Nice beginner destination for a backpacking trip. Likes: + Great view of Altadena/Pasadena and the LA county. Maybe you can spot Catalina or the Disney fireworks at night in the distance. + Pleasant getaway from town. Quiet, peaceful nature ambience. + A couple firepits for roasting your food with friends. + Great Mt Wilson with access to the giant 60-inch and the 100-inch Hooker telescopes. A hike you can do in a day. A camping/backpacking trip you can do in day & night. + Trails are wide and well defined. Non-likes: - The water spigot here runs extremely slow. I recommend packing your own extra water. - Restrooms running low on toilet paper. - Cosmic Cafe only open Apr-Sept 10am-5pm, and 10-4pm late Sept-Nov. If you walk farther uphill about 1-2 min, you'll find the white lavatory. Restroom stalls are more spacious than the auburn one. The water fountain and the water spigot there run fine and strong. read more

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What goes up, must come down. This hike was a moderate 3 mile hike up and around the San Gabriel Mountains, but so much easier to trek back down. Although we did an extra mile after missing the turn and ended up hiking a total of 7 miles; it wasn't too bad. I only hike about once a month, so I took a few breaks along the way up so it took us about 3 hours roundtrip. The hike starts at the Eaton Canyon Nature Reserve after parking on the street along Altadena. There's parking in a lot as well but I find it easier to park on the street than finding a spot during peak hours. We started the hike by following the Eaton Canyon Falls trail, then veered onto the Walnut Canyon trail, and then followed the Old Mount Wilson Toll Road the rest of the way to the campground. There's some shade on the hike but not much so I wouldn't hike this during the Summer. We did this on 12/2/18 in 64 degree weather and it was perfect. We saw some people that did a one night backpacking trip so it's an ideal spot to practice for longer trips. There are bathrooms but they were locked when we were there and there is no water. There are also lots of tables available so pack a picnic and enjoy the view. Directions I used. If you see a white bridge on your way back, you missed the turn like I did and just did an extra mile. https://modernhiker.com/hike/henninger-flats/ read more

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Henninger Flats Campground is located in Altadena up in the San Gabriel Mountains. Elevation is 2,600 feet above sea level. The only way to get up to the campgrounds is to hike it up. Our family (Team R) decided to backpack up to Henninger Flats on Saturday, October 6, at 5:30 a.m. to guarantee a first come first serve free campsite and campout until Sunday. The hike is a moderate three mile hike uphill with no shade. The plus is that a long the way up you will find four benches in which you can sit and enjoy the views of the city of Altadena and nearby cities. We were so fortunate to find a lot of campsites upon arrival. Henninger Flats has three campgrounds. The first is lower campground, which is were we camped at. The second is upper campground and the third is Fuji campground. It does not have running or potable water so you must bring enough water especially if you plan on hiking or camping out. We were blessed to get the campsite we wanted. We were a group of 12 so we were able to get campsite one and campsite two. We made sure to check in with the ranger/fire fighter on site at the visitor center/museum. I purchased one of the patches to commemorate the completion of the mini backpacking trip to and from Henninger Flats. My only regret is that it took me so long to come up here but finally I am able to mark off this wonderful place. read more

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I went on the hike towards the waterfall. This is about 1.5 miles there and back, for a total of 3 miles. This trail is packed on the weekend! We were constantly backed up behind people, and literally every group had a dog. There are a lot of crossings over rocks/branches across streams, so wear shoes that you don't mind getting wet. I ended up giving up at one point and just walked through the streams bc it was easier than waiting for people to cross. The hike is relatively easy and flat, so no physical exertion. But it does require a lot of balance! Hahaha :) also, it's a nice trail w a good amount of trees, streams, and shade. There is one entrance w a parking lot. The Henninger opening doesn't have a parking lot, but there's plenty of parking around the neighborhood! read more

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Loved camping here precovid! We hiked a few months ago and the bathrooms were all locked. Does anyone know if it's back open for backpacking/overnight camping? read more

I love hiking here. Whenever I go it's quiet. I like to hike away from too many people. It's a good, long, moderate uphill climb from Eaton or the street above Eaton (which is where I start). It's a fire road so there's lots of space. I always end at the campground which is about 2 or so miles up. People are friendly and on weekdays it is nearly deserted. Nice views of the San Gabriel valley. The only downside is that there is nearly no shade. A few straggly trees along the way...but then you get to the top and the campground has benches and shade. All and all one of my faves. read more

