Eaton Canyon to the First Waterfall in January 2012

This is one of our favorite hikes in Los Angeles and is also just blocks away from where we live. The Eaton Canyon Nature Center and the first part of the Eaton Canyon Trail are part of Los Angeles County and are well maintained but also very, very popular on weekends and holidays. If you like avoid crowds as we do, choose your time to go very carefully.

This is also a very popular hike with local dog owners and is just long enough to be good exercise for our very active brittanys. You will see other dogs on the trail and you’ll also see the evidence they leave behind. If you take this trail with your dogs, please pack out your dog poo!

Parking to Bridge

The first part of the trail is mostly exposed and can be uncomfortable on hot days. Once leaving the parking lot, the trail crosses the Eaton Canyon Wash, which is a dry creek bed in the dry season but can be tricky to cross if there has been significant rain.

The trail turns left just after the wash and heads north until it reaches the turnoff for the First Waterfall. Along the way, there is a different turnoff for what we call “The Horse Trail” but is actually called Walnut Canyon. This is a very steep trail that connects to the Mt Wilson Toll Road, cutting off several miles of hiking for those willing to make a fast climb, but bypassing the trail to the First Waterfall.

Many people miss the left turn off the main trail at 2 km (1.2 miles) which comes just before the bridge. There is a small sign at the on the left and newer sign right at the merge point of the two trails that makes it easy if hikers are aware that they need to leave the main trail.

Bridge to Waterfall

The trail continues under the bridge and past the first of a set of old dams that created reservoirs for irrigation when Pasadena was known for its orange groves. There are many points where water crossings need to be made but rocks have been placed strategically to make it easy.

Narrow canyon

This narrow section in the canyon floor is our favorite as the continual crossings of the streams make it a fun challenge to move as quickly as possible. The dogs never hold us back and often will jump into the deeper pools of water. This is also the shady part of the trail and very comfortable in the Summer.

Once you reach the waterfall, it is immediately obvious why it is such a popular hike. The falls drops about 14 m (50 ft) from a narrow split in the canyon. It falls into a shallow pool that is often filled with children on the hotter and busier days. It is such a unique spot that there will oftentimes be people playing music or writing, especially on the quiet days. The water is quite cool, even in the warmest part of the summer and we often take our shoes off and enjoy the moment with our feet in the water. For the dogs, the waterfall is a great chance to jump in and cool off.

Dangerous trail

The reason this is called the First Waterfall is because there are a whole series of waterfalls further up the canyon. The Second Waterfall can be reached from the same trail but requires a turn just before the First Waterfall and a climb up a very steep spine of rock known as the Razor Back and then a traverse across a very exposed rockface. Many people have been rescued from the cliff face and several have died, including two just this Fall.

The facts

This is a fairly easy hike that takes you out of urban Los Angeles and into a cool, shady canyon in a short period of time. If you want a shorter distance, enter from the back gate on Pinecrest Drive between dawn and dusk (The Fire Service locks the gate at night). There is also a side entrance higher on Altadena Drive that shortens the overall hike but has more poison oak than the main trail and is hard to follow. We recommend either the main or back entrances.

Advice

Poison oak is prevalent in the canyon, so stay off the sides of trails. Remember to bring water! Many people think this hike is short and easy and don’t bring enough, and keep in mind that stream water must be treated. Lastly, sunscreen should be worn as the first half of the trail is very exposed and sun burns happen quickly.

For Dan Simpson’s very good write up on this hike, click here.