How to Hike To Eaton Canyon Falls

4 miles - Easy Effort
2 Hours (Total)
500 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 1,370 feet
Leashed Dogs Allowed

The hike to Eaton Canyon Falls is one of those LA classics you have to do at least once. Eaton Canyon and the falls are spectacular, one of the true gems of the San Gabriels. Even John Muir wrote about Eaton Canyon Falls's beauty. But its easily accessible location means that you'll find crowds here, and many people on the trail are not familiar with hiking etiquette. The best time to hike Eaton Canyon Falls is early on a weekday when the canyon is still peaceful, and the masses haven't yet arrived.

In this Guide:

Video and Turn-by-Turn Directions to Hike Eaton Canyon Falls
Where to Park for Eaton Canyon Falls Trail
Insider Tips & Recommendations

Quick Links: Eaton Canyon Natural Area - NOAA Weather Report - Top Gear Picks (Feb 2023)

When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

Where is Eaton Canyon Falls Trail?

There are a few ways to get to Eaton Canyon Falls, but the main route starts from the Eaton Canyon Nature Center in Pasadena. Use this address:
Eaton Canyon Nature Center, 1750 N Altadena Dr, Pasadena, CA 91107

Eaton Cayon Entrance — You'll go down a long driveway to the Nature Center parking areas.

Eaton Canyon Parking — Park as close as possible to the trailhead. It does get very crowded and you may have to park in the overflow parking.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 5 — Here's the parking leading up to the trailhead. The hike starts at the far end of the parking lot.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 7 — Check the park website before your trip, the hours do occasionally change.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 10 — There are (fairly nasty) toilets at the trailhead.

Gear For the Hike

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 2 — There are many stream crossings. It's much easier to wear footwear (like trail runners, sandals, or sneakers) that you are okay with getting wet.

Your best bet on this hike is to wear fitness clothes or light hiking gear. You may have to scramble up and down some small rises, so be prepared to get your hands dirty. If you have trekking poles, they can be helpful on the stream crossings. Or, as I said earlier, get comfortable with getting your feet wet and plow through the stream crossings.

I waste my time with lousy hiking gear so you don't have to. Only the winners get onto my gear page. There's no fluff, sponsorships, or promotions. It's just gear I personally use, have tested, and recommend. Right now I'm liking my inReach Mini 2, Garmin Epix, and Lone Peak 6 shoes.
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My February 2023 Top Gear Picks

Eaton Canyon Falls Trail Maps

Explore Map on CalTopo View a Printable PDF Hike Map Download the Hike GPX File

Free Nav Tools: GaiaGPS - AllTrails

Guides to Help You Navigate

How To Use the AllTrails App (Beginners)

Hiking With Gaia GPS For Beginners

How-To: Using Routes, Tracks, and Waypoints for Garmin Outdoors GPS

How To Read a Topographic Map

Elevation Profile

Eaton Cayon Elevation — This profile is a little deceiving; it's a gentle climb up to the falls. The first half is largely exposed, and the last mile is shaded.

3D Map

Hike Brief

Eaton Cayon Historic — Eaton Canyon Falls looks pretty much the same today as it does in this photo from 1898. This photo was taken by Theo Lukens, and the highest point in Los Angeles (city) is named after him. If you want to hike Mt Lukens, I have a guide here.

Eaton Canyon Falls has long been a popular attraction. In 1877 John Muir wrote about it. "It is a charming little thing, with a low, sweet voice, singing like a bird, as it pours from a notch in a short ledge, some 35 or 40 feet into a round mirror-pool."
You'll see some structures along the trail once you get into the canyon proper. Most were built to support what's known as "water mining" or gathering fresh water and supplying it to farms and ranches farther down toward Pasadena. The Precipice Canyon Water Company, named after the canyon's original name, El Precipio, was started here in 1887, and there were over 50 "water mines" in Eaton Canyon.
Here's one of the original "water mines" along the hike, although this mine tunnel has now been filled in.
If you've been here before and it looks noticeably cleaner, you can thank Edgar McGregor. He's spent hundreds of days cleaning up the trash around Eaton Canyon and other SoCal trails. Pitch in and pick up any trash you may see on the hike!

Eaton Canyon Falls Hike Directions

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Video Directions

Turn by Turn Directions

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 9 — The trailhead is at the end of the parking area.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 11 — When you pass the gate there are two paths. You can take either. I like the right path, which goes along Eaton Wash.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 12 — There's a trail map here. Take a picture with your phone in case you need to refer back to it.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 13 — Follow the trail, with the wash on your right.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 14 — The trail rejoins the other path from the left.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 15 — And then you cross Eaton Wash. The first of many crossings, but the next crossing isn't for over a mile.

If there's a decent water flow at this crossing, chances are good that the falls will be flowing. In these times of extreme weather, the falls can dry up occasionally, especially in the summer and early fall.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 16 — Once you cross over, make the left and continue upstream.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 17 — The first part of the hike is a wide dirt path. Not the prettiest trail in the world, but not the worst either.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 18 — At the intersection of the Coyote Canyon Trail, keep going straight.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 19 — And then after that is the intersection of the Walnut Canyon Trail. Keep going straight.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 20 — There's a sign at this intersection pointing you in the right direction. There used to be more trail markers, but I've noticed that they disappear more than they should.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 21 — You'll continue up along the wash, which is closer now.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 22 — Keep going straight when a trail joins in from the right.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 23 — And after that is a split. Make the left to head down to the wash. To the right is the Mt Wilson Toll road.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 24 — There's this old school sign at the junction. You can see more of these around Chantry Flat.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 25 — When you get down to the wash, make the hard right.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 26 — And now you're in the narrow part of Eaton Canyon. The trail goes under the bridge.

The original bridge here was wooden, and built for the Mount Wilson Toll Road Company. That bridge and a few others were washed away during flooding in Eaton Canyon. The bridge you see today was built after the flood in 1969. Today the bridge is known as the "Chuck Ballard Memorial Bridge," after the man who was a banker by day, and a badass member of the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team in his off time. Chuck Ballard served for more than 50 years with the rescue team and passed away in 2020.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 27 — The hike from here on out is very different than the earlier stretch. From here you'll be in the steep canyon, following the creek upstream.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 29 — You'll also have your first stream crossing, the first of several on your way to Eaton Canyon Falls.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 28 — You'll also see some structures along the way that were part of the original water mining operations.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 1 — Some crossings have multiple spots to hop over. There are also a few splits in the trail. Overall you're following the creek. If for some reason you're leaving the canyon, you're not doing the right thing.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 31 — There are some points that leave the waterside but rejoin after a minute or two. At no point are you climbing up and out of the canyon.

Eaton Canyon Falls Directions 32 — And after about 0.6 miles in the canyon, you'll arrive at the falls. You made it! When the water is really flowing, you can splash around in the pool below the falls.

From here, just turn around and return the same way that you came up!

Eaton Canyon Falls used to be known as LaBelle Cascade, named after Judge Benjamin Smith Eaton's daughter, who the canyon is named after.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!).

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