Lake Balboa

Smooshed between two golf courses and an army base, this Sepulveda Dam runoff is 27 acres of amoeba shaped lake on which you can fly fish, pedal boat, or BYOKayak. There’s a mile long path around the lake lined with charcoal grills, family picnics, and 1000 trees donated by the Valley Industry and Commerce Association.  But while getting your morning walk on, the best part is watching the birds.  People say dogs help combat depression, but birds are both dumber and hungrier than dogs making for a scenic and uplifting exercise regime.

For directions or moonbounce rental information, check here: http://www.laparks.org/dos/aquatic/balboa/index.htm

Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve

When you’re hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains or the Angeles National Forest, you expect to see native plants.  The Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve is practically in the gut of the 101/405 interchange and still the potpourri of sage and mulefat overwhelms you as you approach this lake.

The wildlife… Birds overhead.  Birds poop on your head.  Birds, birds, everywhere!  And there are a lot of groups trying to keep it that way including Friends of the Sepulveda Basin, Friends of the Los Angeles River, and SepulvedaBasinWildlife.org, to name a few.