This place is completely different from lake balboa across the street. Completely different vibe.... It's more quieter and with way more greenery. On the opposite side of woodley, you have the archery park and cricket park. This is more of a nature hike if you call it. There's paths that take you around the lake. Which is small and more wildlife. A lot of the trees have started to grow back from a fire that happened a while back. There's still loads of remnants of the burned up trees and shrubs but plenty of new growth. You could take a hike around the lake. Path also goes through a tunnel that will take you to the other side of Burbank with more trails. Nothing major, it's more of an easier trail. Along the lake, there's rest spots that overlooks the water with signs that tells about the wildlife that calls the place home. Every now and then, you'll see some sort of wildlife popping in and out of the water and from the shrubs. If it's a quieter place that your looking for. This place will definitely be nice for you. You could also walk along the top of the embankment that's along the freeway which will connect you back to the park. There's plenty of parking in the park area. read more

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I recommend visiting on a weekend morning -- there's plenty of foot traffic, from runners to bird-watchers flexing those giant pro-level cameras, so you'll feel safe and in good company. Go with a friend if you can, and if you're rolling solo, stick to the main trails and bring bear or pepper spray for peace of mind. I hadn't returned in a long time after an incident with a predator, but I finally revisited, and honestly, it's still a gem in the San Fernando Valley. The SFV Audubon Society also hosts guided nature walks and other events, so check out their website for more info. read more

Nice golf facility with a putting green. A driving range. A cafe, a bar and a 18 hole golf course.

The last ten years we have been coming here in the spring for long walks. The weather is perfect and it's in full bloom. So much beauty all around when walking through the basin. You will also hear birds singing and if you stop and look around you will find birds in trees, many beautiful birds. Lots of lizards and other wildlife in the bushes so be careful. Stay on path and walk around to enjoy the beauty. In the middle of a busy city you will find this peaceful place. Check it out. read more

Really love this place - for walking, running or relaxing. Today had the unpleasant experience of someone from across Woodley buzzing their model plane over the area. Very sad. read more

Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve - Parks Near Me - Van Nuys, California

Great birding area, and with nice resting spots to stop and look for water birds. Fairly easy to get to and park. Was crazy hot when we went, so bring water when walking around the pond. Public restrooms outside the pond area. It's off migration, so not a huge variety, although we did see osprey, redtails, and western bluebirds. Excited to come back when maybe more species will be present. read more

Check this place out if you're around this area. So different from the rest of the park. It's pretty big lots of trails and it's flat. Good for walking or running. Lots of people around and pets. Spring time is beautiful lots of flowers and plants and the creek is full of water. I'm going to walk here many more times and enjoy the weather read more

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This place is a wonderful gem within the L.A. area. There is a lot of natural beauty and even bird watching opportunities. Unfortunately, they don't have a working ranger managing the facility right now. Thus, we saw lots of people fishing, riding motorcycles within the Basin, and lots of dogs on and off leash. These activities are all prohibited there, with many signs posted that clearly state this. However, many people are choosing to ignore the rules of the Wildlife Preserve for selfish reasons. I hope there is better management of this location. Otherwise, Los Angeles will lose this valuable resource. read more

Way overgrown, trash, graffiti, rando single men sitting alone smoking along the path. But, the lake was pretty at sunset and at one point it was a bunch of couples holding hands. Sort of an emotional roller coaster for a single gal walking alone. And one cute dog in a vest! read more

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Bird Island is what I call this place, as there's this man made lake inside the trail with this chunk of land in the middle where all the birds congregate. I love how secluded this area is compared to Balboa Park. The trail that loops around is very short and relaxing. It's a great place to take pictures, especially as the sun is setting. Great place for a quick get together or mini picnic too! read more

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This is a hidden gem amidst the vicious jungle of Los Angeles. I come here to escape the city and reconnect with nature and wildlife. Peaceful, tranquil, and natural. You will see water fowl, Canada geese, coots, mallards, pelicans, cormorants, and lots of other birds. Bring binoculars and be very quiet. The best way to see birds is to listen for them. You might also see jackrabbits, raccoons, possums, gophers, and squirrels. I have seen hawks, and I hope eventually to see an eagle and an owl. The marshes and water are beautiful. Sunset and sunrise there are unspeakably lovely. There are early morning bird walks led by the Audubon society. I personally like to go about 45 minutes before sunset and watch the birds settle down for the night. In this harsh world, nature is my best friend. read more

Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve - The majesty of twilight - Parks Near Me - Van Nuys, California

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The actual preserve is pretty cool. However, in typical fashion, there's trash everywhere. Some has been blown in from the park. Some is still in a bag obviously intentionally being left there. Watch where you're walking because not only is there human waste, but also bear and other animals on the trails. read more

This was my first time here and I actually liked part of it but what bothers me these days is the homeless people ruining what should be pristine park. I walked around the archery area and found trash thrown about and not from picnickers but trash from homeless people. The city or local residents have to step in and help keep their park clean or it will end up looking like Skid Row in downtown LA. read more

Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve - August hot 2020 - Parks Near Me - Van Nuys, California

As I have been stuck in my apartment for close to a year, I got tired of the same old neighborhood walk. I decided to check out this preserve since it was down the street. What was supposed to be a 7 minute drive turned into a 30 minute drive because Google maps IS NOT YOUR FRIEND! Google maps takes you to a parking lot near the Japanese Garden & then it's a 25 min walk to the preserve... After a lot of confusion, I finally put in the Woodly Park Cricket Complex since it was much closer & that worked. I found a parking lot there & a quick walk through a park led right to the preserve! The preserve itself was alright- as other yelpers said there is trash & it's not the best kept it seems. But the birds & other wildlife there are beautiful! We saw pelicans, cormorants, geese, cranes & an osprey. I very much needed a quiet nature spot & this place somewhat covers that..but.. People SUCK. Like really suck. I saw people feeding the birds CHEESE BALLS. Don't do this. People blaring terrible auto tuned music as they walked around. So many MASKLESS people walking around, often bumping up right next to us, & just all over. Because of this, we left pretty early, unfortunately. I'd recommend coming early in the morning or on a weekday as opposed to a Sunday afternoon. Could be lovely in the right circumstances! read more

Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve - The lake with a group of ducks passing by - Parks Near Me - Van Nuys, California

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I had the hardest time finding this place. The first day after walking around lost in the park, I gave up. The next day I finally found it, but only because I went on Google Maps satellite view and figured out what I did wrong. Turn into the parking lot that also has the sign for the Japanese Garden, but at the fork turn right, not straight into the Japanese Garden. Follow the straight road that runs alongside the water reclamation center. It will bring you to the furthest, last parking lot. Park close to the bathroom building. Once you're on foot, walk past the bathroom building and head towards the wooden post fencing. If you're heading back towards the Japanese Garden and the water reclamation center you're going the wrong way (that's where I went wrong). Once you're at the wooden post fence, walk beyond it and follow the dirt path. This part is creepy because you can't see the water and you're just surrounded by tall brush with little animals suddenly moving around underneath. Just keep going and eventually you'll see a little bridge that goes over the creek, and beyond that a wide open circular space with a sign talking about the reserve, and beyond that you'll finally see the water. This place was a lot of work to get to for a first timer, but it was worth the search in the end. I read all the previous reviews about condoms and litter, but I must have come on a day (Tuesday) when it had just been cleaned because the only thing I saw was an empty water bottle by the water's edge. Otherwise, you're surrounded by plants, wild birds, beautiful views of the water, and the little animals I mentioned earlier rustling around in the underbrush. It's totally worth the search. Just trying to get to this place is an adventure in itself. read more

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This place is truly hard to find. A friend & I met up here & both of us were directed through our GPS to different parking lots. It is secluded and an easy walk. As others have mentioned, there is a lot of burnt shrubs & trees. And as in other places, the homeless debris is everywhere. Discarded clothes & tents, beer cans etc in the water. Very sad. Saw interesting birds. Enjoyed the visit on the whole. read more

Mixed feelings about the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve. There's diverse wildlife but there's a lot of filth and graffiti. I'm also confused about the dog policy. Seems like dogs are not allowed but there's a conflicting advisory that asks that dogs be leashed. If I overlooked all that, it's a huge place to walk around and be lost in one's thoughts for hours. read more

