The Dominguez Gap Wetlands Project provides a 2 mile loop trail around the east basin wetlands, which is located adjacent to the LA River. Access to this trail can be easily found by entering the parking lot of David Molina Park. This location provides a bike trail that continues along the LA River and a walking trail that is also a shared equestrian trail. The first mile of the trail before it loops is a dirt trail removed from the waterline by shrubbery and a fence. Lots of dog poop along the initial part of the trail and not the most pleasant scenery. I did notice that the doggie bag dispenser was empty and broken and that there are no trashcans along this trail. Once you reach the loop, there are a couple of benches, but unfortunately everything located at this spot was graffitied. The 2nd mile back takes you along the waterline where we saw ducks and turtles and large homeless encampments throughout the wetlands. The second half definitely provided more scenery. This walking trail could be a really great spot if the City would give it some love. Overall, the walking trail itself is clean. However, it was sad to see all the the trash along the waterline and graffiti on the signage, rocks, and benches. It was definitely an interesting walk and I'm glad we discovered something we never knew existed. I'm sure springtime will bring more to see. I'm just not sure if I'll be back. I personally wouldn't walk this trail alone. read more

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Peaceful, good place for dog walks, biking , walking. Pinic bench under an awning with water if needed. Get out there and enjoy.

Go now while the flowers and trees are beautiful green and colorful! It's much cleaner than before but as always watch your steps and surrounding. My favorite part when walking here is randomly seeing horses and their trainers. read more

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To get here, park at C. David Molina Park Address: 4951 Oregon Ave LB, CA 90805 There is a park/playground & a soccer field when you can park your car before heading to the trail. This is a nice little hidden gem in long Beach. Came here to walk my dog with my daughter. This walking trail is a two-mile loop trail that is shared by walkers/runners & even horses. Always watch your steps, you might see poop on the side of the pathway. There are homeless people living here so always watch your surroundings. This place is scenic & calming. There are also animals that you will come across such as bunnies, ducks, turtles, blue heron, & lizards. read more

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Very peaceful quick getaway for a breather just carry your mace for the my young ladies and gents

Clearly some of yall lied bc this place was so ghetto and unsafe. My expectations were high after reading some reviews but was left with disappointment. There were a lot of homeless people camping out and some suspicious people hiding within the trees/bushes so be careful! Never again. read more

I'm glad I went but it was difficult to find the entrance. I wish I had read these other reviews first. As they say, enter from C. David Molina Park on Del Amo. The other entrance is an unmarked gate off of Del Mar. Also FYI - the loop is broken at one point but you can easily hop on the LA River and re-enter the loop at the next ramp. I was on a bike so a little longer, uninterrupted loop trail would have been nice. It was a nice change of pace with some paved/some packed dirt trails. In contrast to other local rides that are either beach (which is great), or river beds. read more

Dominguez Gap Wetlands Project - Hiking Near Me

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Park at C. David Molina Park in order to do this walk. It's a loop, although it's a little confusing because the north side of the loop splits into two trails & I believe you have to take the trail to the right in order to loop around. I saw herons when I did the walk, and around sunset there was a whole flock of birds flying and circling. There are some unhoused that live along the walk area, but I went in a group and they didn't bother us. It's a flat paved walk that's pretty easy to do. read more

Stumbled upon this place walking my dog at nearby Bixby Knolls Park. Nice,tucked away,quiet, tranquil place to walk my dog, but only in the daytime. I'll mosdef will be back. read more

Dominguez Gap Wetlands Project - Beautiful view of the wetlands - Hiking Near Me

This is my favorite local walking trail that my dog also loves! Its a two mile loop trail that is shared by walkers, runners and also horses. There is beautiful foliage to enjoy, along with bunnies, turtles, ducks, blue heron, and lizards. Its both a lovely and peaceful trail. A new park opened near the north entrance of the trail on the corner of Del Amo and Oregon Ave..... and you can park your car in the parking lot there and enter the trail at the rear of the park. Warning: I've saw a rattlesnake yesterday (7/2) while waking and another walker mentioned to me last week that she encountered a snake also. Additionally, last year I spotted a coyote. Bunnies will very frequently run across the trail, so for most dogs its their instinct to want to chase, so please keep your dog leashed for their safety, so that they don't run into the bush and encounter a snake. read more

