Los Angeles River
Los Angeles River
3
About
Although this river flows through the heart of one of America's busiest metropolitan areas, a large number of rare wildlife species still make their home here.
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Neighbourhood: Elysian Valley
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
3.0
24 reviews
Excellent
3
Very good
6
Average
9
Poor
2
Terrible
4
naturalwater p
Los Angeles, CA3 contributions
Aug. 2020
its is the best spot i ever seen before for travel , we spent Quality time with Friends we enjoyed fishing.
and same ones at Bubba Officials provide like these spots, fishing spots are
and same ones at Bubba Officials provide like these spots, fishing spots are
Written September 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas V
Oakland, CA16,367 contributions
Feb. 2017 • Couples
Very long river running through the whole area. Often does not have any water, so just an empty concrete culvert. Scene of much filming. Homeless folks live along it. There are probably some interesting areas, but I have never seen them. Still a landmark.
Written August 27, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rogerdob
La Canada, California2,827 contributions
Aug. 2017 • Couples
Despite the noble efforts of a group called "Friends of the LA River" to fix up the river, there is still not much to savor. As one walks along the river on the trail one remains quite far away from the actual riverbed, which is down a steep 50-100 foot cement embankment that's covered in graffitti...not too pretty of a sight. The trail must be shared with bicyclists who speed along at extremely high speeds...it actually feels dangerous sometimes...they won't stop and you better get out of their way!
Unfortunately there are also the homeless to deal with...there are encampments along the trail and it makes one feel unsafe...after all, many of them are on drugs (we saw one taking a "trip"). I would have loved to explore the very lush growth of the riverbed (I would have to climb down the cement embankment...there are no steps to get down to it) but we were afraid of who might be lurking in the growth and we decided not to for safety reasons.
The actual trail itself, minus the problems with the bicycles, is paved and flat...there is really not much to see after you walk along it for 500-1000 feet...it's basically all the same. There are a few interpretive displays.
Unfortunately there are also the homeless to deal with...there are encampments along the trail and it makes one feel unsafe...after all, many of them are on drugs (we saw one taking a "trip"). I would have loved to explore the very lush growth of the riverbed (I would have to climb down the cement embankment...there are no steps to get down to it) but we were afraid of who might be lurking in the growth and we decided not to for safety reasons.
The actual trail itself, minus the problems with the bicycles, is paved and flat...there is really not much to see after you walk along it for 500-1000 feet...it's basically all the same. There are a few interpretive displays.
Written August 11, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mini
Fremont, CA179,551 contributions
Nov. 2016 • Couples
We enjoyed the views of Los Angeles River in early November 2016. Water levels were good. People were enjoying going out on boats in the Long Beach portion of the LA River. We also liked the lights on the bridge by the LA River. We saw this view fromt eh Queen Mary.
Written November 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ynhockey
Petah Tiqwa, Israel280 contributions
Jul. 2015 • Friends
The Los Angeles River is a famous drainage channel that goes from north to south in LA. It has appeared in many movies and video games and has become a famous icon of the city. It is not especially pretty to look at, but nevertheless, it's an icon, and it looks in real life exactly like in the movies.
This is something strange for LA (and the US in general)—something that could potentially serve as a great tourist attraction is not actively exploited as such by the authorities or private enterprise. Yes, there are some private tours that include the "river", but nothing I know of focusing on it, let alone from a well-known company. I would expect things like recreate-chases-from-GTA-V tours, etc. What are the best spots to see the river? What are the most interesting access points, tunnels, rides, etc.? I may never know.
Moreover, access to the obvious good viewpoints (bridges over the river) is not made very easy for pedestrians. Granted, this is normal in LA where the car is treated as the most important thing, but you would expect something that's right outside of Downtown to be more accessible. Instead, you have to walk on a very narrow sidewalk through a tunnel and then for a bit longer in a very unpleasant atmosphere; and it's like that in other places too (hopefully not all of them).
Basically an interesting tourist attraction for people who have seen it in movies and games, but it's not marketed and exploited as such.
