Essential Parks & Rec Tips

BY GARRETT CRAWFORD NATURE LOVER AND PARKS SUPERINTENDENT

1. Hydration: The summer months can reach triple digits, so be prepared with a full hydration supply and sun protection. To avoid the heat, explore the area before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.

2. Tell someone: Nature isn’t often equipped with cell service or Wi-Fi, so tell a friend when and where you’ll be in the Arroyo. Emergency phones are located by the Casting Pond and near the Bush Gardens Gate.

3. Admire the wildlife: Hang out at the bird sanctuary or head out and explore habitats where woodland creatures and animal communities forage and nest. This includes poison oak and rattlesnakes, so make sure you know what they look like before you go. There’s also a resident bobcat in the Lower Arroyo Seco, and he’s a wild animal, so don’t pet him. Just slowly move on with your adventure.

4. Pack out what you pack in: We all know this one. Let’s protect the beauty around us, and if you want to take the extra step, pick up the litter you see and let the Citizen Service Center know about any graffiti at (626) 744-7311.

5. Stop and smell the flora and fauna: The Arroyo received over 40 inches of rain this year, so it’s a great time to enjoy the thriving ecology. Stay on the trails and don’t disrupt the plants in their habitats or take them home. The volunteers at The Hahamongna Native Plant Nursery have cultivated native plants for sale and is open Wednesdays through Sundays.

6. Know the land: The Lower and Central Arroyo provide mild and moderate levels of adventure while the Hahamongna Watershed Park has some of the more strenuous trails, like the Gabrielino Trail that starts just above JPL or the route to Devil’s Gate Ram.

7. For the little adventurers: The Arroyo is a fantastic natural playground for children wearing sunscreen. Enjoy the immersive hiking, learn to fly-fish at the Casting Pond, or try your hand at the Archery Range.

8. Four-legged friends: Bring your best friend and hang out in the Arroyo together. Keep them on a leash on the trails at all times, pick up what gets dropped down, and enjoy the off-leash areas at Alice’s Dog Park at Vina Vieja Park.