It's been years since I camped there, I always camped by myself but I did meet several good people and scouts there. I have a hankering to,go back but have to arrange transportation since I presently cannot drive, I don't mind carrying a backpack but have to re-assemble my gear, I have everything bitI have to plan ahead. read more

I haven't been on this hike in too long and the weather was beautiful the other day so I decided to go for a hike at my favorite hiking spot!!! Heningers, of course! Here was a timeline of my journey to the top (to the campground): 1150 start 1215 first bench 1227 second bench 1232 third bench 1245 last bench 1247 heninger sign 1249 reach my favorite spot to enjoy the view and the breeze, admire the length of leg hair, wonder if birds fly for fun, attempt to tan my legs, let the sweat dry between my boobies, and contemplate life for about 20 minutes. 110 head down to my car 155 arrive to the gate There were some major beetles in the beginning of the hike (where the bridge is) and I also saw a little skinny snake! There is very little shade on this hike. There is one stretch of shade but after that, there are only small patches of shade here and there. Also, this place is a bit more green than usual thanks to the rain we had recently. Makes everything look pretty! However, there were some annoying bugs between the second and third (?) benches flying around my sweaty bits, but I thought to myself "do I swat them away or embrace them because I'm here to be with nature? I swatted them away. Overall, a great hike to work on the cardio, legs, and the bootay! read more

Came to this campsite last night with the wife and dog. It was a great hike/overnight camp to say the least! We had a blast but we also suffered a little because we didn't pack as warm as we should have. Things to know: 1. You can sleep up there overnight if you want. But whatever gear you bring you have to carry and hike with it all on your back: tent, backpacks, food, water, etc... 2. There are 3 levels to camp up there once you arrive: the lower which is the biggest and has a great view of the city, the middle level which has an even better view but limited camp sites, and finally the high level called Fugi which has only a few spots up there to camp. But it is the most secluded and private. We saw a couple up there on one of the two sleep areas and didn't want to intrude so we just camped at to lower level which was great. It's all first come first serve. 3. We packed a tent and some warm clothes and plenty of food and water but didn't have ENOUGH warm sleeping gear and as a result we were freezing at night! There are no open campfire pits. Two people can only carry so much so we couldn't have lugged two regular sized sleeping bags in addition to all the other stuff we had. We should have packed some small mini sleeping bags. All we slept with at night was our jackets. Mistake. I slept one hour because I was so cold. Being higher don't underestimate the chill of the night. 4. Bring plenty of food and water if you go in the summer heat of day. It's a moderate hike in my opinion. I'm in pretty good shape but for the average person it could be a challenge. It's about 1 hr and half to 2 hours hours up if you go pretty steady and 45 min down non stop. The entire hike TO THE CAMPSITE is all uphill. If you are out of shape it'll be a challenge for you. My wife was huffing and puffing most of the way lol. There is zero shade on the trail midday. 5. There IS running spring water up there behind the outhouse. It comes out of a nozzle. Note: it's nasty behind the outhouse with used toilet paper and feminine products there. But the nozzle is there. We drank it and we were fine. The locals up there drink it as well. If you have a dog he or she can definitely drink it as well. If your paranoid just boil it. But we drank it and we're ok. 6. You have to park on the street down the road where there are no restricted parking signs. There is restricted parking on the weekdays and weekends near the trail entrance. So park on a street where there is no restricted parking. Don't park overnight at Eaton Canyon parking lot. You'll get towed or cited. 7. You have to check in when you arrive if you want to camp overnight. It's free! No fee! There's a small museum there. 8. At night it is literally a ghost town since there is nobody up there except you and whatever other campers are there. The park ranger is there in the building overnight and if there is an emergency you can push the emergency button next to the entrance door. 9. There is a lot of wildlife there. Gotta watch out for snakes which we didn't see. They did tell us there are a few bears that have become familiar with the campsite. They are just looking for food. So use the near boxes. We heard some ruffling in the bushes at night. Not sure what it was. Could have been the deer we saw. Overall we like Henninger Flats! Great hiking trail and campsite to sleep overnight. Definitely recommend it. If I lived close to there I would hike it 3 or 4 times a week. It's a great workout! Not sure how accurate my FitBit really is but it said we took about 14,000 steps and burned about 1600 calories. read more