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--Atmosphere-- To get a little refuge from all the valley bustle, check out the reserve where a nice walk can be done or hike of sorts while admiring some beauty. You'll be surrounded by plants, trees, grass, shrubs, and various wildlife. There's also a lake that can be seen while walking through the dirt paths and streams. The area offers critical habitat to certain diversities of wildlife. A couple things to take note of: No bicycles or dogs/pets allowed, swimming, or barbecueing and the like. ---History-- The Sepulveda Basin is located adjacent to Sepulveda Dam, Victory Blvd, and the LA River. The dam was built in 1938 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to control seasonal floods from the LA River. In the present time, the Department of Recreating and Parks for the City of Los Angeles leases most of the basin from the Corps. It's used for agriculture, recreational purposes and as a wildlife refuge. In 1979, 48 acres of habitat was designed as the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Area, then an additional 60 acres was added in 1988, and in 1992 an artificial lake was filled with reclaimed water, and in recent years the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers added pathways, veiw areas, and educational facilities. Today, the restored 250 acres of the basin provides home for more than 200 species of animals and many species of native plants. The typical ecological communities in this area include riparian, woodland habitat, lake and shoreline habitat, oak savannah habitat and coastal sage scrub lands. ---Directions-- The reserve is located off Woodley Ave, and if you're driving WEST turn right at the sign "Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant, Japanese Garden, and Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve". To get to the reserve, keep right at the fork, and follow the sign for the Wildlife Area Wildlife Reserve. You'll drive a bit down about a mile or less, driving past a cricket field until you reach the end of the road and a parking lot. --More Info--- https://sepulvedabasinwildlife.org/ ---Something to check out near by-- The Japanese Garden where you first entered off Woodley Ave. For a price of $7 or so, you can check out a wonderful oasis. read more

This is one of my favorite in the city places to go to get away from it all, walk, and take pictures. It's peaceful and at times of the year get great colors and wildlife. It's a great spot to take pictures. However, I wish the city would do more to patrol the area and keep it clean and free from visitors using the park inappropriately ( e.g. Parking on grass, music blaring, trash everywhere, etc. ) read more

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Wonderful spot for a nature walk- you forget you're in the city. Various trails- clean public restrooms- free parking- quiet and peaceful. Hawks, rabbits, geese, ducks....lake in middle of grounds. So much to explore. read more

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This is a hidden gem tucked away in the bustling San Fernando Valley. I've visited the adjacent park and Cricket grounds a number of times but never ventured over toward the nature trail. There's a path that circles the lake in the center. You see Canadian geese, ducks, cranes and other birds. The waters are also teeming with fish. It's so peaceful and really pulls you out of the city for just a moment. You'll see little, wild rabbits darting hither and fro into the brush. I even saw a snake rustling over some leaves. Unfortunately, dogs aren't allowed here, though I've seen many there. I suppose it disrupts the wildlife balance. Though humans probably disrupt it more... Most people enjoy the nature walk for what it is; a nice stroll through nature. Unfortunately there are a lot of losers that show up here, vandalizing/tagging signs and informational boards, teens trying to smoke weed on the sly (everyone knows what you're doing ::eyeroll::), ignorant people throwing their fast food wrappers into a bush...I can't believe how ridiculous and environmentally unfriendly people can be. There are signs that plain-clothed officers patrolled the area. I wish they'd do it more. read more

Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve - Dusk over the lake - Parks Near Me - Van Nuys, California

Unfortunately, this park isn't so well kept anymore and it was damaged from fires. I came walking with a friend on the path around the body of water. There were a lot of burnt shrubs and trees and zero shade, making the walk extremely hot. We did see a couple of cool birds but I was not impressed. Definitely don't go when it's scorching hot. read more

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My favorite spot for photographing birds in LA. Due to COVID, I have not been to the Preserve until today. I was surprised to see that a fire had destroyed most of the vegetation on the east side of the lake. That should spur new growth and it will be fascinating to see how the preserve develops. read more

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I recently discovered that the bike path around Lake Balboa park is 8 miles and that the middle path behind the golf course - a path along the basin - is 1.3 miles by itself. I love this walk because it's relaxing and there is so much beauty in nature that we hardly ever stop to enjoy the view. Well I enjoy it daily. It's a great walk. read more

Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve - Walking - Parks Near Me - Van Nuys, California

