Audubon Center At Debs

Good for sightseeing while hiking. The mountain and city views are amazing. Nestled in the mountains of North East Los Angeles, this is great well kept park.

Great park. Me and my daughter went for the 4 mile Hill challenge Marathon past Saturday. Amazing views from the top. The visitor center is spacious and very informative. Highly recommended. Park on either side of Griffin avenue. Very close to 110 freeway.

I swear that I come across some of the most interesting low key kids places in the darndest places. This would be one of them. This Audubon center has kids making field trips here as well as parental trips on the weekends. I instantly knew when I realized what was happening here, that the munchkin would love to stop by.
This Center is a great starting/​stopping point if you want to hike through Earnest E Debs Regional Park. It sits on the southwestern edge and has a parking lot with a roundabout. The parking spaces are over dirt with a paved road. They have public restrooms that the hikers can easily access as well as visitors to the center. Best of all, this place is FREE to visit and get a nature lesson for your tots. Or at least an opportunity to interact with something tangible in lieu of electronics or iThings. That alone is priceless!
Pro Tip: You can host a kids birthday or other party here for a slightly different outlook on birthdays =)
They have a short children’s nature walk, multiple interactive features made for munchkins, a kids clubhouse, picnic tables, a classroom/​small auditorium for lessons or speakers. There is also an information room with an attendant on duty willing to share different aspects of the park, Audubon center, native flora n fauna, animals, or stuff like that. Another fun feature at the entrance and on the edge of the roundabout is a koi pond… but they don’t have koi fish in it that I saw, however it had some guppies and a few lily pads.
Overall though this place seemed very kewl for the little ones. While I was in the information room, a little boy and his dad stopped in and handed over a field trip something or other for a prize. Both seemed rather happy IMHO. That is something that I think should be encouraged continually.
Pro Tip #2: The parking lot is closed when the Audubon center is =X
Definitely a fun quick freebee kinda place to stop in and burn an hour or stop by after a hike… it makes for some relaxed nature interaction, even for a grown up… or someone who refuses to grow up like me =)

I love coming here with my family, especially my 3 yr old son. We borrow binoculars to watch birds, art supplies so my son can draw, we hike, and join in any other fun activities going on. The ladies that work there are always helpful and informative.

My son loves this place. Great for kids and adults a like to learn about wildlife (particularly birds) and be with nature. You can rent equipment for free there for the trails or bird sanctuary (trail stroller, binoculars, children books etc). We’ll be going there again, especially when they have special events.

What an awesome surprise! We came here to visit the center and little did we know that they had their annual winter festival. I drank warm cider, made a wreath, took a native plant home with its own pot. There were a whole lot of friendly volunteers making sure you were having fun.
It was also very cool to see how Eco-​friendly they made the center. As a green homeowner, I was very inspired.
The hike after was amazing. We did it shortly after the rain so everything was lush and green. The views of LA were great.
A great hidden gem in LA. Go! Now!

Great gem in the community to get a quick hike in.

This place is amazing. I go here allot. This time was special because i came with my babies and it was Keila and Luna’s first time here. Benny loves it and we will be here more often. I highly recommend it if u have kids or you want take a nice hike.

Was not a fan of this area. I didn’t feel refreshed walking here. We felt stressed, so we left. Maybe it will be nicer in the winter months when it’s more green. We left here and went straight to Franklin Canyon.

If you want to experience a slice of the true California landscape and get a little closer to nature in the middle of the city, visit the Audubon Center at Debs. Located in Montecito Heights and next to Highland Park, it’s a hidden gem.
In addition to the center, the park is a great place to walk and hike. It’s not quite Griffith Park, but the 360-​degree views are pretty nice, especially after the rains.
The center is great. It seems that they rent out the facility for weddings. At least, I think they still do it. Nice place for an outdoor wedding.

One of the hidden treasures of Highland Park. This is a bird sanctuary where you can hike amongst walnut trees, grasslands and beautiful oaks in the midst of Angeleno urban sprawl. There are many trails so pay attention or your 1 hour hike will turn into 3 hours. 600 ft is the max elevation gain so it is a nice leisurely hike that you can run if you want to intensive it.
I like to bring my dogs here. Trail is great and often empty.
I suggest keeping your dog on a leash if they are super friendly. Due to it not being crowded owners feel comfortable bringing their more aggressive hounds. There is also a lily pond (water looks murky to me) where dogs go for a swim on hot summer days.
Great spot for a picnic up on top…
You can park on the street (Griffin) but make sure you lock it and leave no visible valuables. Lots of car windows get smashed for immediate drug $$$. If the gate is open– you can park inside. Go up driveway and park on the right next to the super eco-​complex. This a great place to bring the family, organize a school trip or just come with some friends– four legged or double… ruufff