Wildlife at The Glendale Narrows of the Los Angeles River

Los Angeles River at Glendale Narrows

Walking the Los Angeles River continues to surprise us. 

The curve of the River as it leaves the San Fernando Valley and heads toward the center of Los Angeles is called the Glendale Narrows.

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A small section has a natural bottom, rather than concrete, and the sweep of the curve, slows the water's flow. Together these aspects create another wildlife oasis.

black-necked stilts feeding in the River

As we walked with friends, we met a gentleman admiring the black-necked stilts. These tall black-and-white birds with pink legs are quite graphically beautiful. Our fellow birder turned out to be wildlife and landscape artist Andrew Peters who was opening an exhibit at the Autry Museum that afternoon as part of Masters of the American West 2016. He was visiting from Iowa and was stunned to find such diversity of bird life in the center of our metropolis. He took several photos of the stilts for a possible painting.

Downtown Los Angeles is now in view

We all agreed that the Los Angeles River is a treasure. Its a shame more people don't recognize the habitat it provides. 

Come down to the River and see for yourself. 

We're headed toward downtown and eventually Long Beach and the sea.

More Earth Minutes Walking the Los Angeles River
Discover the Headwaters of the Los Angeles River (least sandpipers, American crows) 
Walking the L.A. River - West San Fernando Valley (killdeer, mallards, American crows)
Discover L.A. River at Sepulveda Basin (red-tailed hawk, Canada geese, American wigeon)
Sepulveda Basin - An Earth Minute in One Spot (American coot, double-crested cormorant, song sparrow)

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Take a Stroll Under the Oaks - November in Rocky Oaks Park

We took an early stroll the day before Thanksgiving, 2015 in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area through a little 200 acre gem of a park.

 
Rocky Oaks Park is a short drive away from the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles.

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 Sunlight in the early morning plays through the oaks, pines, and rocks of the park.

Rocky Oaks Park is located in the 31500 block of Mulholland Highway west of the Kanan Road intersection. The entrance is on the north side of Mulholland Highway.

Take the Ventura Freeway (U.S. 101) to Kanan Road. South on Kanan Road to Mulholland Highway. Turn west (right) on Mulholland Highway and right again into the parking lot.

GPS Coordinates: N 34.0967 W -118.8141

Nice, well maintained trails.
Dogs allowed on leash.
Water available.
Meeting circle, ranger area under the oaks. 

 

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See these posts and Videos! 

Close-up with a Red Jumping Spider (California)

Visit Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park (endangered Channel Island fox)  

Yucca Blossoms on Angeles Crest Hwy  
Leaves on CA Native Plants Fight Drought
How Tall is a Redwood Tree?   

Discover the Headwaters of the Los Angeles River

Do you know the L.A. River? Really?

Discover the River walkway from the Headwaters to DeSoto Ave.

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They say the river begins where Bell Creek and the Calabasas Arroyo combine. Since the 1940s that location has been fixed just north of the intersection of Owensmouth and Vanowen in Canoga Park. (Just a skip away from the Topanga Mall.)

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The sculpted 'V' of the waters coming together forms a jut of land that is topped with the Canoga Park High School sports field. From Owensmouth east, a foot path has been added along the River. Native plants provide habitat for butterflies and birds, while thin riffles of water flow over narrow sandbars on a cement stream bed. 

It's quite beautiful really: the lines of the bridges, sweeping fins of concrete, heron-themed gateways.  

During a walk from Owensmouth to DeSoto and back, I saw a variety of bird species, including yellow-rumped warblers, a pair of white-crowned sparrows, and a black phoebe. 

small group of migrating least sandpipers

 Least sandpipers (Calidris minutilla) were stopping to feed on watery insects. While, American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) played 'catch the stone' mid-air over the water.

There were views of the Santa Susana and Santa Monica Mountains, where the water originates.

Benches built along the pathway offer respite for a thoughtful moment. Trash cans and dog waste stations are plentiful. Walk the north side of the River and the path will take you under Canoga Ave.

I'm excited to embrace the L.A. River as a place to visit, but this ideal is fragile. Neglect and trash can quickly mar the opportunity. Let's take ownership of our river. Use the plentiful trash cans and dog stations. We have a chance to recreate something soulful and living. Let's not allow apathy and ignorance to destroy this chance for a Walk by the River.

Discover more walks with wildlife around Los Angeles
Hidden Gardens of L.A.

Other Rivers and Streams:
Hike Limekiln Canyon Park, CA (Pacific tree frog, western fence lizard) 
Malibu Creek - Feel the Cool in Malibu Creek State Park, CA 
Arroyo Seco - Angeles National Forest
Discover Fern Canyon, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, CA  
The Voices of a River - (Lamoille Canyon, Ruby Mountains, Nevada)
Floating the Outlet Stream - Squanga Lake, Yukon, Canada (arctic grayling)
Take a Cruise on the Yellow Water, Kakadu, Australia (birds & saltwater crocodile)

Visit weekly for a New Earth Minute.

   

Arroyo Seco - Angeles National Forest - a little water for a thirsty world

Switzer Picnic Area in Angeles National Forest has a beautiful hiking path (Gabrieleno trail) along the tree lined stream bed of the Arroyo Seco. 

The Arroyo Seco or "dry stream" is an important watershed in southern California.

Although this stream can be seasonal, the plant and animal community it supports needs the moisture under the rocky bed all through the year.

Listen to the stream on the last week of spring.

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A good place to bird, too!

Fee: Adventure Pass required for vehicles.

Elevation: 3,300 feet

From the 210 Freeway exit at Angeles Crest Highway (Hwy 2) and head north about 9.5 miles to the picnic area on the right.

