Tree-lined walking and biking path opening along the LA River in Studio City

A new addition to the Los Angeles River will open this weekend, in the form of a new section of bikeable and walkable pathway along the concrete flood control channel in the Valley.

The new greenway segment “bridges the gap in the L.A. River Trail to create a four mile continuous river walking trail loop, the longest in the San Fernando Valley,” according to Community Conservation Solutions, one of the project’s partners.

The new trail segment, called the Zev Yaroslavsky LA River Greenway Trail, is lined with more than 3,000 native trees and plants, as well as a handmade metal gate at the entrance and metal panels depicting river scenes.

The trail will also help “improve the L.A. River’s water quality by naturally capturing runoff.”

This trail is part of a large move to close the gaps in the riverside trail for visitors on bike or on foot.

In 2015, it was estimated that a riverpath cyclist could encounter about 12 miles of gaps in the riverside biking and walking between the river’s headwaters in Canoga Park and Elysian Valley. City and county agencies, along with river conservation advocates, are working to close the gap via projects like this.

This revamped section of the riverside path is far upstream from the 11-mile section of the LA River poised for a makeover that’s estimated to cost over $1 billion. That overhaul would affect a section of the river between Griffith Park and Downtown LA, ecologically restoring the river habitat along the way and adding recreation opportunities.

• LA Closing 12 Miles of Gaps in Bike/Walking Paths Along the River's Valley Section [Curbed LA]
• 11-Mile Makeover of the LA River is Moving Right Along [Curbed LA]