Support for LAist comes from
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Stay Connected
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

POV Videos: Paddling Down The Los Angeles River (Legally) For The First Time

With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today during our fall member drive. 

We've been pretty excited about the new 2.5-mile stretchof the Los Angeles River that opened up last weekend. We shared photos of Angelenos enjoying this stretch of the river for the first time since the river was channelized in the 1930s. But a few intrepid readers shared some videos of what it's actually like to paddle downstream in a canoe or a kayak.

Christopher Lockett strapped a GoPro to the bow of the canoe and sent us a 5-minute video of his ride that features a very placid river. He writes, "This is a deeper water section. Very rocky trip otherwise. A lot of portaging, a lot of walking, a lot of getting stuck on rocks. But still worth doing now that it's legal."

We also have another LAist reader Malcolm MacDonald who said he was inspired to kayak down the river with his son after being inspired by our photos. This section of river they paddled down look a little bit choppier (it starts out with photos and there's music, too):

Support for LAist comes from

Related:
Photos: Angelenos Enjoying Themselves Down By The Riverside (For The First Time In Decades!)

At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.

But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.

We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.

Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist