Families entering the Center.
Debs Park

Exploring the Audubon Center at Debs Park

Check out all the wonderful things we have to offer!
Photo: Samantha Ramirez
Please Note!

We do not allow dogs inside the Center as their scent disturbs our local wildlife. Dogs are more than welcome along the rest of Ernest  E. Debs Regional Park.

Audubon Outfitters

Upon passing through our black courtyard gates, the first thing that will greet you is a sign called the Audubon Outfitters. When you venture inside, you'll be greeted by one of our staff and a plethora of nature goods and resources, all available to you.

We have everything you need to help you and your loved ones connect to nature right here in Northeast Los Angeles!

Whether it is your first time or your hundredth time visiting us at the Audubon Center, stop by our Lending Library for gear such as binoculars and backpacks, toys, books, art supplies, and games to enhance your hike, bird walk, or adventure! Borrow anything you need to make exploring with your loved ones easy and engaging, free of charge. 

Come learn about different native plants and animal species that you may see during your adventure from our informational guides and educational activities hosted by staff. Take a map of the park to guide you, and then take it home for your scrapbook.  Explore our Resource Library to learn more about resources available in your community, the history of the Audubon Center at Debs Park, and projects completed by our FLIGHT program interns for the community.

For our younger naturalists - and even the older ones! - fold together origami birds at our origami station. Use our animal puppets to perform nature interactions at our puppet show theater and at our coloring table, draw, color, and explore the native wildlife at Debs Park. Meet our California kingsnake named Rex, who is as old as the center itself, and take a look at the artwork adorning the walls of the Center, illustrated by artist Margaret Gallagher.

All this and more await you at the Audubon Outfitters, where Audubon staff will prepare you for your nature journey ahead!

Let's Go Birding!

Equipped with your new binoculars, it's time to look for our feathery friends! Here is a list of just a few of the most common birds you can expect to see at the park. 

Hike the Trails

The Audubon Center at Debs Park encompasses 17 acres out of the 282 acres that make up the Ernest E. Debs Regional Park.

Inside the Center, we have two trails that are only open to the public when the Center is open.

Butterfly Loop

The Butterfly Loop is our longer trail, leading hikers into the interior of the park. California black walnut trees dot the knolls along the dirt path, hiding all manners of birds and wildlife within them. In the distance, you will hear Bewick's Wrens and Song Sparrows singing songs while Red-tailed Hawks soar the blue skies above. A small amphitheater lies along the path, flanked by trees and shrubs casting dappled sunlight and a silence that seems almost impossible within the bustling city of Los Angeles. 

We recommend this hike early in the morning in the spring and summer. For those seeking a gorgeous sunset, early December at 3PM is a fabulous time to soak in the sinking sun's rays.

This trail is not ADA accessible, is narrow, and features a notable incline towards the middle of the loop. Hikers are advised to be cautious of poison oak growing along the trail and to stay on the trail at all times. Dogs are not allowed on the Butterfly Loop.

Children's Woodland

The Children's Woodland trail is a short 10 minute hike for adults, but an adventure for our younger explorers. Their journey starts once they cross the bridge, shaded by California grape vines covering its canopy. Featuring a grand and old Peruvian pepper tree to welcome them, the trail has bird blinds, labeled California native plants, and picnic tables. At the very top of the loop, you get a grand view of the Audubon Center at Debs Park along with the rest of Northeast LA. Of course, there are also many birds that hide in the trees, awaiting both new and veteran birders to find them!

We recommend this hike at midday in the spring and fall for the perfect post-lunch adventure to see Los Angeles under vast blue skies. After a rainy spell, you can expect to see wonderfully white clouds spanning the hillsides.

This trail is not currently ADA accessible, but is suitable for strollers due to no inclines or presence of poison oak. Explorers are recommended to stay on the trail and be gentle with our California native plants.

Getting to the Pond of Ernest E. Debs Regional Park

You may have noticed on the map that there is a pond on Ernest E. Debs Regional Park! This is a manmade pond, created to combat any wildfires within the park.

To get to the pond, you will want to take the Scrub Jay Trail, which requires exiting the Center. Along the driveway, there is a green fire gate. You will walk past that to get to the Scrub Jay Trail.

From there, take a right at every turn to end up along the City View Trail. Continue taking a right to end up at Peanut Lake, where you can sometimes spot Mallards and other transient water fowl as they migrate!

These trails are not ADA accessible and feature steep inclines, but are wide. We recommend hikers wear good hiking shoes and bring a hat as the trails do not have much shade. Dogs are allowed on these trails.

If you have any questions about the trails, always feel free to ask an Audubon staff member at the Audubon Outfitters.

Field Trips

At the Audubon Center at Debs Park, we offer two types of field trips

Self-Guided Field Trip

Self-guided field trips are not led by an Audubon Naturalist. Instead, we lend tools to groups to enhance their hike at the park!

Binoculars and field guides can be borrowed for free as long as they are reserved in advance. We have both kid-appropriate and adult binoculars available, along with an assortment of guides from both bird-specific ones to California native plants. Scavenger hunts and art supplies are available in limited quantities as well.

We ask that group leads send us word ahead of time via our Contact Us page, such that we can prepare our supplies or inform you of any conflicts that may occur, such as other large field trips happening at the same time.

Audubon-led Field Trip

Also known as a 'Guided Tour', Audubon-led field trips are paid programs consisting of a guided tour and educational nature activities for two hours.

An Audubon Naturalist will guide students on a nature walk, complete with tools for the journey. Afterwards, students will engage in a STEM nature activity that teaches them how ornithologists (bird scientists) work with birds and nature. 

The program is suited for 3rd to 4th graders, but can be scaled up and down depending on the group. The maximum number of students is 40 and the programs are first-come first-serve.

Please feel free to contact us via our Contact Us page for more information!

Free Guided Tour Options?

For those who still want a guided tour, we encourage joining our Community Bird Walks which are completely free! 

Community Events

We offer free community events year-round to help you and your family connect to nature right here in Northeast LA!

Here is a small snapshot of some of the events we hold:

  • Community Bird Walk/Sit: A beginner-focused bird walk led by an Audubon Naturalist or volunteer lead. Learn what it means to bird and hang out with other nature-minded folks! In the hot summer months, bird sits are held over walks, but the community focus and birding remains the same - just stationary!

  • Community Habitat Restoration: A volunteer event where participants help us maintain our restoration sites. Ever wondered what makes California native plants so wonderful? Or just wanted to get your hands dirty and whack some weeds away? This event is for you!

  • Festivals: Our large-scale events featuring community partners, food, music, and fun! 

  • Community Movie Nights: From May to August, come get your fill of popcorn and watch a movie outdoors with us - free of charge! Bring your whole family and a blanket to get cozy out in nature.

  • Music Performances: Old Time String Jam Band and Living Earth are just two of the groups that play music beneath our Peruvian Pepper Tree, all for free! Bring a chair and listen to music underneath the shade.

  • Workshops/Seminars: We are extremely honored to host workshops and seminars by community members and more. These events may require RSVP and fees, please check ahead of time what the admission is like for each event.