Culver City Walkabout

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RATHER THAN SKIPPING ALONG THE YELLOW-BRICK ROAD of the MGM classic filmed nearby, we’ll start Saturday’s hike by lumbering up some 300 Aztec-style, tall stone steps. But the view from the top will be as magnificent as anything from the Wizard’s hot air balloon.

Part 1/Scenic – the breakfast of champions, Baldwin Hills State Park’s stone steps lead to the Scenic Overlook, a contemporary structure that offers unusual and spectacular views (http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=22790) from South of the 10 freeway, of West L.A., the Wilshire corridor, downtown L.A. and South L.A./Baldwin Hills. While the Visitors Center at the top doesn’t open until 9 am, we can peek in the huge windows while we take in the views.

If giant stairs aren’t your thing, there’s also a flat, winding path – see the map uploaded to the Files folder (http://files.meetup.com/1578994/bhso%20simple%20map.pdf) -- under the More tab above– that will also get you to the top.

We’ll then cross down to the baseball fields and pass a giant sundial (with the words, “Time is a River” embedded in many languages), before continuing down the hill to a river of sorts, the Ballona Creek Walkway, whose entrance is marked by a multi-storey water urn sculpture. We’ll walk the sub-street-level bike/pedestrian path for about a mile to Overland, before resurfacing streets-side to lovely Carlson Park, where we’ll take a break.

Part 2/Historic - The jaunt continues past a variety of historic and contemporary landmarks, including Culver Studios, Culver City Hall, Sony Studios, and the renovated Culver Hotel. We’ll do a side spur up Hayden Ave., one of the most densely-packed collections of contemporary industrial architecture in the city, before circling back across Ballona Creek to our starting place.

There are plenty of reasons to stay and explore the area afterward if you can, including diverse restaurants, the Helms Bakery shopping/dining complex, a thriving gallery scene and a longtime personal favorite, the Museum of Jurassic Technology. (http://mjt.org/)

The Culver City website (http://culvercity.org/) is full of rich information about the area’s history as well as cool interactive maps with thumbnails and background on all the public art in the city.

Full disclosure: I've checked this out in sections, but not from start to finish, so stats below are estimated. Thanks to Los Angeles Hiking Group meetup leader Rex Frankel for his help.

STATS (all are approx.)

Level: Advanced Beginner to Moderate (for length only)

Gain: 500-to-750 ft.

Distance: ~ 6-7 miles

Time: 3-1/2-to-4 hours (w/shutterbug stops)

Type: Loop de loop de loop, entirely exposed, paved sidewalks, streets, dirt single track, stone and wood steps

Dogs: Not permitted in Baldwin Hills since it's a State Park. If you’d like to bring your four-legged friend, contact Shawn for info on where to meet us -- outside the State Park boundaries -- at the Boneyard Dog Run in Culver City Park (adjacent to the Overlook) about 8:45 am.

Water: Drinking fountains at Culver City and Carlson Parks

Restrooms: at Culver City (about 45 minutes in to the hike) and Carlson Parks (about 60-to-75 min. in)

Parking: Free street parking along Jefferson. Be careful crossing Jefferson if you park on the north side of the street

Bring: Comfortable shoes for walking on pavement, water, hat, sunscreen, camera, snacks to share

DIRECTIONS

For GPS purposes, an approximate address of the street parking area at the lower entrance of the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook is about 6025 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City, 90016 (at the intersection of Jefferson and Hetzler). The address of the Scenic Overlook at the top of the stairs is 6300 Hetzler Rd., Culver City.

Use the map below to find the best directions from your starting location, but from the 10 freeway, take the La Cienega Blvd. exit south 1/2 mile to Jefferson Blvd. Turn right and go west 1 mile until you see the undeveloped hillside on the left (south) side of the road. Continue to Hetzler Road where you’ll see a large concrete sign (http://files.meetup.com/1578994/IMG_5437.JPG) at the entrance to the park.

This is a popular morning workout trail, so arrive early enough to find a parking space and walk to the entrance.

Shawn’s mobile: 213/308-7372

Here’s a map. (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Culver+City,+CA+90016/@34.0290444,-118.3681183,10z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x80c2b98fcb27e2c9:0xc34356654f75952e)

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POST-HALLOWEEN EYE CANDY: Since we’re at a California State Park this Saturday, enjoy these gorgeous images (http://calparks.wordpress.com/) from a recent California State Parks Foundation photo challenge. Maybe they’ll inspire you to visit another one soon.

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The Organizer, Assistant Organizers and event hosts in this group are not professional guides. The function of the organizer is only to organize the trip. Each person who signs up for a trip/meetup/ or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests. By signing up for a hike, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with any outdoor activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the Organizer, Assistant Organizers and event hosts of this Meetup Group from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities.