Bette Davis Picnic Area

Updated April 15, 2024

## Bette Davis Picnic Area, Glendale: LA River gateway with shady tables, birdlife & easy paths

Address: 1850 Riverside Dr, Glendale, CA 91201
GPS: 34.1578285, -118.2976082

### Why this pocket-park matters
Squeezed between the Los Angeles River, the 5/134 freeways, and the northwestern edge of Griffith Park, the Bette Davis Picnic Area is far more than a scatter of tables. It fronts the Glendale Narrows, one of the rare soft-bottom reaches of the L.A. River where reeds, willows, herons, and turtles thrive—an urban ecology lesson in plain view. Multiple walk guides and stewardship orgs point to this spot as an entry to the river’s green corridor and bike path, with tall sycamores and oaks for shade and regular bird activity. LA River

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### Quick facts (verified)
– Park affiliation: A small, stand-alone green space historically linked to Griffith Park and the L.A. River corridor (many sources describe it as the river-edge fringe of Griffith Park). LA River
– Hours commonly listed: 6:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. (posted by navigation/POI services; always check on arrival for on-site signs).
– Parking: Curbside/shoulder parking along Riverside Dr is the norm for trailheads and tables here. SoCal
– Permits for group picnics: City of Los Angeles Griffith Park Picnic Permits page lists fee tiers and requirements for larger groups and company events. (Bette Davis tables are often first-come, but organized gatherings should use City procedures.) Angeles Parks

> Outdated-data flag: Online hours and amenities for small LA parks are frequently mirrored by third-party sites and can lag behind on-the-ground signage. Treat the hours above as guidance, not law—confirm at the park or via the City’s Recreation & Parks channels. Angeles Parks

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### Orientation: where you are and what you’ll see
Stand at the tables and you’re looking at the upstream end of the Glendale Narrows. Unlike the river’s concrete sections, this reach keeps an earthen bed—that’s why you’ll see cattails, mudflats, and wading birds. It’s also where the L.A. River Bike Path cruises past, giving walkers and cyclists a flat, scenic line. Expect great blue herons, egrets, cormorants, songbirds, lizards, the occasional turtle, and seasonal butterflies—birding groups repeatedly list the spot for easy, beginner-friendly outings. LA River

A fascinating bit of local history: when engineers straightened portions of the river and later built the 5 and 134 freeways, a sliver of City of Los Angeles land ended up on the north side of the channel. That stranded parcel became today’s picnic area—a quirky boundary artifact between Glendale and LA that you can literally walk. LA River

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### Amenities & setup (what’s actually here)
– Picnic tables on lawn under mature sycamores and oaks; simple, low-key setup without the bells and whistles of a recreation center. of Griffith Park
– Restroom access is noted by family-oriented guides; expect basic facilities rather than full comfort-station infrastructure. Explorers
– Trail connections: Short, flat out-and-back walks from the area (≈1.7–1.8 miles) give easy river exposure and bridge views; allow 30–40 minutes.
– Shade & micro-habitats: In recent years, local groups have highlighted a Miyawaki micro-forest test plot and riparian habitat just off the tables—tiny but impactful for urban biodiversity. of Griffith Park

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### Getting there (and where to park)
From the I-5, exit Western Ave (Glendale), head southwest, then left on Victory Blvd (which becomes Riverside Dr). Park along Riverside Dr by the grass and tables. This is the long-standing, on-the-ground approach used by trail writers and local public media guides. SoCal

If you prefer navigation apps, set your pin to “Bette Davis Picnic Area, 1850 Riverside Dr, Glendale”. Several POI databases confirm the same address and provide turn-by-turn.

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### What to do: low-effort, high-return plan (60–90 minutes)
1. Coffee + table recon (10 minutes). Grab a shaded table; note breeze direction and shade lines if you’re setting up snacks or a stroller. (Shade patterns shift late afternoon.)
2. River edge walk (30–40 minutes). Follow the bike path/walkway upstream for sycamore canopies, willows, and regular heron sightings. Birding logs endorse this exact stretch for beginners. Hotspots
3. Bridge & back (10–20 minutes). Include the historic bridge viewpoints highlighted by L.A. River guides; you’ll see why this is a teaching spot for urban ecology. LA River
4. Picnic & pause (15–30 minutes). Tables are first-come; keep groups compact unless you’ve arranged a permit via the City’s system. Angeles Parks

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### Practicalities (read this before you go)
– Group size & permits: Informal meetups usually fine; larger headcounts and corporate gatherings should secure a Griffith Park picnic permit and factor in staffing requirements noted by the City. Book and pay 30+ days ahead when possible. Angeles Parks
– Wildlife etiquette: This Narrows segment is living habitat. Keep food secured, don’t feed wildlife, and give waders and ground-nesters space. (Local birding and river orgs stress this here.) Hotspots
– Heat & shade: Shade is decent, but summer reflected heat from pavement and water can build fast—bring water, a hat, and sun protection. (General river-edge reality; corroborated by local walk guides.) LA River
– Restrooms: Expect basic facilities; plan accordingly if traveling with kids or accessibility needs. Explorers
– Parking: Along Riverside Dr beside the lawn. Watch street signs; shoulder widths vary near intersections. SoCal

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### Context & name origin (for the curious)
The area honors Bette Davis, the Academy Award–winning actor who lived nearby on Rancho Drive. Local history notes and press archives point out that proximity as the namesake link; it’s a rare Hollywood-meets-river placename that stuck. Angeles Times

The park also sits at a city boundary quirk born of river realignment and freeway construction, which severed former Griffith Park riverfront continuity. Standing here, you’re on a cartographic oddity with ecological value—one reason it shows up in stewardship walks. LA River

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### Who will like it
– Families seeking an easy, shaded picnic + short walk without committing to deep-Griffith-Park hiking.
– Casual cyclists and walkers wanting a flat sampler of the L.A. River Bike Path with a safe turnaround point. LA River
– Bird-curious visitors who want a dependable shot at herons, egrets, and riparian songbirds without leaving the city grid. Local birding logs repeatedly list the site. Hotspots

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### Map & directions helpers
Use a navigation app set to the exact street address. Community-verified listings show consistent 6 a.m.–10 p.m. hours; still, treat posted signage as the final word when you arrive.

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### Final verification notes
– Hours & amenities: Third-party pages (mapping/POI and family guides) align, but the City’s central site lists permit rules rather than per-pocket-park hours—confirm on-site. Angeles Parks
– Environmental significance: Multiple independent sources agree on the soft-bottom Glendale Narrows status and wildlife presence directly at this spot. LA River

If you want, I can add nearby add-ons (e.g., Griffith Park Old Zoo picnic ruins, LA Equestrian Center look-around) and stitch them into a 3-hour loop that starts and ends at this lot—with all claims re-checked against current sources.

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