If you haven’t delved into the wonders of Garber Park, you need to know about it! You will find a delightful native oak woodland with native fern grottoes, giant coast live oaks, California buckeyes, California big leaf maples, and a fascinating old defunct replace from old boy scout days of the 1920’s! All this is within walking distance from the intersection of Ashby and Claremont avenues.
For the last eight years the Garber Park Stewards, with support from the Claremont Canyon Conservancy, have been lovingly restoring the native vegetation and improving the trails in the park while reducing the risk of wild fire.
Walkers on Alvarado rejoice! At the Alvarado entrance to Garber Park there is a new, sweet log bench cut from a fallen bay laurel tree that had blocked the trail near the Rispin entrance. Upcycling at its best!
There are four entrances to Garber Park: The main entrance on Claremont Ave is east of the back of the Claremont Hotel, just beyond the employee parking lot. This is where you will find a few places for off-street parking. A second entrance is east of the 800 block on Alvarado Road, a third at the end of Rispin Drive, and a fourth at the end of Evergreen Lane. In case of emergencies, it is a good idea for local residents to know Garber Park trails and their egress down to Claremont Avenue.
So, get a copy of the new self-guided, interpretive trail map and brochure and enjoy nature in the midst of an urban environment. Bring the kids and find the nine spots on the map!