This is something strange for LA (and the US in general)—something that could potentially serve as a great tourist attraction is not actively exploited as such by the authorities or private enterprise. Yes, there are some private tours that include the "river", but nothing I know of focusing on it, let alone from a well-known company. I would expect things like recreate-chases-from-GTA-V tours, etc. What are the best spots to see the river? What are the most interesting access points, tunnels, rides, etc.? I may never know.
Moreover, access to the obvious good viewpoints (bridges over the river) is not made very easy for pedestrians. Granted, this is normal in LA where the car is treated as the most important thing, but you would expect something that's right outside of Downtown to be more accessible. Instead, you have to walk on a very narrow sidewalk through a tunnel and then for a bit longer in a very unpleasant atmosphere; and it's like that in other places too (hopefully not all of them).
Basically an interesting tourist attraction for people who have seen it in movies and games, but it's not marketed and exploited as such.
Written June 17, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DAVID L
Los Angeles, CA8,327 contributions
Nov. 2015 • Solo
The LA River is definitely no Seine, Tiber or Thames as it's usually just a dry bed or trickle of water hemmed in by huge unsightly concrete walled flood channel walls. Best seen when passing over a bridge or if in the Vernon area. I've driven over it for decades. Hopefully urban renewal will spruce it up someday. ...
Written December 6, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AndrewS666_666
Melbourne, Australia363 contributions
Sep. 2015 • Solo
I drove down to the alas river to take some shots from the bridges and then found an access tunnel under the 4th street bridge.
You can then drive down onto the concrete and take some awesome shots from the river level.
Tip: In the movie Grease the race started at the 6th St bridge and went to the 1st street bridge and back.
You can then drive down onto the concrete and take some awesome shots from the river level.
Tip: In the movie Grease the race started at the 6th St bridge and went to the 1st street bridge and back.
Written September 20, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PrestonGuild
United Kingdom55,190 contributions
Aug. 2014 • Family
The Los Angeles river might or might not flow, you might see water near Long Beach. There is a dry concrete river bed that runs in Los Angeles in case there are floods. It will look familiar to viewers of films such as Grease the dry concrete river bed pops up a lot in movies.
Written March 11, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CarmichaelVentura
California2,604 contributions
Mar. 2014
Sometimes it's there, sometimes it's not. Being restored. Spent an Earth Day cleaning it up. It was unbelievable what we pulled out!
Written November 7, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mini
Fremont, CA179,551 contributions
Oct. 2014 • Couples
The Los Angeles River is an oddity. In the Long Beach area there is actually water. Due to the tidal flows from the Pacific Ocean, that part of the Los Angeles River has water.
Further up, one finds a dry concrete river bed. In major floods, which is a rarity for the LA area, I have seen even these concrete river beds full of water. Its rare though for such floods. In that case the water also flows to Long Beach.
Further up, one finds a dry concrete river bed. In major floods, which is a rarity for the LA area, I have seen even these concrete river beds full of water. Its rare though for such floods. In that case the water also flows to Long Beach.
Written October 2, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingLOS ANGELES RIVER - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Los Angeles River
- Hotels near Los Angeles River:
- (3.72 km) Silver Lake Pool and Inn
- (8.04 km) The Prospect Hollywood
- (7.61 km) Moxy Downtown Los Angeles
- (7.60 km) Downtown Los Angeles Proper
- (8.35 km) Holiday Inn Express & Suites Hollywood Walk of Fame, an IHG Hotel
- Restaurants near Los Angeles River:
- (0.38 km) Spoke Bicycle Cafe
- (0.78 km) Denny's
- (0.52 km) Chicken N Chips
- (0.52 km) Fosters Freeze
- (0.59 km) Wax Paper
- Attractions near Los Angeles River:
- (0.36 km) Cactus Gallery
- (0.42 km) Frogtown Brewery
- (1.74 km) Architecture Tours L.A.
- (0.07 km) Marsh Street Skate Park
- (5.07 km) Griffith Observatory