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This is a beautiful trail for a flat jog or bike ride, but I would be careful if you're a woman walking here alone. I just walked here for the first time, and a man passed me on his bike, looped back, and started screaming at me while I was on the trail alone. Again, this isn't the fault of the trail itself. But it is not a highly trafficked area, and there are no ways to get off the path once you're on it. I ended up turning around and booking it back to my car in case he decided to loop around again and do something worse. It's a shame, because otherwise it was a very peaceful and picturesque place. read more

Dominguez Gap Wetlands Project - Hiking Near Me

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Some days, I feel adventurous and decide to explore new areas. This place isn't necessarily for hiking, more like biking, dog-walking, or just taking a nice walk. They have a nice park/playground and soccer field where you can park your car or just park in the neighborhood. My boyfriend and I went on the little walk and completed it in probably 20 minutes. However, I'd say a WARNING: There are homeless people living/camping in the bushes by the water. As a precaution, I would bring pepper spray or something for defense because some areas are secluded and vacant. It's a nice little area to explore but don't expect to go on a "hike". read more

Dominguez Gap Wetlands Project - Hiking Near Me

4951 Oregon Ave Long Beach, CA 90805 United States This address takes you to C. David Molina park There's a entrance @ the end for this place. It's one way!!!! read more

nice little hidden trail/hike in long Beach. not as fun as the wetlands in El Dorado in long beach, but its a nice exercise. the beat part of this wetland is that you can actually see the los angeles river and you can go down to the bottom if you like.. read more

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I really liked this trail and connected park. I have only been once but I found lots of wildlife to watch and a nice short walk. Do note near the beginning of the trail on the walking side plants are mostly fenced in and other side just has view of a trailer community but it gets nice and the trail loops read more

Did not feel safe here around sunset! Ladies, don't come here alone. As another person mentioned, there is no parking so I had to park in a neighborhood and walk over. Which is nbd BUT. I was enjoying my walk until I felt someone watching and following me. A white man was following me about 50 yards behind me. I stopped and he would pass, but then he would stop until I was in front again and followed me. I started to get really spooked and took off towards my car. I got away but I noticed him leave as well and he followed me into the neighborhood! I can't remember how I got away as this was 4 to 5 years ago, I think there might have been another couple around. Anyway, steer clear of here at night. Might be a similar situation to De Forest Park. read more

This wetlands project is the first of its kind in the Los Angeles County region. It's been designed to maintain the integrity of flood protection along the urban lower reaches of the river while introducing new water quality elements, groundwater recharge, restoration of native habitat, pedestrian and equestrian trails, environmental education, and river bike trail enhancements. Upon entry, you might hear the high-pitched whine of the elevated and mostly-unseen Metrolink speeding north and south or the screech of a red-tailed hawk. You might detect the unmistakable odor of oil or the pleasing scent of eucalyptus...it depends on what you're attuned to. We walked our dogs along the well maintained trail for about an hour spotting dozens of species of bird and plant life and in that hour, only saw a half dozen other human beings. It was so clear, you could look up from the ponds to the mountains and, with some imagination, picture life before the concrete, power lines and noise of the Metro Link. This hour is well spent (and the dogs love it). Trails.com..http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trails.com%2Ftcatalog_trail.aspx%3Ftrailid%3DXWP018-017&rct=j&q=Dominguez%20Gap%20Long%20Beach&ei=2YtDTYuVAouisQO4gNnnCg&usg=AFQjCNFZSKCsbyaUZxGv_8ROZxXvyfelgQ&cad=rja 1-5-10, we saw herons, cranes, mallards, grebes, falcons, hummingbirds, phoebes, many smaller birds and a rabbit...and no humans. 1-17-10, for the 1st time, we spotted a Belted Kingfisher. 1-24-10, for the 1st time, we spotted a Green Heron 1-27-10, for the 1st time, we spotted a bunch of turtles, no humans 1-29-10, a friend complained about the trash so I handed her a trash bag and gloves. We saw several Black-Crowned Night Herons (http://images.google.com/images?q=Black-crowned+Night+Heron&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=n3NkS-KaLoSosgO2_dHECg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBAQsAQwAA) 2-7-10, cormorant & 2 ospreys, no humans Many more photos and words can be found at...http://longbeachnaturalareas.blogspot.com/2008/05/dominguez-gap-wetlands.html So take a hike, grab your bike, walk your dog or rent a horse, of course, and enjoy the natural side of life...your job and text messages will always wait. Bring binoculars and doggie bags. Oh, and if you live upriver, please, please, dispose of your trash properly. Don't let it flow to the sea for all to see (see pic). Keep the area cleaner than when you found it. Thanks. read more

