Sepulveda Park

Rate this place

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, located in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, is known for its urban wildlife reserve, birdwatching, and scenic trails.


°F

°F

mph

Wind

%

Humidity

Summary

Unique for its blend of nature and city, it features the Sepulveda Wildlife Reserve, Lake Balboa, and Japanese Garden. Open year-round with free entry, it's best visited in spring or fall. Top activities include walking/biking the 2.5-mile loop around the lake, kayaking, and picnicking. Highlights include birdwatching over 200 species, seasonal wildflowers, and peaceful lakeside views. There are no waterfalls or dark skies, but its accessibility and ecological diversity make it a hidden gem in L.A.

       

Weather Forecast

Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References