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Rio de Los Angeles State Park, California

Nature & parks
In Los Angeles, California
1.4 mi from Route 66

Rio de Los Angeles State Park covers 40 acres of green space in Los Angeles, CA, set beside the Los Angeles River in the Glassell Park neighborhood, north of downtown. Created in 2007, it pairs a patch of restored wetland and native planting with sports fields and a playground. For Route 66 drivers closing in on the end of the road, it is an easy place to stretch, picnic and let children burn off energy.

What is Rio de Los Angeles State Park?

The park takes its name from the river that runs along its edge. Roughly 40 acres are split between two moods. One part has been returned to wetland and planted with species that belong in this corner of California. The other part is built for everyday city use, with open sports fields, a recreation building and a playground for children.

On paper it is a California state park, classed as a state recreation area. In practice the state shares the running of it with the city's parks department, which is why it feels as much like a neighborhood park as a state one.

History of Rio de Los Angeles State Park

This is one of the newer units in the state system, dating from 2007. Its setting says a lot about modern Los Angeles: a city river corridor, with a piece of it given back to plants and people. Travelers who have followed Route 66 across deserts and farm country will find this a very urban kind of nature stop.

Visiting Rio de Los Angeles State Park: tips

Restrooms are on site, the grounds are listed as wheelchair accessible, and the park is a good pick for families. Plan on half an hour for a walk around the wetland area, longer if the children head for the playground.

Two other green spots sit close by: the Arroyo Seco, about 1.6 miles away, and Chavez Ravine, about 1.7 miles away. Food and fuel are only a short walk from the park, so it works well as a lunch break on a Los Angeles driving day.

Practical info

Address: 1900 N San Fernando Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90065
Phone: +1 323-276-3015
Website: parks.ca.gov
Hours: Daily 10 am–9 pm
On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

Where to eat near Rio de Los Angeles State Park

All diners →

Diner & restaurant
Philippe's
Los Angeles, CA · 2.8 mi from Rio de Los Angeles State Park
A downtown Los Angeles restaurant running since 1908 that claims to have invented the French dip sandwich.
Diner & restaurant
Fair Oaks Pharmacy
South Pasadena, CA · 5.0 mi from Rio de Los Angeles State Park
A 1915 pharmacy with an old-fashioned soda fountain, on the corner where Route 66 ran down Fair Oaks Avenue.
Diner & restaurant
Twohey's
South Pasadena, CA · 5.1 mi from Rio de Los Angeles State Park
A 1950s-style diner in South Pasadena, founded in 1943 and known for a burger called the Little Stink-O.