Sepulveda Basin - Upstream of Balboa
The Sepulveda Basin, a lush green oasis in the middle of the San Fernando Valley, is the Valleyís Central Park. This 2.2 mile walk showcases the tall trees and plentiful birds of the soft bottom channel in the west end of the basin..
View Walk - Sepulveda Basin - Upstream of Balboa in a larger map
Starting Point
Parking lot on Balboa Blvd directly south of the LA River
Directions to the Start
Bike: Take the Metro Orange Line bikeway. Turn left at Balboa Blvd. and proceed south to the LA River.
Transit: Take the Metro Orange Line and exit at Balboa Blvd. and proceed south to the LA River. Alternately, take the 236 or 237 Bus on Balboa Blvd. Disembark at the stop just south of the Los Angeles River (between Burbank Blvd. and Victory Blvd.)
Car: Exit the 405 Freeway at Burbank Blvd in Van Nuys and go west on Burbank. Turn right on Balboa Blvd. The starting place for the walk is just before the Balboa Blvd. Bridge over the LA River. Parking is available at the lot on the west side of the street, just south of the LA River.
Alternately, exit the 101 Freeway in Encino at Balboa Blvd., go north on Balboa, and follow the directions above.
Walk Directions
From the parking lot on Balboa, go north toward the river. I suggest starting the walk by going out on the Balboa Blvd. Bridge, looking upstream. From this vantage point, you can often spot ducks, coots, cormorants, and other birds.
Walk back and then upstream on the concrete bike path. A few feet before the path U-turns, go to the left of the bikeway fence, and continue walking upstream on the flat grassy area (used as an access road) along the top the channel.
The path goes along the fences of the sports complex on your left. Walk to the right around the large tree that blocks the access road. Carefully, stepping on the dry horizontal surfaces, cross the outlet of a small tributary, which is slippery when wet. At the Metro Orange Line Bridge, the channel narrows and becomes concrete-bottomed. There is a walkable asphalt access road continuing to White Oak Ave., but the gate is locked at White Oak.