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Great to have such an accessible wildlife spot so close to LA. A great variety of birds. They seem to be most active in the early morning or late evening. The fires have really had an impact on the area, but hopefully the foliage will bounce back soon. The lake is just a nice spot to stroll and unwind. read more

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Nice bike path here. Winds over 5 miles in a loop so you can park and end up back where you started for a great workout! read more

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This place may not look like much from outside, but when you enter, it's a amazing safe animal haven in the valley. I always love to come here whenever I have the chance because I love to see all the animals that come and go here. I've seen pelicans, ospreys, egrets, turtles, and bullfrogs. I recommend coming to this place in the morning due to the amount of people that come in the afternoon and evening disrupting the peaceful vibe of the place. I hope to see more species come to this wonderful place I call home. I also recommend to bring binoculars to closely see and identify the birds read more

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My sister and I spent several hours together here last week. Us and a couple sets of binoculars. We had so much fun nerding out while birding. The weather was perfect and we had a very relaxed, enjoyable, and peaceful time. We wandered the north and south basin. We saw so many pelicans, Canadian geese, hawks, doves, flycatchers, hummingbirds, snowy egrets, rabbits, squirrels, and so many other species of birds that we had no idea what they were. There are over 200 found here. The north side was a bit creepy at times. I think we felt a bit safer the two of us gals on the south side. All in all a very successful trip. She'd been wanting to come here for quite sometime and I'm glad she told me. I was happy to bring her. Be sure to bring a bottle of water and some sunscreen, we even had a snack. If you don't have a pair of binoculars, I could see this being an entirely different experience. So do, bring a pair if you're interested in spotting the wildlife that's not so easy to see with the naked eye. read more

Sepulveda Basin is a place to get away from it all without getting away from it all. It's either a watershed, water storage basin, a wildlife refuge, or sumpin'. But it's open to the public, and a good place to take a breather. A short drive from the Burbank Blvd. exit on 405. To be sure, it doesn't feel remote. The freeway noise is always there. But it's a place to step away from the gaudiness of The Valley. It's not a full-service park, but it's not meant to be one. You can jog on the unpaved paths. You can rest at the pond. You can stroll hand-in-hand with the one you love. You can do many things on the huge lawn at the entrance: kids party, pickup football game, cheer practice. Lots of (unshaded) parking. Water fountains are available, but bring several full bottles when you're on the trails. If you like the outdoors but have trouble on the hills, then the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve is just right. Enjoy. read more

This place is mostly barren grass and much more of a park than a wildlife preserve. There is lots of trash where the stream is and tagging on signs and concrete and metal. You kinda get an idea of what kind of people frequent here from that. There are lots of locals barbecuing and blasting music. But very little actual wildlife. It's a mundane park. read more

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Wow, it's hard to believe that I've lived in the San Fernando Valley all my life and I've NEVER been here. I knew of it but never knew where it exactly was. Sheesh, didn't realize how many times I've passed by! LOL So, the only reason I was here was for my Biology class field trip. Man, it sounds like I'm in grade school, but we were there to observe plant and mammal life. There are people running this dirt path and people just taking photos of wetland life. You can't bring your dog here, not even on a leash. There are plenty of animals that I saw...woodpeckers, Canadian geese, herons, ducks, etc. It's a world on it's own and it's here for us to enjoy. I have to come here one day when I can really explore on my own because you really feel like you're in forest with wildlife. Woohoo...ENCHANTED Forest here I come! :) Note: Wear your OFF products here, because there are lots of bugs here. Yesterday those gnats were flying everywhere and I ended up with a mosquito bite on my leg. :-/ Don't say you weren't warned. LOL read more

Beautiful area to walk through and free parking in adjacent park. Really nice. Except for people with dogs that don't read the no dog signs or do and foot care. You will find it hard to believe this exists just off the freeway exits in the middle of the city. read more

Join with kid's school field trip to the Wildlife Reserve park. It was great for kids to learn how basin works and how it can preserve and impact the wildlife. Great for long hike around the basin and see plenty of birds living in the Basin. read more

