What a beautiful but hidden nature center, and I can't believe I didn't know about it before! First and foremost, it's dog-friendly! There are two directions to go. One way leads you to the Mark Ridley-Thomas Bridge that goes over La Cienega and connects to Kenneth Hahn or other trails that lead to other overlooks. The other direction will take you to the Baldwin Hills Stairs. There is also a sign that shows a way to walk you all the way to Playa Del Rey! Something I would love to try one of these days. It is easy to find parking. They have tons of classes, like yoga and cooking classes for children, and the day we went, they had a blood drive going on. The restrooms are clean, and everyone there had a smile on their faces, even though they were super busy setting everything up. I can't wait to go back and explore. read more

Stoneview Nature Center - Community Centers Near Me - Culver City, California

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Yesterday was my first time at Stoneview Nature Center, I found parking nearby and met my friend at the large gates and we walked in. Wow, this hike was absolutely amazing. Everything is so well maintained. There are some great up and down hills where you feel the burn but then you go back down so it can dissolve and then you do it again. It felt amazing getting out in the fresh air and seeing all the beautiful plants. I brought my foster dog Drew and it was nice that the trails are not too narrow so we were easily able to pass other dogs coming our way with plenty of space. The most awesome thing was to see they have bathrooms!!! And then we ran into Quaillywood! Which was this cute little area with quails inside. Also, in one garden area everything is edible!!! My favorite was seeing the blackberries, because at home i have a blackberry plant in a pot but I don't know how they grow, now I have an idea from seeing them at the nature center. I did see staff talking to people and teaching them about the plants. Also, I saw that they have yoga classes and other types of classes. Man do I wish Stoneview was closer to me because then I'd go all the time, but it's over an hour drive for me. Despite this, I definitely want to come back and hike some of the other directions and see more!!! And maybe bring breakfast to enjoy in the chairs or benches and just enjoy nature!!! read more

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Peaceful escape right in the middle of the city. I love that they have a bathroom and water refill stations. Parking is easy and there's so much nature to enjoy and wildlife to see. Saw a hawk land in a nearby tree today. read more

Such a hidden gem! A great place to take a break (plenty of outdoor seating area), use the clean restrooms, and fill up your water bottle when hiking between Baldwin Hills Overlook to Kenneth Hahn State Recreation area. They also have some lovely gardens to walk around and it seems like they have event programming. I've never tried to park here since we only stop by when hiking but it looks like they have a small parking lot. read more

This nature center is part of the Baldwin hills park and operates under the la county. The staff working here are extremely rude and helpless, despite their websites and door posted signs provide conflicting opening days and hours compared to their verbal notice, not only they hadn't communicated clearly about how the park is supposed to operate, but also they were unwilling to help the local community from the very beginning. read more

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This was my first time on this side of the highway and we were here to hike up to the Baldwin Hills Overlook. They offer free parking and if it's overcrowded you can park in the residential area that has lots of empty spaces. The gardens are very beautiful and the hike up to the top is not that strenuous. read more

The best nature experience within the city. Native tree and shrub species throughout this beautiful park. Easy access to regional trails including the Park to Playa trail. Friendly, knowledgeable staff and plenty of free parking. read more

Finally hiked the connector portion (Baldwin Scenic Overlook to Kenneth Hanh) of the Park to Playa Trail. We have enjoyed hiking both of those parks but never did the connector portion which was a moderately steep and fun hike checking out the new-ish Stone view Nature Center and crossing the Mark Ridley-Thomas Bridge that goes over La Cienega. Will have to come back in the spring/summer to see more of the fruit trees/flowers in bloom. Love that they offer various programs for adults and kids at the nature center. Btw, they have a scavenger hunt for kids to pick up inside. For more SoCal hikes, parks and food tips, IG: @grace.loves.adventures read more

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This is a great nature preserve in the hills of Baldwin Hills, Los Angeles . I highly recommend going up here and check it out. If you have a few hours to spend, you can take the trail out of the backside of the nature preserve and go all the way across the street over the bridge into Kenneth Hahn Park. If you call them, they will give you the schedule of the lectures to talk to children and adults alike about the horticulture situation at this nature preserve. Definitely give it a try! read more

Stoneview Nature Center - Community Centers Near Me - Culver City, California

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Walk 4 Purpose Vision board workshop it's always a good time when we come to the nature center so peaceful the staff friendly atmosphere is amazing if you want to chill and enjoy a book journal or something else relaxing. Looking forward to our next meet up. read more

Supervisor Holly J Mitchell's 2nd District Commissioners Bi-Yearly check in. Great meeting and beautiful location.