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"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." --John Muir Dominguez Gap Wetlands offers a 2-mile round trip hike around a slim patch of wetlands that runs parallel to the LA River between Del Amo Blvd and Del Mar Ave. Just beyond the LA River, runs the 710 Fwy that you can hear in the distance. It's a great place to jog / walk / hike. Parking is along the street off of Oregon Avenue. You access the park by walking up Oregon Ave, making a left on Del Amo and walking .1 mile to the gate with signage for the DGW. Part of the LA River system: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dominguez-gap-wetlands-project-long-beach?select=IMmlOWRqd85FuV_lHruWwA#IMmlOWRqd85FuV_lHruWwA Sadly the signage already looks like multiple graffiti tags have been cleaned off. But it has taken a toll on the plexiglass: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dominguez-gap-wetlands-project-long-beach?select=7ipmfHkL2huz7_H3kGrviQ#7ipmfHkL2huz7_H3kGrviQ Interesting flood control looking thing along the way: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dominguez-gap-wetlands-project-long-beach?select=qjaxvRc4cx5DMpAI7EjHoA#qjaxvRc4cx5DMpAI7EjHoA The first part of the hike is pretty nondescript with much of it on a plain dirt trail bordering a chain link fence: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dominguez-gap-wetlands-project-long-beach?select=R7AeNQhTDJLQtYY5uUNiLg#R7AeNQhTDJLQtYY5uUNiLg The trail opens up to a picturesque wetlands with native flowers and plants thriving nearby: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dominguez-gap-wetlands-project-long-beach?select=aWZT1u677VydMOpfNpUOGA#aWZT1u677VydMOpfNpUOGA The part of the trail furthest from the entrance (Around the .75 to 1.25 mile point) is the nicest part of the walk. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dominguez-gap-wetlands-project-long-beach?select=H_W6YoY9WvRBpCxymoXGvQ#H_W6YoY9WvRBpCxymoXGvQ There is a covered shelter you can sit and rest for a while at this point: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/dominguez-gap-wetlands-project-long-beach?select=WYiNKec1p39o9lAOHqVzbA#WYiNKec1p39o9lAOHqVzbA After this point, the trail U-turns back around toward Del Amo Blvd. read more

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Site is open from sunrise to sunset Not many people know about this trail, better this way. If you love nature and walking you will enjoy it here read more

A pretty lowkey place to go for a walk or run. It's easy to miss honestly. I suggest you park on del amo and Oregon and walk to the entrance from there. The wetland is a huge circle, almost like a track. One side is dirt and the other side is lose gravel. It's not an intense walk, easy for the most part. The wetlands are full of ducks, rabbits, birds, a couple cranes and even a coyote! I think it's friendly because I was close to it on my jog and it ran back into its gated area. All together this is a nice place to get away from people (usually empty) and clear your mind. I would recommend it to anyone that wants to take an easy exercise walk or workout without people being in the way read more

