I'm pretty active and always looking for an interesting adventure so when I'd heard that you could run a kayak down the LA river I was intrigued. I'd been hearing some buzz about a revitalization project underway but that they were touting recreation on the river was big news and I had to check it out. There are only two qualified companies permitted to kayak on the river and summer 2013 - from Memorial day to Labor day - was the trial period to determine viability as a recreational sport. I chose LA River Kayak Safari, ran by resident, enthusiast and activist Steve Appleton, offering 2 trips - morning and sunset cruises - daily. Reservations were difficult to come by.
The Los Angeles river runs approximately 50 miles through LA County from the San Fernando valley down to Long Beach. Historically the LA river is filthy. If winter yields good rain, the river is high, fast flowing and downright treacherous in winter. In summer it runs barely above a trickle. Until this past summer it was illegal to be in/on the river and quite often you'd read of harrowing rescue stories in the news. There's an enclave in central Los Angeles just NW of downtown called Elysian Valley that sits along the banks of the river. It was late August and our group met at a tiny little community park about 4 pm where we were fitted with beach cruiser bicycles and started off on the 3 mile meandering bike path along the river. When we reached the put in point our bikes were swapped for single man kayaks. All gear, safety lesson, river orientation and FUN are included.
We dropped in and the river swiftly swooshes you along. I have some kayaking experience but there were a few newbies in the group and some of them fell in. At least at this time of year the river is not more than a few feet deep in most spots. It is tertiary water but it's treated and not foul. Steve and his team are terrific and experienced guides out to ensure you have a safe, fun and educational ride on the river and all levels of experience are welcome.
There are some dark times in LA history and some that have had lasting blemishes on the quality of life here. I wasn't sure what to expect on this expedition since not that long ago the river was polluted and contained in a concrete aqueduct covered with graffiti and no doubt littered with loiterers. To my utter surprise the river is a rich, thriving eco-system home to myriad species including egrets, frogs and even osprey! As the vegetation grew up through fissures in the concrete and indigenous flora took hold the fauna followed. This habitat is nothing short of a miracle. The trip is a round trip which means the kayak portion of the journey is as long as the bike ride, roughly 3 miles, under the canopy of all this beauty. Steve is very well versed on the river and the restoration project and adds a lot of value through his wealth of knowledge. The most surprising aspect of all was the rapids! Really, white water on the LA river? Believe it. Class 2 at the most but some really great spots to navigate. I was working the entire time. There are a few places where you can just coast and let the river take you but mostly you have to navigate the rocky bottom and keep yourself upright. It was a total blast.
From start to finish the trip was about 4 hours long. I found the $65 price tag to be an exceptional value considering the expert guiding and all gear included. It appears as though the season was a success and trips will resume in May so book early to secure your spot on this most unlikely and amazing LA experience. It is, after all, in the heart of a dense urban area and the juxtaposition of the lush greenery growing up out of a concrete backdrop seems like something you'd only see in the movies.
Visit LA River Kayak Safari on Facebook to see photos and keep updated on the river haps.
Check back tomorrow for another amazing off the beaten path adventure in Los Angeles!
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