El Dorado Nature Center — Attraction in Long Beach

I love this place for decades and been coming and I am a member. Problem: on 10/13 /18 we were on the bicycle path and witnessed 3 homeless men : pull up with their cart and started clearing brush on the outside of the southwest corner of nature center. We called PD. When we camie back an hour later they had cut the fence open and appeared to have moved in. I called Pd and they sent officer there to address it. A day later I called PD and they said they didn’t find anyone. My conclusion is :the homeless low life’s ,camouflaged their stuff on the premises. The gate is cut. So now I ask: how would u feel going there knowing someone could be pooping there and watching you hike? I am disgusted over this. Poor service fromPD! No one ever called us back. Shame on me for caring enough to stop my bike ride to report this. I reached park to report on 10/14/18. Soooo if they couldn’t find anything, I would show them the are: and no one called me. It’s a shame. Safety issue: poop on nature center, needles? , possibly criminal activity? Cmon nature center- you need to kick up your game.............update Nov 3 2018: officer called me 2 weeks ago said they didn’t find anyone. I have gone by there 2 times since and on 11/3 and found: homeless under the bridge of the street that crosses bike path and the numerous cut fences have been replaced but the exact original cut fence location has be “recut” 3 weeks out of 4. So let me tell u that the homeless meth tweaked out men I originally saw cut the fence in Oct2018, are storing their items there in /under the brush and they are living there at the nature center. Please don’t let yourself or family wander off the path on the south/west side of this nature center. Pd should get a dog out there to sniff them out. FYI: you can see a lot of problems from riding bikes on bike trail . I saw an interview that homeless on the bike trail were: sex offenders, felons and people trying to hide out. I remain in group settings when I go

On 12/8/18: someone moved in to the nature center, homeless. Our group noticed their things moved in near the bike path once it got dark. Nature center closed, riverbed very wet & it’s cold outside. I feel for whoever this is. Maybe they do not know if the help out there. On a safety standpoint: creepers living in the nature center could harm someone.

Pd called. I reached nature center a week ago and they told me there is not much they can do & they are aware of it. There are proper steps to evict a homeless person from the nature Center Nd the steps are being taken to get them out of there.

Do I believe what the nature center told me: no. I was not provided a timeline, and it was assumed their response was enuf. Nature center: if any child gets harmed because of this situation, it falls on you.

On12/15/18: we rode by this entry way off of the bike path to el dorado nature center. and the fence was fixed. Watching this as we pass for 2 months the patten:The homeless tear into it at least weekly from what we have observed &they find this place a place to live and not be noticed. Nature center needs to fix your torn fences daily to protect your patrons and employees and your...

Nature in the Middle of Long Beach

My husband and I recently spent half day exploring El Dorado Nature Center Trail in Long Beach with friend’s family, and I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy it this much. It really felt like a secret little oasis tucked right into the city.

The entrance is shared with Long Beach Animal Care Services. If you’re going to the animal shelter, just let the parking attendant know, and you can make a left right away into their small lot for free.

However, if you are here for the Nature Center, just pay at the entrance and the fee was $6 on a weekday, $7 on Fridays, $8 on weekends, and $9 on holidays per car. No cash accepted. Two parking areas are in different locations and fenced off from each other.

If you don’t want to pay for parking, you can try finding a spot nearby and just walk in.

Once we started walking the trails, I immediately felt like I’d escaped the city. The Nature Center is over 100 acres, with beautiful trees, a gentle creek, and two lakes. I spotted squirrels, turtles, ducks, birds, and even a rabbit just chilling in the grass. It’s super quiet and peaceful, with lots of signs along the way sharing cool facts about the local wildlife and plants.

There’s also a little gift shop located at the beginning of the trails. It actually has mini exhibits inside and we took some time looking around and got relaxed on bench before heading out to the trails.

There are three trail options: A ¼ mile paved path that’s stroller and wheelchair-friendly A 1 mile dirt path A 2-mile dirt path that loops deeper into the woods

We firstly walked the ¼ mile and it was easy. And then we walked deeper for 1 mile ones to feel more out in nature. The 1 mile trail gave off that rustic, foresty vibe while still being easy to walk on. The 2-mile trail was closed at the time we visited.

Here are some heads-up: • No pets allowed on the trails • No food or picnicking inside the Nature Center.

There is a El Dorado Park right across the street. It’s great for picnics, dogs, and an archery range is available. The entry fee is the same, or you can buy an Annual Parking Pass for $65 which covers both the Nature Center and the park. I’m seriously thinking about getting one.

Also nearby: • El Dorado Park Golf Course • The El Dorado Frontier Theme Park, a small western-style amusement spot for families with kids

If you’re looking for a quiet, nature-filled break without driving far, I highly recommend spending a couple hours here. I left feeling refreshed, and definitely will be back soon.

El Dorado Nature Center Trail 📍 7550 E Spring St, Long Beach, CA 90815 ⏰ Open Tuesday–Sunday, 7am–5pm...

This is one of my favorite places in Long Beach. It is a great place to take kids, but it is also great for taking a relaxing nature walk.

The visitor center has a lot of awesome things inside. They sell various books, rocks, science kits and other learning materials. My favorite things to buy are geodes from their. They only cost $5, they are pretty big and usually have pretty cool interiors (sometimes you get a solid one, still pretty, but not as cool).They also have small bottles of various crystals for a dollar each. They make a great mantle ornament.

It is also an interactive center in that they have things like broken antlers, bones and other items that kids (and adults) can explore.

They have a 2 mile trail, a 1 mile trail and a 1/4 mile trail so you have options depending on how you are feeling. None of them are very difficult. There is one area that has a few switchbacks that take you up a small hill, but it isn't very difficult. The trail is wide and well maintained. They are also two lakes that provide a great habitat for birds and the water turtles that live there.

I've seen the following animals at the nature center (over many trips): Rabbits, squirrels, two types of water turtles, a grey heron, a white egret, a lot of lizards, some small fish and of course a whole lot of very cool and very old trees.

Do yourself a favor and head over to the nature center. Take your kids on an informational outing, have a romantic (and cheap) date, or simply come here by...