One word: flies. If you want to get flies stuck in your eyeball, potentially get flies stuck in your nostrils, and DEFINITELY get flies in your mouth- this is the perfect place. I do not think there was any clear area in the path where there weren't large clouds of gnats/flies. They follow you in a swarm (as big as a car tire like 4ftx4ft) head level too... I don't know what day of the season or what time people went who gave good reviews on this place.. but we went during sunset expecting a peaceful walk. There was a bunch of junk everywhere and it looked like a zombie apocalypse. If you really want to take this route, prepare yourself with shades, a hat, ski mask or a full on face covering... unless you want to indulge in some insect protein.... read more

What can I say--this place is only ever one of two things, one being a delightful bucolic respite from urban onslaught, and the other being 2 miles of drug dealers, drug doers, prostitutes, well-meaning homeless persons, and teenage hoodlums. I'm not kidding. From one day or one hour to the next this place changes that much. Often it is clean and the air is filled with the scents of flowers and the crispness of the water. The birds are singing, the hum of the highway seems distant and the commuter trains frame the place in this beautiful mix of nature and urban decay. It is lovely. And then you see two half naked people emerge from the bushes having done what half naked people usually would do in the bushes. Or you find a shopping cart full of the detritus of some unfortunate soul's life on the street. Eventually you'll notice the makeshift shelters under the railroad tracks and the power station. And you start to feel uneasy... especially if you're a woman and you're alone and it gets too quiet, which of course is why you came here in the first place. Pro tip: come here for the first few times with a friend or a partner. Test your own comfortability with the place. After a few months of coming here regularity I've determined most folks, from what you might see as seedy backgrounds, are here for the same reason you are--solitude and quiet amongst the birds and the bees. Just look away if the birds and the bees seem to be a verb they are presently engaging in at the time of your encounter. read more

I didn't feel safe on the path, I felt trapped between two fences. The fact that it's next to the river, attracts homeless. I didn't think it was beautiful. read more

There is no scenic beauty to it. Just an unkept path going up and down. Would not go back.

- scenic and calming - plenty of free parking in nearby neighborhood streets - beautiful flora & fauna read more

The Wetlands is a short, 3 mile loop walk in Northern Long Beach near the Virginia Country Club. Dogs on leash and HORSES are welcome! Lots of wildlife and scenic views. read more

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Great place to walk the dog, see the wildlife (horses, birds, fish, turtles) and get some exercise. read more

Dominguez Gap Wetlands Project - Hiking Near Me

Great park!! Though you may see Some wanders around so plz be safe! Also as I came by I noticed some tall skimpy dude who had a black dog that he was kicking!!! I'm not sure if any local always see him around but it was pretty heartbreaking! (Also I wasn't sure what to do in that moment and the kick seemed to not be hard but still distressful so just watch out since he was probably on something) read more

This is a great, quiet spot to go for a walk or run. It has some pretty scenery- wetlands, plants, ducks- but it is man made with infrastructure such as pipes here and there so it doesn't quite feel like "getting away" into nature. Nonetheless, it's nice to have a relatively flat 2-mile loop to walk through after a big meal. Wear proper shoes because there is a part that requires walking over large, coast-lining-type rocks. I agree that you should park on Del Amo & Oregon. That's closest to the entrance, which is difficult to spot from the street while driving. Don't use Yelp's Directions feature- that took me to a country club. read more

This was difficult to find, navigation took me all around. The walk was pleasant. There are several homeless people along the entrance in the fence with some trash and human feces. This part is not so pleasant. The wetlands are a great little find in the neighborhood. read more

I searched for local hikes and DGW came up. My first attempt to find it wasn't with success. I found it the following day based upon the directions in other peoples reviews. It's great for a stroll or a jog. I walked and jogged the 2 mile loop and took photos along the way. I hope they keep this gem in Long Beach maintained, safe and clean. read more

