LA River Eco Tour and Secret Stair Hike

Overview

3 hours

Mobile ticket

The LA Rive Eco Tour and Secret Stair Hike is meant for travelers and locals that want to see a part of LA that 99.9% of people will never find.

You won't find this route in a guide book or with any other tour company. It is a one of a kind route the combines the history of the LA River, LA transportation, ecology, urban planning, architecture, cult organizations, and more into an experience that you won't forget. While other tourists are riding around in celeb homes vans, you'll be getting a taste of what truly makes LA special.

See LA in a Day tours specialize in off the beaten path experiences. Secret stair hikes, Malibu wine tastings, and True Crime history are just a few of our favorite things to cover. Please check out some of our tours!

Additional Info

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

This is a 4.4 mile hike over 3hrs. Guests must be able to walk up and down several hills and staircases.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Los Angeles River

The LA River is more than a place to film a car chase for Grease of Terminator 2. This river has its own fascinating (and sometimes terrifying history.) This tour will take you through the LA River past, present, and future to help you better understand this vital waterway. The river is also a great place for bike riding, grabbing a bite to eat, or doing some bird watching. You'll know the best places for each by the end of the tour.

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

At our meeting point, we will learn about the people that have battled to make the river accessible. What started with pair of wire cutters and a rock n roll mindset, eventually morphed into the Friends of the LA River Organization. It wasn't always possible to walk or bike along the river like we can today. The river is undergoing a transformation and the Friends of the LA River Organization have had a vital role in the recent development.

25 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Bottled water

Options

LA River Eco Tour and Secret Stair Hike

Reviews

5.00

21 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Excellent Experience!
Dahlia G,Mar 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Chris was very informed and interesting. The history of the LA River and community around it was fascinating to learn about. Highly recommend!
Highly recommend! Well researched, interesting, off the beaten path exploring
carolinewong17,Jan 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Highly recommend this tour! Chris was very knowledgeable and I learned a lot about the LA River, the history of Frogtown and the surrounding area. I enjoyed seeing parts of Los Angeles I wouldn’t otherwise find. Chris researches and writes all the tours himself; he is also well integrated in the area and would greet residents along the way by name. This is a great tour for visitors or locals looking to see parts of LA off the beaten path.
Great way to spend a few hours!
Debbie F,Oct 28, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
I highly recommend this tour! Chris was awesome. So knowledgeable. Our group loved learning the history of LA River snd all the cool facts about some of the surrounding areas.
Great hike and great sights
Guide737397,Jun 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The guide was great! He was very knowledgeable about LA history and the eco system. The stair hikes and views were amazing, definitely worth the effort and reasonably priced.
A different kind of LA tour that’s well worth the time!
R1485OHannettes,Mar 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Chris did a great job! He was very knowledgeable about all sorts of LA history, the area we were touring and the LA River. He told some fascinating stories as we traipsed up and down a few staircases and was very engaging and warm.
Fun, Adventure, & History!
OnAir09347976034,Feb 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Chris was an amazing tour guide giving us the history of the LA River and touring the surrounding neighborhoods. There were so many tidbits of information that kept us engaged the entire time, plus the "secret" stairs provided excellent views of the city. A delightful experience!
Great way to explore LA on foot
jocelyng547,Jan 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This tour was a terrific way to learn about the LA River's relationship with the city. I grew up in LA, but it was so fun to visit neighborhoods that I’d just driven by as a teenager. Our guide, Chris, shared well-researched history and local lore. And he had photos of old LA that helped us see how much the city has changed. Chris’ clearly cares about the residents and how the city has developed. We ended our tour at Spoke where my friends and I enjoyed a delicious meal. I highly recommend getting off the beaten track with See LA in a Day. I’m already planning our next outing with them.
Great tour of the history and ecology of the LA River and adjacent communities
jeffsY3791MK,Dec 19, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was an informative and fascinating "off the beaten path" tour that included the history and inter-related ecology for the LA River and adjacent human communities (Silver Lake, Echo Park, Frogtown/Elysian Valley). We particularly enjoyed exploring the numerous secret stairways, and seeing the diversity of architectural styles of the homes. Our tour guide (Chris), was very knowledgeable and seemed to genuinely enjoy giving the tour. He had many stories related to the area to tell, and illustrated points about the history using his iPad as a visual aid. He has obviously spent a great time studying the history of LA, the Master Plan for the LA River Restoration, and must have committed hours of time reviewing community property mapping and historical documentation. In summary, my wife and I found it be a very worthwhile and enjoyable experience. I would highly recommend this tour! As an added bonus, Chris may bring along his dog, who has a wonderful disposition, and seemed to enjoy the tour as much as we did!
Best-in-class tour guide
Erin G,Oct 5, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Chris is a best-in-class tour guide and the sites and material covered in this tour were magnificent. Seriously.
Had a great 3-hour...
Brian F,Sep 21, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Had a great 3-hour walking tour of Frogtown, Silver Lake and Echo Park section of Los Angeles. Chris was our guide and very knowledgeable in the areas he showed us. Lots of early LA development and the river history making it possible. Would definitely recommend this tour for a "hidden" perspective that's right out in the open!