Early spring is the best time to walk the lower Arroyo Seco trail; the water is running, the trees are leafing, the weather is mild and we might see some ducklings!  This year there’s a bonus. One Arroyo Foundation has been improving trail conditions and the segment south of the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center and north of the Casting Pond has been upgraded to make for a nicer, smoother walking experience.  This approximately 2-mile walk starts in the parking lot of the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center and goes as far south as the Casting Pond. We’ll be walking alongside an unchanneled section of the stream and following the trail as it winds underneath the Colorado Street Bridge and the Pioneer Bridge (better known as the 134 Freeway).  The highlight of the walk will be visiting historic Mayberry Parker Bridge.

Located directly underneath the Colorado Street Bridge, the Mayberry Parker Bridge was designed by Myron Hunt and built in 1916 to provide access to orchards on the west bank of the Arroyo.  It’s closed to vehicles and street approaches are currently fenced off.  Locals have figured out how to hop/bypass the fence from Arroyo Blvd.  We will take a more decorous approach from the Arroyo Seco trail.

The walk is mostly flat on sandy walking paths.  There are a few places where we’ll navigate short up/down slopes.  Once we’ve visited the Bridge, we’ll head south on the trail to the casting pond/archery range area and loop back to the Aquatic Center.

Park in the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center parking lot, as far south as you can, and we’ll meet in the grassy area with green picnic tables at 8:30AM. If you’re looking at the Aquatic center from the parking lot, the grassy area and picnic tables are to the far right.

After the walk, we’ll take a refreshment break in the shaded picnic table area.  I’ll bring muffins to share from Poppy Cake bakery in Sierra Madre!  You can bring a thermos or travel mug with water, coffee or tea and leave it in your car to be retrieved and enjoyed after the walk.

If you have any questions please contact the event organizer, Jane Hufnagel.