Eaton Canyon Natural Area (Altadena)
Eaton Canyon is closed — do not plan a hike here yet. The Eaton Canyon Natural Area, Nature Center, waterfall trail, and its parking lot are all closed through December 31, 2027 under Angeles National Forest Forest Order 05-01-26-04, following damage from the January 2025 Eaton Fire. 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 an L.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, and the Angeles National Forest's Eaton Fire Area Closure (Forest Order 05-01-26-04) keeps the canyon, trails, Nature Center, and parking lot closed through December 31, 2027. Unstable terrain, loose soil, rockfall, and severe erosion remain hazards. Millard, Dawn Mine, and Sunset Ridge reopened in January 2026, but Eaton Canyon remains fully closed, 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 Angeles National Forest alerts for the official word, and in the meantime consider open alternatives like Switzer Falls or Chantry Flat.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eaton Canyon open for hiking?
No. Eaton Canyon Natural Area, its trails, the Nature Center, and the parking lot are closed through December 31, 2027 under Angeles National Forest Forest Order 05-01-26-04, due to damage from the January 2025 Eaton Fire. Hiking apps may show it as open, but it is not.
When will Eaton Canyon reopen?
The Eaton Fire closure is scheduled through December 31, 2027, barring an earlier reopening or a further extension. Some nearby front-country trails reopened in January 2026, but Eaton Canyon itself remains closed. Check the Angeles National Forest alerts page 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 August 1, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.