Browns Canyon Wash facts for kids

Browns Canyon Wash, also known as Browns Canyon Creek, is a stream in Los Angeles, California. It flows for about 10.3 miles (16.6 km). This stream is like a smaller river that flows into a bigger one. It starts in the Santa Susana Mountains and then crosses the western San Fernando Valley. Finally, it joins the Los Angeles River.

Where the Stream Flows

The Browns Canyon Wash starts in the eastern Santa Susana Mountains. Here, it flows freely through Browns Canyon. Part of this area is inside Michael D. Antonovich Regional Park. The stream follows Browns Canyon Road. This road once led to a Cold War-era site on Oat Mountain. This site was a Nike missile base, used for defense during the Cold War. The stream flows near the communities of Chatsworth and Porter Ranch.

Journey Through the Valley

After flowing under State Route 118, which is also known as the Ronald Reagan Memorial Freeway, the stream changes. It becomes a concrete channel. This channel helps control floods. The stream then travels south through several Los Angeles neighborhoods. These include Chatsworth, Canoga Park, and Winnetka.

The Browns Canyon Wash joins the Los Angeles River. This meeting point is west of Mason Avenue and north of Vanowen Avenue. In 1994, the channel walls near Winnetka were damaged. This happened during the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

Fun Along the Wash

There is a special path along the eastern side of the wash in Chatsworth. This path is great for people who like to ride horses or bicycles. It offers a nice way to enjoy the outdoors.

How the Wash Crosses Roads

The Browns Canyon Wash flows under many roads and bridges. It also has smaller streams that flow into it. One of these is Santa Susana Creek. The wash passes under major streets like Sherman Way, Roscoe Boulevard, and Nordhoff Street. It also goes under the State Route 118 freeway. These crossings help people and traffic move easily over the stream.