eaton canyon natural area

This nature area has many easy hikes. You start off at the visitor's center and stroll along half a dozen hiking routes. One leads up Eaton Canyon the a waterfall that is pretty impressive for Southern California. Some adventurous hikers continue up the side of a granite wall not realizing that coming back down is quite dangerous. Many have to be rescued at taxpayer expense. So skip that part and enjoy the lower falls only.

This is a great place to learn about nature, and also to experience it. It's great for walkers and hikers of all skill levels. Pretty sure it's in Altadena, not Pasadena.

My son and I came here on a summer evening and had a nice walk to the "falls." Truth is, we couldn't actually find the falls... we think they were dried up? Either that, or the signage was terrible and didn't direct us properly? Not sure. We were there after the nature center was closed so could not ask. I think being there in the evening was a good choice because it was quite nice out... I can only imagine it would be very hot during the day! The trip to the falls takes about 30-45 minutes [depending on your pace] there and then 30-45 minutes back. Remember to bring water. We didn't but were okay; luckily it was cool out and we did not get stuck out there or something. I wish I had worn socks and tennis shoes rather than walking sandals since I got a lot of sand in my sandals. There was a notice posted that a mountain lion has been sighted in the area. Scary but exciting. Make sure to allow plenty of time before sundown to get there and back... we cut it just a tad close.

Great place to start off for a long hike or a short flat stroll with the kids. There is a lot of variety in the trails. The visitor center has great displays of native animals, some live some stiffed, as well as rocks and plants. The gift shop has a very good collection of books on related subjects too.

We visited Eaton Canyon Natural Area hoping to see and learn about vegetation native to the LA area. We had little time, so weren't able to hike far from the nature center. No staff were around the nature center during our mid-week mid-afternoon visit to give us guidance or answer questions. The indoor displays were not very insightful, brochures were not very helpful and the self-guiding interpretive trails were poorly marked. However, there were plenty of signs telling us what we could not do (Thank you LA County!). At least the admission and parking were free. Bottom line...it was free and easy to find, but not good value for our time, education-wise. It could be much better! The area seems to be popular with local visitors. We'd probably have enjoyed our visit more with more time to hike and explore or if we'd found someone knowledgeable to speak with. Unfortunately, our short-term visit felt like a waste of time. Hard to say if our experience was the norm for short-term visits from out-of-town or a result of bad timing.

Nice day spot for families and children. If you like the real outdoors I wouldn't recommend. Crowded and lots of kids. To escape the crowds you need at least a 10 to 12 mile hike destination.

Never the same place twice...easy free parking in lot. It is a longer walk on flat trail before you finally start to climb and make your way up to Henninger Flat, about an hour. Once you get there and beyond the scenery gets better as you get into the mountains & valleys.

I actually went there Sept 2010 (not Jan 2013). It is wonderful place to hike. The hike involves some walking over rocks, so your feet might get wet. Nice waterfall at the end.

Typical western canyon with a little stream. A skimpy waterfall at the end. Does not compare well with Zion. Another canyon to the west, Millard Canyon, at the end of Chaney Trail Road, is much more pleasant. It offers a great view of the San Gabriel valley on the road in. Worth the time... say 3 hours.

Eaton Canyon is one of the places I would readily recommend to anyone who is looking for a birding place in Pasadena. It's very accessible in Pasadena traffic and parking is easy. The morning hikes are invigorating and the birds are always there. My husband and I were very happy to see the hermit thrush, acorn woodpecker, a very close view of the wren tit, golden crowned sparrow, spotted towhee, California quail, western blue bird, Anna's hummingbird and Northern mockingbird. The trails are very birder-friendly and not too arduous. Overall, a nice place to visit when in Pasadena.

Being new to Pasadena, I was looking for an easy hike on a warm day. So I found Eaton Canyon on google. Close and easy to get to. When we pulled into a full parking lot, I should have had a clue. We had to park in over flow, The trail was a wide dirt road, and packed with people coming and going. I'll cut to the waterfall, packed with people,graffiti marring the wilderness. We chowed down our lunch and got out of there. I'll never go back, it's just like the zoo only with people.

Love going here to get away from the craziness that is the SGV and L.A. The nighttime hikes for adults are really fantastic, and you see things that aren't normally present when you hike during the day.Really beautiful, and you can go your own pace; I feel a lot more at ease here than at Runyon, without a doubt.

It is a nice place for hiking. It is not extreme. Go prepare: hiking boots, water and nutritive snacks, as well with some friends. Keep on the trails.

A nice place for a hike as long or as short as you would like. Also a museum with interesting exhibits. a getaway close to the city.

If you are looking for somewhere to have a nice morning hike in the San Gabriel mountains, this place is as good as any. It has a small visitor center and restroom facilities and maps to the trails. It is only a short hike to waterfalls so it is an ideal location to hike with children.