever the sun is beating down on the campsite and keeps leaves, pine needles, etc. from falling onto the food while we eat.

Everything seems to be in order here.

- A long tie/lead if your dog tends to roam into other people's campsites.


- A bed for inside the tent, unless you want us to share your air mattress with you. (Full disclosure: I have a bed in the tent but I sleep in pack leader's bed anyway...its nice and warm there.)

*** ON THE GO ***

- Hiking is one of the best parts of any camping trip. See my previous blog for details about what you need for a fun and safe hiking adventure.


- If you plan to go boating or even just swimming a lot, a life jacket is essential. Many models come with a handle on the back so you humans can just pick us up like a brief case and carry us to shore (or help us back into the boat).

I'm queen of the world!

*** MISC ***

- Towels...lots of towels. Every dog's mission on a camping trip is to get as dirty and wet as we possibly can; that's the most fun part of the trip as far as most of us are concerned. Unless you want a dirty wet dog in your tent, on your mattress, in your car, etc..... bringing plenty of towels is a must. And don't forget some rope to make a clothesline at your campsite so you can dry those towels.

I'm not quite completely covered in mud and dirt, but I'm working on it...

- If camping is a regular activity in your pack, start introducing a new puppy early. It can be a stressful situation for an inexperienced dog. I went on my first camping trip at 6 months old and now I'm an expert...its my favorite thing to do in the whole world.

My first trip was to the Sequoia Nat'l. Forest. Surrounded by the world's biggest trees and all I wanted was this little stick.

I hope you found my short checklist of camping tips useful. These things will make a good time with the whole pack even better. 

If you have any questions or are looking for suggestions on places to go, visit my website (www.CanineAngeleno.com) and use the contact page to ask your question or just say hello.


See you at the campground!

Chloe Canine-Angeleno








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.

*A Mission To Visit Some Parks in the San Gabriel Valley

Greetings Canine Angelenos!

My pack and I traveled to the city of San Gabriel to visit some friends and check out a couple of the local parks. We didn't do much planning (just looked for green spaces in our Thomas Guide), but we could not have been more pleasantly surprised by two of the nicest parks I've encountered in Los Angeles County.

*** VINCENT LUGO PARK *** 

Rating: 4 Paws

Corner of Wells St. and Ramona St.
San Gabriel, CA 91776
626-308-2875


Vincent Lugo Park, named after the former San Gabriel parks commissioner who helped turn a landfill into this beautiful place, is San Gabriel's largest park and has just about everything a dog could ever want in it.

This park has it all...even a farmer's market!

The landscaping is gorgeous. Native plants grow alongside a dry riverbed with small bridges crossing the river in a few places. A perfect little baseball field sits at the East end of the park and an outdoor classroom is available to teach the local kids about the natural and cultural history of the neighborhood.

Unfortunately, you can't swim in a dry river...

There are 3 easy to walk paths that total just over 1 mile and take you through the entire park.

The longest of the 3 paths goes alongside the Alhambra Wash.

There is plush grass to roll in, dozens of shady trees to lounge under, picnic benches, water fountains, public restrooms and poop bag dispensers. 

My compliments to the groundskeeper - this lawn is like a golf course.

This place really does have it all, including one unique feature just for the small human members of the pack....

How many parks have a playground ranked by Yahoo as one of America's Top 10?

La Laguna de San Gabriel (aka. Dinosaur Park) is a unique playground built in the 1960's that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. It's full of hand sculpted sea creatures that the kids can climb on and slide down while their parents sit on a bench under some shade trees. A must visit for any little Human Angeleno...

Bummer for me...dogs aren't allowed on the slides.

  

*** ALMANSOR PARK ***

Rating: 3 Paws

800 S. Almansor Ave.

Alhambra, CA 91801

626-570-5081

Only about a mile down the road from Vincent Lugo Park is the entrance to Almansor Park in Alhambra - a recreation center for humans that has facilities for just about every sport imaginable.

This place is designed for human games, but there are plenty of things for a doggie to do as well.

There are baseball fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, ping pong tables, soccer fields.... even a lawn bowling club!

I'm not exactly sure what lawn bowling is, but anything that involves rolling things in the grass is ok by me.

There is also plenty of grass and trees for a dog to explore and there are water fountains spread throughout the park; but not a poop bag dispenser to be found. Additionally, there's an area designed for parties that includes a cabana and some barbecue grills and dogs are allowed to join in the festivities.

Some green grass is all I need to have a good time.

Baseball Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner is an Alhambra legend and there is a nice statue of him next to the baseball fields.

Ralph Kiner hit 50+ home runs twice in his major league career - a big deal back in the 1940's.

Right in the middle of the park is a little pond with a pretty water fountain that is full of birds and turtles.

I love lakes and ponds....even the ones I'm not allowed to go swimming in.

Next to the pond is a bunch of picnic tables where you can have a snack and enjoy the scenery; just watch out for the bird droppings because apparently birds have no qualms about doing their business just about anywhere.

The birds like this park so much that they're dancing on the picnic tables...

That's all for this week's adventures. I hope you visit and enjoy these wonderful parks soon and be sure to check out my website CanineAngeleno.com for more great places to take your humans. 

Click here to see what factors I look at to come up with my park ratings.


See you at the park!

Chloe Canine-Angeleno









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

The City of San Gabriel

The City of Alhambra

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.