Eaton Canyon Natural Area (Altadena)
Eaton Canyon is closed — do not plan a hike here yet. Eaton Canyon Natural Area is L.A. County land, and the county runs the closure: its park page lists the natural area closed until further notice, and its trails alert lists the Eaton Canyon Trail and the waterfall closed until December 31, 2027. The national forest land above the canyon is separately inside the Forest Service's Eaton Fire closure through the same date. Hiking apps may still show it as open — it isn't. When it reopens, parking is the free Nature Center lot off Altadena Drive (no Adventure Pass needed — it's a county natural area, not fee forest).
The facts
- Trail served
- Eaton Canyon Trail to Eaton Canyon Falls (~3–4 mi RT, easy–moderate) — currently closed
- Cost / pass
- Free to park (L.A. County natural area, not an Adventure Pass site) — when open
- Lot size
- Large free lot at the Eaton Canyon Nature Center off Altadena Drive — currently gated closed
- When it fills
- Historically packed by mid-morning on weekends for the waterfall; moot while closed
- Overflow option
- None while closed. Do not attempt to park nearby and enter — the closure is enforced and the terrain is genuinely hazardous
- Tow / citation risk
- Entering or parking to access the closure area risks citation; this is an active safety closure, not a formality
- Restrooms
- At the Nature Center (closed while the area is closed)
- Road to the lot
- Paved: Nature Center entrance at 1750 N Altadena Drive, Pasadena — gate closed
- Busy season
- N/A until reopening; historically fall–spring for the waterfall flow
Getting there
Eaton Canyon Nature Center, 1750 N Altadena Dr, Pasadena, CA 91107
Get directions →Closed now — the status in plain terms
You cannot legally hike Eaton Canyon right now. The January 2025 Eaton Fire burned through the canyon. The natural area, Nature Center, trail and parking lot belong to L.A. County, which lists the natural area closed until further notice and, on its trails alert, the Eaton Canyon Trail and Eaton Canyon Waterfall closed until December 31, 2027. Above the county land, the Angeles National Forest's Eaton Fire Area Closure (Forest Order 05-01-26-04) closes the forest through the same date. Unstable terrain, loose soil, rockfall and erosion remain hazards.
Nearby, the county's alert lists Sunset Ridge and Dawn Mine trails as reopened and says Millard Canyon's trails are open while its campground stays closed. Eaton Canyon is not among the reopened trails, whatever a hiking app says.
Do not park near the gate and walk in. The closure is enforced.
The parking picture for when it reopens
When Eaton Canyon does reopen, the parking story is one of the friendlier ones in this area: a large free lot at the Eaton Canyon Nature Center, off Altadena Drive, with restrooms and trail signage. It's an L.A. County natural area, so no Adventure Pass or any pass is required — just show up. Historically the catch was simply crowds: the easy walk to Eaton Canyon Falls made the lot fill by mid-morning on weekends, pushing people to nearby residential streets (mind the posted signs).
We're keeping this page updated as the reopening approaches — check the L.A. County trails alert for the official word, and in the meantime consider open alternatives like Switzer Falls or Chantry Flat.
Staying near the trailhead?
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Frequently asked questions
Is Eaton Canyon open for hiking?
No. L.A. County lists Eaton Canyon Natural Area closed until further notice, and its trails alert lists the Eaton Canyon Trail and waterfall closed until December 31, 2027, after damage from the January 2025 Eaton Fire. The Nature Center and parking lot are closed too. Hiking apps may show it as open, but it is not.
When will Eaton Canyon reopen?
L.A. County's trails alert lists the Eaton Canyon Trail closed until December 31, 2027; its park page gives no date ("until further notice"). Either can change. Nearby Sunset Ridge and Dawn Mine trails have reopened, but Eaton Canyon has not. Check L.A. County Parks for official updates.
Where do you park for Eaton Canyon Falls?
When open, at the free Eaton Canyon Nature Center lot, 1750 N Altadena Drive in Pasadena — no Adventure Pass required, since it's an L.A. County natural area. It historically filled by mid-morning on weekends. The lot is currently closed with the rest of the area.
Facts on this page last verified October 17, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.