"While on a trail or in and around campgrounds and picnic areas, dogs must be kept on a leash. In addition, your dog must wear a collar with current tags at all times, as state and county laws apply on National Forest System lands."

 

For more wild spots near Los Angeles, visit us here  at 

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Walk Mulholland Hwy, Santa Monica Mts, CA

Looking for easy hiking terrain and great views of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley? 

Mulholland Drive / Hwy is a famous road in Los Angeles. It winds its way from the Hollywood Hills overlooking downtown, along the ridge of the Santa Monica Mountains and eventually to the sea near Leo Carrillo Beach. But a section has never been paved and is maintained as a fire-fighting access road. The wide dirt road is closed to vehicles and makes for easy walking with fantastic views.

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Walk the southern end of Mulholland's unpaved section with us in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. 

Take in the colors of the chaparral hillsides. Keep your eyes open for wildlife, especially birds. And be amazed by the spring wildflowers even in a drought year.

Golden stars (Boomeria crocea) are a native California chaparral wildflower, most closely related to lilies. The small amount of rain we had this spring was enough to encourage these ephemeral blooms to send up a flower stalk.

Other chaparral wildflowers: coyote mint, buckwheat, bush monkey flower, and more.

The manroot or wild cucumber (Marah fabaceus) is one of California's few native vines. It produces lemon-sized prickly seed pods that dry and burst open to spread the seed. The entire vine dies back, but the root lives on underground. Sometimes reaching the size of a person. It's a perfect adaptation for survival in a land of summer drought.

The dirt road is open to people, dogs, and horses. Rattlesnakes can be present. For the safety of dogs and wildlife, PLEASE keep dogs on a leash.

Side trails abound, be alert for mountain lions.

More Hiking in the Los Angeles Area
More California Wildlife

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Malibu Creek - Feel the Cool in Malibu Creek State Park

Malibu Creek is a small stream in a big city.

Take a walk in Malibu Creek State Park along the streambed. 

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Without this bit of water flowing down to the ocean, many native plants and animal species would find it very hard to make it during a California drought season.

 

The park is located four miles south of Highway 101 on 

Las Virgenes/Malibu Canyon Road. 

Or 6.5 miles north up Malibu Canyon Road from Malibu and Pacific Coast Highway {California Highway 1}.

 

 

Native Oak Trees

From the Malibu Creek State Park website...

Campsites

Hiking Trails
Horseback Riding

Some Accessible trails

Dogs on a leash are allowed in the Park's day use areas and campground. 

Dogs are not allowed on the backcountry trails or dirt roads. 

DAY-USE ACTIVITIES & FACILITIES
Historical/Cultural Site
Picnic Areas
Environmental Learning/Visitor Center
Exhibits and Programs
Interpretive Exhibits
Excellent Nature & Wildlife Viewing

OTHER FACILITIES & VISITOR INFORMATION
Pay Parking
Restrooms / Showers
Drinking Water Available

 For more California hiking activities, visit us at   
TheEarthMinute.com

Walk the Beach in Malibu, CA

Hike Limekiln Canyon Park, CA

Take a hike into a California riparian habitat: Limekiln Canyon on the north edge of the San Fernando Valley.

My friend Kerry introduced me to this oak glen and creek-side trail. In moments you leave the traffic behind and enter a peaceful edge of wildness.

native sunflower species

Especially in spring there are wildflowers–lupine, sage, and native sunflowers–and a variety of wildlife.

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Preserved between housing tracts, Limekiln Canyon has a scattering of introduced plant species, but still there are stately sycamores and coast live oaks helping to provide homes for resident species and migratory visitors. 

western fence lizard

We spotted four species of native lizards–including scads of western fence lizards, nineteen bird species–including Bewick's wrens and a varied thrush. We watched a cottontail cross the old-road pathway and saw ten species of native butterflies.

Perhaps most exciting was the small Pacific tree frog or Pacific chorus frog (Pseudacris regilla) that we caught on video. Listen for their loud call that seems much too big for a frog about the size of the end of your thumb. Keep an eye open for the European honey bees that have taken up residence in an old oak tree. Most of all enjoy a walk through habitat shared by wildlife and humans.

• Open Dawn to Dusk.
• No drinking water or restrooms, but picnic tables available.
• Trails unimproved, but old roads provide wide walking areas.
• Dogs welcome on leash. Rattlesnakes can be present. Respect the safety of wildlife, keep dogs leashed.

Other hiking locations in the L.A. area:
Los Virgenes Open Space
Malibu Beach
Walk to The Getty
L.A. Hidden Gardens

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Walk to The Getty Center

Sometimes an Earth Minute finds you. Take the walk up to The Getty Center in Los Angeles and discover the views and hidden beauties on a California hillside.

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Most visitors take the electric tram up to this world-renown museum and cultural center, but you can walk. If you walk you can take in the artwork, gardens, native vegetation, and spectacular views on your own time schedule.

The Acropolis in Athens, like the Temple of Aphrodite in Turkey, was designed for visitors to walk up and discover its different angles, silhouettes, and relationship with the world around it. 

Like these ancient buildings, The Getty Center is organic to its hillside perch. Walking up allows you to leave everyday bustle behind, transition gradually, and meet this center of art, architecture, and natural splendor in your own moment of inspiration.

Enjoy the walk.

Visit each week for a 
new experience at TheEarthMinute.com

Hiking Los Virgenes Open Space, CA

Take a Hike in the mountains rimming Los Angeles, CA.


 
Look for the native coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), valley oak (Quercus lobata), the white trumpet flower of Jimson weed (Datura stramonium), and a coyote (Canis latrans).

You don't have to travel far to be a world away. - Keri Dearborn

For more on the Las Virgenes Open Space.