Tucked away on a Baldwin Hills residential alcove is this delightful garden, that is also a thoughtfully designed nature center. Its name comes from an erstwhile primary school on the site. The history of the surrounding neighborhood is worth learning about, inside the friendly visitor's center. The classic U.S. American story of racial segregation and painful integration of previously all-white neighborhoods played out here, in our lifetimes, and if you're attentive along the route up to the park, you'll see the black-owned homes. The garden itself has several sections dedicated to reviving indigenous ecology which is a way of piecing back the world destroyed by modern technology, urbanization, and commercial consumption. This garden offers one of the best descriptions of the indigenous peoples that populated the Los Angeles basin I have seen in LA. Unlike too many other places that perpetuate the "magical erasure" of indigenous peoples by white invaders, this park gives visitors a more honest sense of place which includes the original people and their relationship to the land. The small efforts at restoration of the indigenous plants seem like a valient and gentle effort at countering euro-American modernity. When you look north across the expanse of Los Angeles you will see the results of the white man's relationship to this place...and the unmitigated sprawl of Los Angeles. The west to east expanse of concrete blocks and traffic arteries spans the LA basin then creeps up the Santa Monica mountain range (that runs like a west-east wall). Look eastward along the hills and the Hollywood sign and the Griffith Observatory are clearly visible. As well you can catch sight of the actively drilling oil wells of the Baldwin hills complex, and there is a sign about oil's relationship to this town. The garden has a section of vegetable and herb growing boxes which are complemented by a series of compost-making containers and an open invitation for visitors to bring their kitchen scraps. I regularly bike up to deposite my vegetable/fruit scraps here and it appears I am often the only one, which is a shame as the compost heaps need more green matter. If even a tiny fraction of Los Angeles' purportedly "progressive" people boasting about their green lifestyles would actually bring their food waste to community collection spots (such as Stoneview's), we could reduce the city's greenhouse gas footprint. As well, they would be contributing to more diverse microbiomes and richer soils. Alas, LA is notoriously better on hollow myth-making than "on the ground" realities as it were. This public space offers community classes, as well as exercise equipment and a meditative walking labyrinth. Fruit trees are growing and native pollinator friendly shrubs are scattered throughout. There is a bee hive. One gets the sense of a "communal town square" in which nature is celebrated, which is the polar opposite of what capitalism valorizes, e.g., the Santa Monica Third Street Promenade (complete with the detritus of U.S. feudal capitalism: homeless people sleeping exposed). If every neighborhood had a nature center like Stoneview, I guarantee it would mitigate the crime and aggression of Los Angeles. Children would be raised with a now-missing connection to the true ecology of their world--soil, insects, and plants. The most recent addition is a pedestrian walkway over the busy highway of La Cienega to the Kenneth Hahn State Park. The access path is a dusty, awfully narrow path, bound by rope, in which parents with strollers and motorized bikes wielded by crazy teenagers compete with others who are out for a "walk in nature." But it's Los Angeles and it's quite a stretch to expect planners to configure space so that walking people can actually navigate safely. Stoneview is a model for the City of Los Angeles. Just bulldoze some of the underutilized, sagging commercial strips of yesteryear, and make more Stoneviews across the entire basin. Let's restore the ecology of this specific place, set up community composting hubs and grow vegetables for the surrounding community from truly nutrient rich soils that don't require synthetic herbicide applications every season. Honor the Mother! read more

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Very beautiful place to relax and to hangout. The restroom was clean and the environment was quiet even in weekends not so crowded. We went for a hike yesterday. read more

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Gorgeous sight lines. Luscious verdant pastures. Well demarcates pathway. This center is the start of a fantastic 13 mile Park to Playa trail that I enjoy every weekend. It's never too crowded and the view of the city is unparalleled. DEFINITELY RECOMMEND a visit! read more

