Eaton Canyon Falls Trail – Pasadena, CA

This is my family’s favorite waterfall hike so far. It seems to be the perfect distance with the right amount of climbing that is not too difficult for the kids. If you are looking for a short adventurous hike, Eaton Canyon Falls is the right choice for you!

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A summary of our hike to Eaton Canyon Falls

Eaton Canyon Falls is located within the San Bernardino mountains. This beautiful waterfall hike is one you don’t want to miss. The water flows all year round which makes it a great choice for any season. If you want to catch a bigger flow, than hike it after a rain or during springtime.

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Starting Points

This waterfall hike has 2 starting points. (I will give addresses for both in the details section below)

The first begins at the Eaton Canyon Nature Center. From this point there is a trail head that takes you all the way to the waterfall. The distance from this starting point is 3.5 miles out and back.

The second starting point is using a service road that cuts out the majority of the hike. If you have little ones who may not make it the full 3.5 miles, this is a great alternative. This route is a little over 1 mile out and back. This is the way that we have taken both times we hiked this trail. When you cross over the bridge on this shorter route, you’ll come to a fork in the road. You will want to take the trail to the right that leads downward. Once you are down, take the path that leads under the bridge you just crossed over.

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Be Prepared

Whichever trail you end up taking, you will be crossing through water, so go prepared. My kids and I have waterproof hiking boots. I used rain boots on our second trip which worked just fine. Just know there is climbing involved, so you want a shoe that will be supportive and durable. I have seen many people wearing hiking sandals, which is a great alternative to boots, especially during the summer. Do not forget extra socks. If your feet do end up getting wet, you will want to change into a dry pair of socks to reduce your chances of getting blisters.

This trail is shady and stays cool even during the summer. I suggest bringing a light sweater or long sleeve if you get cold easily. There is an area that is not shaded and gets very warm with the sun beating down, so don’t forget the sunscreen and hats on a sunny day.

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Choose Your Path

You will be crossing through the stream of water a handful of times. There is no going around this. Try and find the shallowest part and cross carefully, it gets slippery. To give you some perspective: the deepest we’ve crossed was about ankle deep for me and to the shin for my kids.

The trail itself is pretty easy to follow. There is only one way in and out of this canyon. It is a popular hiking trail, so there is always a good amount of hikers present. Which makes it easy to follow the direction of other hikers and ask for help if need be.

Continuing on and you’ll begin hearing the sound of water flowing and you will know you’re close. It’s just around the river bend…stream bend? It’s just around the bend.

Finally, you will be rewarded with a gorgeous view of the Eaton Canyon Waterfall.

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Our Thoughts

My kids loved most about this waterfall hike was that the path took us scrambling under fallen trees and over rocks. Nothing too crazy. My youngest was 4 at the time and had no trouble maneuvering around.

There are some great spots to stop and take in the scenery. Maybe take a water break or a snack break if your kids have bottomless stomachs like mine.

*Please just remember to clean up after yourself and take any trash out with you.

We have come back to this waterfall hike multiple times bringing family and friends to enjoy it too. Eaton Canyon Falls has become a staple for our family and hopefully it will be for yours too!

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Here are all the details you will need to start this adventure:

1. Eaton Canyon Nature Center Route:

Address: 1750 N Altadena Dr, Pasadena, CA 91107

Parking: There is a parking lot that is free to use.

Bathrooms:

Restroom Hours (March 1st to October 31st)
Tuesday – Sunday
8:30 am to 7:00 pm
Closed Monday

Restroom Hours (November 1st to February 28th)
Tuesday – Sunday
8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Closed Monday

Nature Center Hours:

March 1st to October 31st
Operating Hours
Tuesday – Sunday
8:00am to 7:30pm
Closed Monday

November 1st to February 28th
Operating Hours
Tuesday – Sunday
8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Closed Monday

November 1st to February 28th
Staff and Programming Hours
Tuesday – Sunday
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Closed Monday

Trail Difficulty: Moderate. This is not stroller friendly and has rough terrain. Always be cautious and aware of your surroundings when hiking. Wading through the stream is slippery. Be careful but have fun!

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2. Eaton Canyon Falls Trail by way of Service Road: (there is a gate at the entrance of the service road. It is unlocked and usually kept open. If it’s closed, still try the door, the multiple times I’ve been it has always been unlocked)

Address

Mount Wilson Rd
Altadena, CA 91001
United States

(this is for a residential area – parking tends to be hard to find later in the morning. I suggest arriving early to beat the heat and the crowd)

Bathrooms: There are no bathrooms on this route. Make sure you stop before arriving or pack disposable pee bags. These are amazing for an emergency situation. Link to this item will be below in the recommended section. *please take trash out with you and do not leave anything behind.

More information here: https://parks.lacounty.gov/eaton-canyon-natural-area-and-nature-center/

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Recommended items for this hike:

• Water, water and more water. Stay hydrated! (I always pack 1 water bottle per kid and 2 for myself with 1 extra just in case. Water is essential. If you’re able to carry all the water in one backpack, great! If not, I occasionally will have my kids each wear their own backpack to carry their own water and snacks.

• Waterproof hiking boots/shoes with good grip

• Extra socks

• Sunscreen

• Hats

• First aid kit (always good to have on hand. I add a few lollipops to my first aid kit. They work great with calming a hurt kid. Somehow a bandaid and lollipop always does the trick)

• Disposable pee bags (they come in handy)

• Trash bags (I usually bring one or two with me for trash, used pee bags, or wet socks. Never leave trash behind, let’s do our part to take care of nature around us)

• Snacks (beef jerky, trail mix/granola bar, dried mango and crackers are favorites of ours to pack with us)

• light sweater (it gets cool in the shade and slightly windy next to the waterfall.)

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Here are some tips for your visit:

• Eaton Canyon is a natural area and wildlife preserve dedicated to the protection of this beautiful natural resource.
• Please be mindful of other park users, including the wildlife.
• Stay safe and remain on the trail at all times.
• Leave no trace, please pack out all trash.
• Dogs are welcome but must remain leashed at all times.
• Due to the popularity of this trail, overcrowding can occur.  Look for alternate trails when lots are full.
• Respect the neighbors when using street parking.
• Check the weather – this park closed during heavy rain due to the potential for flash flooding.
• Several rescues occur every year due to heat stroke in both hikers and their dogs. Limit hiking in hot weather and make sure to bring and drink water throughout your trip.

What are you waiting for? Go explore!