Paddle the LA River

My husband and kids did this last week. It’s a solid two hours of getting in and paddling. No current– but they had a great time despite the ore blisters.

Okay you urbanites looking for a great outdoor activity for the whole family., this is it! Just got back from kayaking down the LA river… and yes, there is water in the river… and no, the water is not from the sewer. That’s all urban myth, I am sure started up by some profiteers sucking up property all along the river during the revitalization of LA’s 2^nd most valuable resource. Clearly it’s #1 most valuable resource being the wonderful people of LA, several of which I met today from the LA Conservation Corp. OMG, talk about friendly, knowledgeable, professional and customer service oriented VOLUNTEERS!!! They were amazing. I was having reservations about the whole Idea before I arrived. Then there was Josh who allayed my fears saying an 89 year old woman paddled down the river. Hmmm, It was on after that story. Then there was Jennifer a delightful young lady who helped guide me through the deeper parts of the river enabling me to stay upright throughout despite meeting branches and bushes head on several times (the helmets are really sturdy and safe thankfully). Then there was Antonio who patiently stayed by my side as needed throughout the trip offering tips on holding and using the paddles which I forgot immediately each time I got into a tight situation. They were fantastic and made sure we all had an enjoyable trip by ensuring our safety each step of the way. They are winding down for the summer but there may be some seats left during the week. It was a great new experience. I highly recommend it if you are looking for something different to do locally. A bonus If you love nature, the birds we saw along the way were lovely.
Btw, don’t be that one in the crowd who shows up in flip flops. It really wasn’t easy walking along mossy rocks and muddy waters clenching my toes. I wasn’t prepared to go swimming after one if it got away either. Better to leave them home. Old sneakers or wet slippers that zip up, that’s the way to go!

it was great! NO rapids at all, not even tiny ones. But a mellow, scenic paddlin’ with nice people and its all very easy and laid back.

«When you start separating people from their rivers, what have you got? Bureaucracy!» — Jack Kerouac, On the Road
Begun in 2011 by the Los Angeles Conservation Corps, Paddle the LA River is the first non-​motorized boating pilot program authorized by the US Army Corp of Engineers to operate on the Los Angeles River at the Sepulveda Recreation Basin. They offer two tours: a 1.5 mile long one-​way tour that takes approximately 2 ½ hours and a short roundtrip that takes about 1 ½ — 2 hours. Tickets are $ 25 and $ 50, respectively, plus nominal fees and available via their website. In addition, the Hidden Los Angeles website occasionally announces additional tickets as dates become available.
I did the long tour today and loved it. The kayaking itself is easy since you go with the flow of the river and the guides help you across the shallows (which is a lot of fun in and of itself). Along the way you’ll almost certainly see egrets and ducks if not turtles, fish and heron. While pretty scenery, the real import of the program is in coming to appreciate the ways in which the taming of the river came to allow Los Angeles into becoming the megalopolis that it has become. Also, it’s a reminder of the wilderness that still exists in and around this county of 10 million residents. For lovers of LA, this is a must-​do if you’re able to get a ticked during their short July-​September season.