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It's a pocket park with some more in-depth stuff... great if you have a kiddo or are a super nature lover or learning about gardening. Even sans children or any real interest in the outdoors or plants/nature, this was still a good way to spend an hour or so walking around and learning some stuff... and seeing the valuable work they do here. Most impressive to me - this is a space for a community to gather and they make it available for community use. I love that very much. It would be a fun first date pre-drinks... if you're the sort of person that wants to convene with nature, OR see if your date does. I recommend it for sure as an activity to get outta the house and see some shit growing that you won't then try to smoke. I mean, maybe you could smoke some of this stuff... what do I know? read more

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Love this place so much for meditation midday or walks after school. Don't miss the monarch butterflies (if around) or the urban garden! read more

Stoneview Nature Center - Unbothered by the bees - Community Centers Near Me - Culver City, California

Absolutely beautiful nature center. You can tell that this place can only be in Los Angeles because it's so well funded. The buildings on the property are gorgeous steel and glass structures and the patios are peppered with knoll furniture. I love it read more

Great location for zen. My 83 year old Mom loves it! I love it too! Allows escape from the hustle and bustle of the City. So grateful!! read more

This secret retreat is worth sharing! Peaceful, relaxing, educational...the perfect start and end to any hike into Kenneth Hahn Park or to the Jefferson Overlook. Naturist, Richard is a welcoming wealth of information. NOTE: Park closes promptly at 5pm...gate to the hiking trail and parking lot get locked! read more

This is a hidden gem. It's still in its infancy but you can see the vision for this place and how it'll further improve the community. I was talking to one of the employees about future plans and they aspire to have a bridge to connect it to Kenneth Hahn park and eventually will have a 12 mile trail to the ocean. For the time being it's a beautiful and well sculpted garden. The place itself has an edible garden free for all to pick. Not everything is ripe though. There are fruits and veggies on plants and trees. Also they have a little ecosystem for quails and other animals. There are classes for kids and the community. Parking is available, but I think eventually it will not be adequate. There is no cost to visit or park. Highly recommended. read more

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We did a preschool field trip with Joanna as our naturalist tour guide and we got to watch a opossum eat a quail egg laid by their resident quails. Also picked vegetables. Ran around their huge labyrinth. Saw their bee hotel. And smelled cowboy cologne plant and rosemary from their very large sustainable garden. Best tour in ages! Great place for kids and school groups. read more

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I LOVE this place! You can experience nature, get a work out in hiking up the side of the hill and there is parking! Clean facilities too! Its hidden away, an oasis and gem in the middle of LA. read more

Best kept secret. Love it. Great for fellowships, walks, and meditation. Waiting for the bridge to connect to Kenneth Hahn Park.

Came here on a field trip with my sons ELR class. Nice staff, beautiful view around the front of the center. My kids loved the quails (I think that's what they were anyways). One of the highlights for me was one of the plants that you can stick in your bottled water and it makes the water taste like lemonade !! Also loved the rock formation and the fact that this location has classes and reading time for the children. Oh and the water fountain has a thingy where you can fill your water bottle up as well read more

Culver City's best kept semi-secret! There are walking trails for strolling mostly and leads to a killer hillside trail with city views and the otherside of the Culver City Stairs/ Baldwin Hills Overlook. The nature center is allows dogs on a leash. There a variety of classes available as well. The entire staff is very friendly and helpful. read more

This is a great new Nature Center located in Culver City near the Culver City Stairs and Kenneth Hahn Park. What once was the site of an old school is now serving as a nature center and it's beautiful! I had the opportunity to learn about this place today as I attended a meeting for the Sierra Club there. In addition to the beautiful brick and mortar space, there is ample outdoor space which includes a bee hotel, bat box, garden space, sitting areas, some exercise machinery, and an outdoor meditation spot. The nature center offers cooking classes and yoga classes plus educational opportunities. There will also be a trail coming in April that will connect to the Culver City Stairs and eventually a pedestrian bridge will be built to connect Kenneth Hahn Park as well. Make sure to visit to take a tour and sign up for the email newsletter. I can't wait to check it out again once the gardens are in bloom and the trees start to mature! read more