Gum Grove Park — Attraction in Seal Beach

This is a small gem located between the Los Cerritos Wetlands and housing tract. This trail loop is about 2 miles round trip and can easily be managed by a family with little ones. There are two entrances. The westerly entrance is located off PCH and Mar Vista Ave., at the end of Avalon Dr., past it's intersection with Crestview Ave. The easterly entrance is at Seal Beach Blvd. and Heron Pointe (across from the main entrance to the Naval Weapons Station). Each entrance has parking, with moreso available at the westerly entrance. Like most public trails and parks, it is open from dusk until dawn. The best time to visit is springtime when all the blossoms are out, blanketing the floor beneath the towering gumtree eucalyptus. The best way to enjoy the trail is through the westerly entrance, of which there are three levels of trails. The lower trail is the flattest, but still offers great views. The mid-slope trail takes you up & down amid the gum groves and in between the greenery and blossoms. The upper trail runs along the top of the slope and abuts the fences and walls of the northerly end of the neighboring housing tract. Continuing easterly will give you more options as you come to a fork past a gate. Proceeding straight and to your right will careen you through a much wider path between housing tracts. This path eventually leads to the easterly entrance at Heron Pointe, at Seal Beach Blvd. Taking the left in the fork will give a more rewarding trek, in my opinion. Once you go down some stairs (maybe eight steps), you will come across the first of ten monument stones with a plaque affixed. Each plaque explains the history of the surrounding area from the native people, to the ranchos, to the land purchases of Abel Stearns, Isias Hellman, and the Bixby family. Onward past these ten stones is a circular seating area with four informative signs. Unfortunately, they are weather-beaten and nearly eligible. Forging on will soon get you to a dead end at a locked...

It’s a regular trail, easy walk, nothing too exciting about it. A lot of unleashed dogs with mostly responsible owners who leashed up or made sure their dog did not approach us except for this guy named Larry who let his unleashed golden retriever run up to us while my dog was leashed. I pushed his dog away and yelled at him to get his dog but he still proceeded to walk slowly and call his dog who had ZERO recall. I literally had to push his dog away 3 times before he finally backed off. Hey Larry, the park has signs every where that clearly state dogs must be leashed but I guess he didn’t know that because he said “oh really?” as if it was news to him. I guess it was also news to him that he’s not supposed to whip his junk out and pee on the trees in a public park where there are families and children trying to enjoy a morning stroll. He called his friends after (which just so happened to be walking by me at the time) and told them to leash up their unleashed dog “because there are a lot of weird people here”. As soon as they walked by me they started speaking Spanish and said “just like the girl who just walked by” (me) as if I couldn’t understand them. Hey Larry and your friends, I think the only weird people are the people who participate in indecent exposure in public and purposely disregard leash laws which are clearly stated everywhere but I guess the laws don’t apply to some people huh? Other than this, it’s a nice hidden trail which is a change from the city but be aware that there may be other irresponsible owners like Larry.

DON’T BE LIKE LARRY (or...

Being in the middle of a busy city can get exhausting and this little hike was such a nice escape from it all. From beginning to end I want to say it was less than 2.5 miles. This is almost completely dirt trails, nothing up hill, and not very shaded if you're going midday. While you visit you will most definitely run into some frogs, lizards, and lots of cool birds.

Parking: can be a little tricky because it's in a residential neighborhood. Park on the street (check which day street sweep is on)!

Dog-Friendly?: Yes 👍🐶 your dog must be leashed (although it seems like a lot of people don't follow this) and please just pick up after them. There are a few trashcans along the way, so pick up the poop! There are lots of coyotes in the area, so just be aware of that (also why it's a good idea to have your dog on a leash. My dog really enjoyed all the little critters he saw scurrying around (squirrels/lizards) and he was able to get a lot of energy out...