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Altadena, California

Altadena, California is a great place for outdoor adventurers, offering a range of scenic trails and activities. Must-visit attractions include the Eaton Canyon Natural Area, the Santa Anita Canyon Trail, and the Altadena Crest Trail. Nature can explore the Eaton Canyon Nature Center and learn about the local wildlife. Hikers can take on the challenging trails of the San Gabriel Mountains and enjoy the stunning views. The Pasadena Arboretum is a great spot for a picnic or a leisurely stroll. There are also plenty of opportunities for fishing, horseback riding, and camping. With so much to do, Altadena is the perfect place for an adventure!

Top Spots in and near Altadena

  • Altadena, California

    San Gabriel via Sam Merrill and Mount Lowe Trails

    17.55 mi / 5614 ft gain
    San Gabriel via Sam Merrill and Mount Lowe Trails is a loop trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Altadena, California.
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  • Altadena, California

    Echo Mountain and Inspiration Point Loop

    4.1
    10.16 mi / 3369 ft gain
    The trail switchbacks up the mountain before reaching the first historic marker, in 3 miles. These are the remains of the Mount Lowe Railroad, which brought customers to Echo Mountain Resort, also in ruins, nearby. Explore the historic sites, then head up Castle Canyon Trail. A steep climb will ...
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  • Altadena, California

    Thalehaha Falls

    1.71 mi / 679 ft gain
    The trails starts in a foothill neighborhood of Altadena CA at the corner of Pleasantridge Dr. and Rubio Vista Rd. This is one of the better entries into the Angeles National Forest because it is one of the lesser known. Find a place to park on the street and head out on the trail into Rubio Cany...
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  • Altadena, California

    Millard Falls

    3.0
    1.27 mi / 289 ft gain
    To get to the trail, park at the Millard Campground Trailhead parking lot, where you'll find plenty of parking. Follow the trail that leads away from the lot and past the Millard Campground. If necessary, you'll find bathrooms at the campground. Follow signs for Millard Falls as the trail veers r...
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  • Pasadena, California

    Eaton Canyon Falls via Eaton Canyon Trailhead

    4.2
    3.54 mi / 528 ft gain
    The hidden forty-foot-tall Eaton Canyon Falls fills an amphitheater at the top of Eaton Canyon Trail, tumbling into a wide pool that you can rest alongside or wade in. Normally the water is waist deep, but during this recent trip, we found the water only to stop at our ankles as it tends to fluct...
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  • Altadena, California

    Eaton Canyon to Idlehour Trail Camp

    4.5
    10.99 mi / 3291 ft gain
    Idlehour is nestled deep in the Angeles National Forest, so it feels like you're in the heart of some untapped wilderness instead of six miles away from a bustling metropolis. The trail camp is accessible by foot through a variety of locations, but the most popular route is through Eaton Canyon, ...
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  • Pasadena, California

    Central Arroyo Seco Community Recreation Loop

    5.0
    0.66 mi / 36 ft gain
    Beautiful views of the Rose Bowl and surrounding San Gabriel Mountains. A protected .75 mile loop, that offers an easy path, to stroll along. You’ll find convenient water filling stations, clean bathrooms, and a fitness area, along the path. Easy parking all around.
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  • Pasadena, California

    Arroyo Terrace Trail

    5.0
    1.54 mi / 194 ft gain
    Arroyo Terrace Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Pasadena, California.
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  • Pasadena, California

    Lower Arroyo Seco Loop

    4.0
    2.88 mi / 230 ft gain
    Nestled next to the CA-134, this trail presents a relaxing atmosphere while only a 30 minute drive from Downtown Los Angeles and a 5 minute drive from Old Town Pasadena. From bird-watching to archery, this trail provides a peaceful atmosphere with no lapse in beauty. The trail which is around 1....
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  • Los Angeles County, California

