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Rio de Los Angeles State Park and nearby Los Angeles State Historic Park serve the local communities and provide a unique State Park experience. Rio de Los Angeles (LA River) State Park is surrounded by industrial and residential areas, yet restoration of the park's natural river wetlands allows a serene opportunity to all visitors who enjoy hiking trails, being surrounded by native plants and viewing returning wildlife. The park also encompasses sports fields, a children's playground and a recreation building. A site once used mainly to repair and maintain railroad cars now offers visitors the chance to restore and replenish their inner needs. Rio de Los Angeles State Park is currently managed in partnership with the City of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation.
Getting There
The park is located at 1900 San Fernando Road in Los Angeles. The I-5, SR 2 and the 110 Pasadena Freeway are within 2 miles of the park. Buses service the area from downtown Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley and the San Gabriel Valley. A bus stop is located at the intersection of San Fernando Rd. and Fletcher Ave. forming the hub of a number of routes connecting downtown Los Angeles, Glendale, Sylmar and El Monte. The Metro Gold Line also provides light rail service, and the nearest station is located at Avenue 26 about 1.3 miles south of the park and at French Avenue, just off of Figueroa Street (French Station) approximately 1.3 miles southeast.
The park is located at 1900 San Fernando Road in Los Angeles. The I-5, SR 2 and the 110 Pasadena Freeway are within 2 miles of the park. Buses service the area from downtown Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley and the San Gabriel Valley. A bus stop is located at the intersection of San Fernando Rd. and Fletcher Ave. forming the hub of a number of routes connecting downtown Los Angeles, Glendale, Sylmar and El Monte. The Metro Gold Line also provides light rail service, and the nearest station is located at Avenue 26 about 1.3 miles south of the park and at French Avenue, just off of Figueroa Street (French Station) approximately 1.3 miles southeast.
Operating Hours & Contact
The park is open 9am - 10:30pm
Telephone: 323-276-3015 for City of Los Angeles; 213-620-6152 for State Parks
The park is open 9am - 10:30pm
Telephone: 323-276-3015 for City of Los Angeles; 213-620-6152 for State Parks
Activities
For information on the facilities or programs scheduled by the City of Los Angeles, call 323-276-3015. Free guided interpretive programs are offered by California State Parks staff. Call 310-558-4566 x102 for information on California State Park programs.
For information on the facilities or programs scheduled by the City of Los Angeles, call 323-276-3015. Free guided interpretive programs are offered by California State Parks staff. Call 310-558-4566 x102 for information on California State Park programs.
History
In the 1960s, a 247-acre freight switching facility called Taylor Yard began to slow down it's operations during a time when Los Angeles was growing and expanding rapidly. By 1985 it was closed and only used for maintenance and storage. These parcels of land remained undeveloped along the channelized Los Angeles River. Portions of the river near this park are still soft bottomed, or partially uncemented, allowing for an opportunity to reestablish natural processes within the emerging Los Angeles River Greenway. It is one of the last remaining undeveloped portions of land along the river to be used by communities as a park.
The history of the park reaches back to when Los Angeles was emerging as an industrial superpower. In 1923, due to congestion at the River Station (currently Los Angeles State Historic Park), the service and maintenance functions for the Union Pacific Railroad company were moved to Taylor Yard. Taylor Yard had been named after J. Hartley Taylor who was a grain merchant and owned a milling company in the area. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s the property was a rail yard and an industrial site used primarily as a freight-switching facility, storage space and maintenance and repair facility for rail cars and locomotive engines. Several utility shops were on the property, which provided electrical, plumbing and mechanical support services. Shortly after World War I, the Southern Pacific Railroad outgrew its Midway Yard facility and moved to what is now Rio de Los Angeles State Park. Operations at the railroad complex slowed in the 1960s when rail facilities opened elsewhere.
In the 1960s, a 247-acre freight switching facility called Taylor Yard began to slow down it's operations during a time when Los Angeles was growing and expanding rapidly. By 1985 it was closed and only used for maintenance and storage. These parcels of land remained undeveloped along the channelized Los Angeles River. Portions of the river near this park are still soft bottomed, or partially uncemented, allowing for an opportunity to reestablish natural processes within the emerging Los Angeles River Greenway. It is one of the last remaining undeveloped portions of land along the river to be used by communities as a park.
The history of the park reaches back to when Los Angeles was emerging as an industrial superpower. In 1923, due to congestion at the River Station (currently Los Angeles State Historic Park), the service and maintenance functions for the Union Pacific Railroad company were moved to Taylor Yard. Taylor Yard had been named after J. Hartley Taylor who was a grain merchant and owned a milling company in the area. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s the property was a rail yard and an industrial site used primarily as a freight-switching facility, storage space and maintenance and repair facility for rail cars and locomotive engines. Several utility shops were on the property, which provided electrical, plumbing and mechanical support services. Shortly after World War I, the Southern Pacific Railroad outgrew its Midway Yard facility and moved to what is now Rio de Los Angeles State Park. Operations at the railroad complex slowed in the 1960s when rail facilities opened elsewhere.
Accessible Features
The park's trails and restrooms are fully accessible.
Be the first to add a trip in this destination!The park's trails and restrooms are fully accessible.
Nearby Community Trips
following the LA river trail north to El Monte aiport and checking out the river parks along the way, stopped for some mediocre vietnamese steamed chicken n rice before heading back and into some headwind.