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I like to start my morning runs here. This is a beautiful bit of nature in the middle of the city. I've seen rabbits playing here along the trail and found California poppies in bloom. There is a bike path that follows the 710 fwy and I can run all the way to the ocean. read more

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I found this place by accident when me and my friend were looking for a -um- certain gated mythical enclave... But who cares about that! Whenever I come here, I go through through the Los Cerritos/Bixby/Victoria entrance. I've never had a problem with parking. This is a great place to forget that you're in Long Beach and cuddle up to nature. read more

Very beautiful area to go on a walk/jog. I usually go every morning, and for as long as I can remember there have always been coyotes (seen them up close). Recently, there was a coyote who killed a small white dog and there was fur flying around everywhere! If you're an owner small dogs please keep them on a tight leash, the coyotes are alert and are on the look out for small prey. Unfortunately I will no longer be walking here due to the strange things I have encountered recently, and mainly too because I have 2 small dogs of my own and it is pretty dangerous. I even spotted a coyote tailing a man with his dog! My true complaint is that there are zero signs on the premises that there are coyotes in the area and people who don't know let there small dogs roam free, and they are vulnerable if a coyote attacks. I have tried calling the county to put up signs but no luck. Please be alert. read more

I found this location during a Yelp search. It sounded great, and it was! I went on Wednesday at about 2pm. I parked on Oregon, just off Del Amo Blvd, and walked down the rocky path on Del Amo towards the entrance. I took the dirt path towards the right. There were no other walkers. I saw guys riding horseback across the way, and even passed one on my way out; beautiful horses! I saw quite a few bike riders on the bike path just above, and passed a few workers keeping the paths clean; other than that I had the place to myself. Just me, the ducks, other birds, and the breeze! The area was safe, clean, breezy, and mostly quiet. I could hear the humming of cars on the freeway and the metro when it passed, but it was still more peaceful than surrounded by city life. The loop is an easy 2 mile walk. Since I was exploring, it was a leisurely walk, and I even walked through the big rocky path just for fun. I'll definitely be back here to exercise and possibly meditate. Great find! read more

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This was a strikingly beautiful area to find tucked away in such a well developed area, especially with the concrete encased LA River literally a stone's throw away to contrast with it. The path leading into it isn't terribly well marked, but I would imagine that only allows for more undisturbed bird populations and nesting. The pavilion area at the southern end of the basin is a very soothing area to start the beginning of a walk or to rest at the end of it. While there today, my walking partner and I saw several hares up along the basin edges doing their daily foraging. It's an excellent location for a birder, with a very well developed duck population, but also a hawk pair and a turkey vulture were visible on this first visit here. My understanding is that the water fed into this wetlands is also helping to recharge the local aquifer. If that is the case, then the developers of this project have managed something utilitarian and beautiful at the same time. read more

A fairly uninspiring flat, dusty path with limited shade and scenery. Only worth it if you're nearby and want a quick run. Otherwise, you're better off driving to other trails, especially the ones in Palos Verdes read more

Friend invited me to go for a mile walk to this spot and i thought i knew Long Beach well and knew lots of cool spots but i was proven wrong. This place is awesome!!! Lots of birds, people horseback riding, train track, graffiti/art wall and lots of nice greenery landscape. will be going back soon to take pictures with my DSLR. People in this city needs to go out and explore spots like this. read more

Didn't know where to park. As a result, we couldn't even hike on this trail. The city should put in some parking to make the hiking more accessible to more people who live farther away in Long Beach. read more

Difficult to find the entrance as it's located near a little fenced area with no signs behind a row of homes. If you use your iPhone to get there, it will guide you to the golf course instead. It's a good place for a semi private walk to clear your head or run some laps. It's a circle dirt trail that has houses on the right and green water with a few plants and birds to your left. Beware of a few homeless guys camped there in the rock area . Runs next to the L.a river, the metro line and also a train area. read more