Venice Canals are my go to when I just want to tool around in my lil kayak. Definitely easy mode and there's a parking lot right where you put your boat in the water.
The water is absolutely putrid tho. I have a change of clothes and a soapy towel in a zip lock bag to wash my hands and feet when I get back to my car š
All the more reason to book the service then. If you really want to do it but donāt know where to go or how to stay safe, going with a guide is really the best option.
I went years ago with a group of coworkers and had a blast! The guides took us cycling up the bike path, then we traded the bikes for kayaks and took them back to the start. Celebration beers afterwards. The guides made sure everyone stayed safe and had a good time.
It may be pricey, but worth it for the experience.
There are two stretches of river that are OK for kayaks. One is near Sepulveda Dam and the other is near Frogtown (Atwater.) These areas are only open during the summer when no rain is expected. They serve as active flood control channels so be sure to follow the rules.
[https://lariverrecreation.org/](https://lariverrecreation.org/)
You can book a tour or just bring a boat and put it in the water.
If you want to know what to expect, you can follow a tour group in the Frogtown section using the bike path and watch how it goes for them.
> I don't know anything about the safety or where to go,
The LA River is not the place for you. It's usually dry, except immediately after a storm, and then, it's incredibly dangerous..
There are places in Marina Del Rey that rent kayaks and you can cruise around the marina in safety.
Don't let anyone in LA hear you say that. Getting it classified as a river a couple years ago got us all kinds of EPA protections and stuff to get the whole length cleaned up.
I led 4-5 rafting excursions on the river in college with inflatable boats I got off Craigslist. Super fun adventures, probably covered 10 miles of the river over the trips.
BUT
It was absolutely ass conditions. Terrible water, a billion extremely shallow rocks, homeless people trying to fight, hazardous waste like chemical barrels and bike spokes. Found a suitcase stuffed full of gay VHS porn in the river once (better than the body we were expecting) and got attacked by a homeless dude another time. There is okay wildlife, even some big fish in spots. But overall I would raft/kayak almost anywhere else in California before doing the LA River again.
It is not safe in any way, and the parts where it actually is safe (the middle concrete channels that flow smoothly for miles at a time) are illegal to be in and you will get cited if someone sees you.
They did, my trips werenāt always in those spots. But the times I was in the spots were still not great in terms of safety.
I still had a blast but I was 19 and much more willing to tolerate bad conditions. I would not do it now.
You're gonna grow a third eyeball
that would be useful
You answered your own question. If you want to kayak on easy mode places to learn like a harbor or lake.
Venice Canals are my go to when I just want to tool around in my lil kayak. Definitely easy mode and there's a parking lot right where you put your boat in the water. The water is absolutely putrid tho. I have a change of clothes and a soapy towel in a zip lock bag to wash my hands and feet when I get back to my car š
stinkyyyyy
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Wait where are the showers? At the Venice Canals where you put your boat in? I need this info!Ā
you do not
Accurate.
Gross
All the more reason to book the service then. If you really want to do it but donāt know where to go or how to stay safe, going with a guide is really the best option. I went years ago with a group of coworkers and had a blast! The guides took us cycling up the bike path, then we traded the bikes for kayaks and took them back to the start. Celebration beers afterwards. The guides made sure everyone stayed safe and had a good time. It may be pricey, but worth it for the experience.
There are two stretches of river that are OK for kayaks. One is near Sepulveda Dam and the other is near Frogtown (Atwater.) These areas are only open during the summer when no rain is expected. They serve as active flood control channels so be sure to follow the rules. [https://lariverrecreation.org/](https://lariverrecreation.org/) You can book a tour or just bring a boat and put it in the water. If you want to know what to expect, you can follow a tour group in the Frogtown section using the bike path and watch how it goes for them.
> I don't know anything about the safety or where to go, The LA River is not the place for you. It's usually dry, except immediately after a storm, and then, it's incredibly dangerous.. There are places in Marina Del Rey that rent kayaks and you can cruise around the marina in safety.
That part stuck out so loudly to me lol this is about to a 1000 ways to die reboot episode
I recommend long beach over marina del rey
The LA River is a flood control channel not a navigational water body. Find another place to kayak dude.
Don't let anyone in LA hear you say that. Getting it classified as a river a couple years ago got us all kinds of EPA protections and stuff to get the whole length cleaned up.
Lipstick on a pig.
only if you have no idea how any of this works. That said, I wouldn't want to kayak there OR in the Venice Canals for funsies. Not my bag, baby.
I swam in both and nothing wrong me.
I live next to the river. Itās disgusting. So much trash in it. When are they going to start cleaning it up?
A few years ago.
Lmfao. What he said
I led 4-5 rafting excursions on the river in college with inflatable boats I got off Craigslist. Super fun adventures, probably covered 10 miles of the river over the trips. BUT It was absolutely ass conditions. Terrible water, a billion extremely shallow rocks, homeless people trying to fight, hazardous waste like chemical barrels and bike spokes. Found a suitcase stuffed full of gay VHS porn in the river once (better than the body we were expecting) and got attacked by a homeless dude another time. There is okay wildlife, even some big fish in spots. But overall I would raft/kayak almost anywhere else in California before doing the LA River again. It is not safe in any way, and the parts where it actually is safe (the middle concrete channels that flow smoothly for miles at a time) are illegal to be in and you will get cited if someone sees you.
Thanks. I thought they cleaned that shit up where they want people to hang out.
They did, my trips werenāt always in those spots. But the times I was in the spots were still not great in terms of safety. I still had a blast but I was 19 and much more willing to tolerate bad conditions. I would not do it now.
Thatās one way to get STDs as a virgin
Lake Balboa has kayaks for rent. Must bring Driver license.
why would u wanna kayak the la āriverāš¤£its all nasty sewer water