    Idlehour Trail

    4.0
    14.89 mi / 4665 ft gain
    Idlehour Trail located near Mount Wilson, California, is an out-and-back trail that is strenuous and can take 8-10 hours if done all at once. There are opportunities to camp off the trail, making this a backpacking trail in the Angeles National Forest as well.  To access the Idlehour Campground ...
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  • Los Angeles County, California

    San Gabriel Peak

    4.0
    2.79 mi / 1040 ft gain
    At 6,000 feet, San Gabriel Peak gives you one of the best views of the Los Angeles basin on the front range of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. As you pass through Muller Tunnel, the trail will be littered with rocks and boulders. A little over 100 feet in, the road will fork in thre...
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  • La Cañada Flintridge, California

    Teepee Trail

    5.0
    2.55 mi / 1145 ft gain
    Hidden in the small community of La Canada, California, the trailhead is pretty hidden! From the 210, take the exit for Highway 2/Angeles Crest Highway. Head north (towards the mountains) for about a mile. As the highway begins to curve, you will come across a small side-street, Harter Lane. Turn...
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  • Los Angeles County, California

    Mt. Disappointment via Billy Riley Trail

    3.5 mi / 1132 ft gain
    From the 210 Freeway in La Cañada, take California Highway 2 north 14 miles up into the San Gabriel Mountains. Make sure you have your National Forest Pass (sold at REI or Ranger Station) or your Interagency Pass because they have started checking parked vehicles. At the Red Box Picnic area, make...
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  • Los Angeles County, California

    Switzer Falls

    3.4
    3.66 mi / 728 ft gain
    Just off the Angeles Crest highway, you’ll find one of LA’s best waterfalls, Switzer Falls. There is a parking lot just next to the trailhead. If you go on the weekend and run into a crowd, there’s parking near the highway, adding a little distance to your trek. Once you’ve walked through the Sw...
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  • Los Angeles County, California

    Bear Canyon via Switzer Falls Trailhead

    6.67 mi / 1273 ft gain
    Parking: Parking is available at the Switzer Falls Picnic Area, or in the two overflow lots on the hill. You will need an Adventure Pass to leave your car parked here. Make sure to follow posted signs - there are some parking spots that do not allow overnight parking. Amenities: Bear Canyon has...
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  • Altadena, California

    Gabrieleno Trail: Switzer Falls to Hahamonga Watershed

    5.0
    10.14 mi / 814 ft gain
    Gabrieleno Trail: Switzer Falls to Hahamonga Watershed is a point-to-point trail that takes you by a waterfall located near La Canada Flintridge, California.
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Camping and Lodging in Altadena

Coulter Group Campground
Palmdale, California

Coulter Group Campground

Meadow Group Campground
Palmdale, California

Meadow Group Campground

Bandido Group Campground
Pearblossom, California

Bandido Group Campground

Jackson Flats
Azusa, California

Jackson Flats

Mountain Oak
Valyermo, California

Mountain Oak

Lake Campground
Valyermo, California

Lake Campground

Guides, Insights and Stories from Altadena

Cooking with Coleman: Camp stove tacos with Paulina Dao and the City Project

Cooking with Coleman: Camp stove tacos with Paulina Dao and the City Project

The Outbound Collective

The Best Post-Adventure Food

The Best Post-Adventure Food

Aaron Rickel Jones

Reservation Permits Needed To Reopen Trails Responsibly, Says Steve Gerhardt

Reservation Permits Needed To Reopen Trails Responsibly, Says Steve Gerhardt

Aaron Rickel Jones

The Mountains Are Calling, and I Let It Go to Voicemail

The Mountains Are Calling, and I Let It Go to Voicemail

Aaron Rickel Jones

Cub House Birthday Ride

Cub House Birthday Ride

Aaron Rickel Jones

The Dawn Mine Loop Trail (or how to train for backpacking last minute)

The Dawn Mine Loop Trail (or how to train for backpacking last minute)

Aaron Rickel Jones