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Hiking to Eaton Canyon Falls

Altadena, California

4.2/5
based on 9 reviews

Details

Distance

3.7 miles

Elevation Gain

375 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Mariya Dondonyan

Distance: 3.7 miles. Elevation gain: 375 feet. Time: 1.5 hours. Great local canyon descent around LAA waterfall and small pool with great photo opportunities.

The hidden forty-foot tall Eaton Canyon Falls fills an amphitheater at the top of Eaton Canyon Trail, tumbling into a wide pool that you can rest alongside or wade in. Normally the water is waist deep, but during this recent trip, we found the water only to stop at our ankles as it tends to fluctuate between seasons.

The trail to Eaton Canyon starts with a 1.1 mile trail of an easy flat, dirt trail, then proceeding down 0.65 miles on a single, narrow canyon.

Pass beneath the white bridge where the trail changes drastically. You will find yourself hiking up a canyon, crossing from bank to bank up a winding creek, hopping over rocks through the small stream. Be especially careful on this section of the trail, as you cross rugged terrain. This enjoyable stretch is over far too quickly as the falls are just 0.6 miles past the bridge.

After an hour of hiking and you have made your way past the bridge point at 375 ft of elevation gain, there's a clear trail that takes you straight to the water fall where you can enjoy the waterfall views and dip your feet in the small pool.

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Features

Chillin
Photography
Hiking
Easy Parking
Groups
Lake
River
Waterfall
Swimming Hole

Reviews

Have fun hike when you’re with kids. I went with my niece and nephew, and had fun pointing things out along the trail. It can get pretty busy at times, so be prepared to see lots of people, dogs, and even horses sometimes.

Omgosh I love the fact that we were able to see the falls!! Especially when people kept telling me it's not always there. Such a rewarding hike...truly our best one yet 😊

The waterfall is surprisingly awesome . Tucked deep in the canyon it's very secluded and bigger than I expected. Sadly there's a lot of litter and graffiti throughout the entire hike. I hiked in at dusk and out at night and it was pretty easy , lots of fun river crossings! Please carry out what you bring in.

Loved this hike with my 11 and 12 year old daughters and labby. So many options, you can take different paths of varying challenge. It was beautiful. Recent rains have made it green and lush as well as a beautiful rushing small river running thru it. The parking is a bit odd seeing as there isn't a designated parking area, it's neighborhood parking. But other than that, this is going to be a favorite spot for a while.

Back when I lived in California and was going to college this was a great workout and a way to get some quality time with nature before my hectic days. Love Eaton Canyon!

Such a good trail. First mile or so can get very hot. Gets really fresh when you hit the creek. Water fall was very nice.

This place has beautiful scenery, it's dog friendly, and has a nice waterfall considering that Cali's in a drought overall really nice

Rare to see a waterfall near Los Angeles that makes you say, "WOW!" ...but this is the place. Terrain is cool as well along the creek, crossing fallen tree trunks, and jumping into the waterfall! Be safe though because there have been reports of injuries. No need to be a risk taker to enjoy the beauty Eaton has to offer :D

This is a great hike for those looking for a fun trail that's not just dry and plain. Most people park at the entrance lot but if you drive a little past that entrance, you'll see a pull-out section just ahead (which allows parking) and you'll have access to cut through most of the boring parts of this hike. Once you get on the trail, go past/under the bridge and that's where you'll see the first set of small waterfalls. That's not it--keep going past that and you'll experience some rocky terrain. About a half mile from that point you will end at the main waterfall where you can take a break, reboot and relax at the falls. You pretty much have the option to stick to the trail path or wander on your own without going far off the main trail. You'll see a flowing river that runs parallel to most of the trail path. One the way back, my group and I decided to make this hike a little more challenging by hiking through the river. Hopping from rock-to-rock, trying not to get your feet wet--you'll encounter some beautiful scenery of clear water banks. This is a dog friendly hike (just keep dogs on leash) and the reason why I didn't rate this hike a full 5 stars is because people seem to disregard the rules. I completely understand that there are many well trained dogs that don't need to be on a leash but out of respect and safety to the other dogs and people around us, please follow the simple rules. I've encountered many owners walking their dogs off-leash, they're just running around and causing my (and a couple others') dog to get overly excited making it difficult when it shouldn't be. All-in-all, this is a great hike that's fairly easy. Make it moderate by going through the river and just following it through! You can't get lost.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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