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The Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve is situated in the mid-San Fernando Valley north and south of Burbank Blvd. The lay of the land is very easy to find after you have been there once, so this review is for first timers. Park in the lot north of Burbank Blvd., off Woodley Ave. Enter in the same driveway marked for the Japanese Gardens. At the fork, stay right and drive along the park. You can park at any of the lots (archery or main at the end). The entrance to the trail will be marked and all you have to do is follow the only dirt path available. Once you enter, there are a few options. You can walk around the lake and stay on the north side. You can cross any of the bridges that connect the park to its eastern path. Or you can follow the trail to Burbank Blvd, cross the underpass, and wind up on the southern end where the Sepulveda Dam sits. The lake is a nice retreat. Although you can definitely see signs of the city when looking around and hear planes taking off / landing at nearby Van Nuys airport, the dawn and dusk hours are very serene. Kid and family friendly, though ALOT of gnats. read more

Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve - Parks Near Me - Van Nuys, California

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WOW, INCREDIBLE, hard to believe that I have lived in the San Fernando Valley all my life and NEVER been here. After moving back into the local area, our family and friends were familiar with the Lake Balboa park however never knew where it exactly was. By chance we discovered this looking for something to do on the weekend with our daughter close to home and FREE, my favorite four letter word. There are various amounts of bird life...woodpeckers, Canadian geese, herons, ducks, etc. and is the largest landing spot for migrant birds. It's a world on its own and it's here for us to enjoy. We discovered are tours provided by the Audubon Society and Sierra Club on the weekends. This is a true gem of Lake Balboa Living read more

Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve - Lake Balboa Living @ the Sepulveda Wildlife Preserve - Parks Near Me - Van Nuys, California

S They've cleaned the area up pretty good. The bathrooms were much cleaner than last time i came which was about a month ago. The park is also patrolled daily if not hourly by the lapd which makes it a safe place. I do have to let people know that it is a common gay cruise and lick up place read more

I was really unimpressed by this place. The photos on Yelp made it seem nice but when I got there, it was really barren, dry, and just not a nice atmosphere to hang out or relax. It does not seem like it's taken care of very well, but then again, it is free so perhaps that's why. We walked around the lake for a short loop. Didn't see any wildlife except a group of people who were fishing in the lake and caught some fish. I definitely do not plan on returning to this spot. read more

The Basin is still beautiful, but has really suffered for lack of funding from Rec & Parks, which is currently broke thanks to COVID, which has sucked all the funding out of the LA City Budget. Funny how we all take to nature in time of COVID, but no funding allocated to keep the Wildlife Reserve and adjacent Park in decent shape. Homeless encampments burned the place down 3 times (and a death), and the lack of any supervision means that the place is over-run with vendors on the weekends...and I counted 12 birthday bounce houses yesterday, STAY AWAY on the weekends! The reason that we have no supervision is that we lost our shared Park Ranger: Ranger Albert Torres was shared with Griffith Park, and he really kept the Basin in order...but he died helping fight the terrible fires we had last year, and Recs and Parks has no budget to replace him. If you care about this, and the graffitti, broken fences, homeless encampments, and trash, you MUST write your elected officials! This is OUR place, and the City is too busy with crisis management to care about our Basin. No, one cannot let dogs off leash and let them kill the wildlife. No, one can't fish there (it's a WILDLIFE RESERVE), camp there, or fly your drones around. PLEASE respect this jewel, and HELP US PROTECT it by writing your local elected official. Hold them responsible! If you see anyone fishing or chasing wildlife, call Cal Fish & Wildlife 888-334-2258, or LAPD 911 (non urgent, unless someone is building a fire, or selling food with a fire under a tree, or other hazardous things). All these things are violations and the person will be fined. FYI, the property to the south of Burbank belongs to the Army Corps of Engineers and is Federal property. You can hike there but all the same regulations apply. read more

It gets five stars from me just because of its location, it is in the middle of barren, repetitive and unoriginal urban development which the "valley" can be at times. It is a welcome respite from the land of the mini-malls, stuccoed-condos and oil&lubes . Hundreds of egrets and ducks, nice area to walk and play and somewhat wedged in Japanese gardens. It's great when it rains and is a little quiet... read more

Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve - My painting of the place. - Parks Near Me - Van Nuys, California

Please enforce the rules. It breaks my heart when I see people feeding the birds and letting their dogs run around scaring the wildlife. I tried calling the number on the website but no one answers. It's such a lovely place for the birds. Let's protect them. read more