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I love this hike! It's my favorite hike in Pasadena . The trail is very wide and sometimes very uneven so I do recommend you bring hiking shoes or trekking poles. Overall, it's very nice and clean and the parking is spacious and open in the neighborhood. It connects to Eaton canyon , and is fairly slow during the week which is my favorite ! I wouldn't recommend coming on a weekend since it does get super busy. There's a cute water stream on the bottom and lots of good views! read more

As far back as I can remember, my dad would take me and my five younger brothers on this hike from Pinecrest Dr. in Altadena up to Henninger Flats. There are actually several entry points to Eaton Canyon to access the fire road trail, but the most direct route is parking up off Crescent and Pinecrest, walking through the formidable gate (which is locked at sundown), cross the white bridge, and up you go for about 2.5 miles. The trail is wide enough to allow forest service and fire vehicles to drive up the dirt road, but for the most part it's only foot traffic. This is a popular hiking and running trail for us stupid hill runner folk, and while the path itself is easy to navigate, there are a couple of good incline switchbacks on the steady climb. Chaparral of sage, yucca, buckwheat, tree tobacco, mule fat, witch's hair, ironwood, wild mustard, and several wildflowers paint the landscape, especially in the spring. Fence lizards, gopher snakes, rattlesnakes, western racers, and the occasional coyote or deer can be seen along with several bird species like hawks, ravens, turkey vultures, and finches. At the top, hikers are welcomed by a shady forested area with many pine trees. Picnic facilities, restrooms, and a nature center (with a soda machine... Bring quarters!) are there. The view of LA and Southern California is outstanding on clear days, with Palos Verdes peninsula and Catalina island visible. If you're feeling energetic, you can continue up the trail in several directions: upper Henninger is another few miles. A left turn across a nondescript footbridge about a mile above Henninger takes you to Idlehour campground... Which is a peaceful and secluded camping area in upper Eaton Canyon, inaccessible from the lower canyon below the waterfall. Trails from Idlehour can take you up to Inspiration Point, and connect down Castle Canyon or Sam Merrill trail all the way to Lake Ave (a 19 mile loop to your car on Pinecrest!) If you stay on the main Henninger trail long enough, it goes all the way to Mount Wilson. Lots of options! Take care to watch your little hikers near the edge-- The San Gabriels are relatively some of the steepest mountains around! If you're tired of the crowds and noise of the waterfall hike, turn right and head uphill to discover a different kind of peace and quiet, just steps away from town. read more

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Date of the hike: 5.1.2011 When our original plan to hike the Ben Overturff Trail was diverted because some maniac murder suspect was on the loose, we came here from a friend's suggestion. He assured us we would be out of harm's way. Compared to other hikes I've done recently (Echo Mountain, Bailey Canyon, and Boney Mountain) this hike was easier. Although there were a few steep parts but I think anyone could handle it. We started around 8AM and the sun was already pretty warm. When part of the mountain was shaded, it was pretty chilly. Other than that the mountain has no shade. I liked that there were several random benches along the trail for people to rest. When we reached the campground it was very shaded with tons of trees and benches. My friend and I actually got a little chilly and had to put a layer back on. We were lucky to hike on such a clear day! I was so amazed that there was no smog or cloud in sight. We were able to see Catalina Island from the top. The trail was about 6 miles round trip with 1400ft elevation gain/loss. It took my friends and I a little over two hours to complete the hike. Parking is limited in the residential area. We parked on the corner of Bowring Dr. and Pinecrest Dr. As always, get there early! read more

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What an amazing hike! If you are looking for a terrific work out, this is the hike for you. it's uphill, almost at a 45 degree angle for the first 15 minutes, then it eases up but is still uphill. You can feel your heart and lungs getting a great workout. Once you reach the top, you will feel so happy! You get such a great view of the city and there is a lot of shade as it's full of trees and benches for you to have a nice lunch. I try to go here at least once in 2 months and have never been disappointed. Its one of the best workouts for your butt as its so uphill and intense. Coming down is a snap as its all downhill (we normally take an hour to 1 hr 15 min to go up and 15-20 min to come down). Make sure you take a hat on a sunny day and there are some parts where you don't have shade. It's a great hike if you are into mountain biking too. I see lots of people on their bikes on this trail. On the way, stop at the Eaton Canyon nature center...they have clean restrooms, cool water and lots of information on the animals in the canyon and the hikes. read more

Steep 2.7 mile hike with a 1200 ft elevation. For someone who hikes about every 6 weeks, it took us an 1 hour 25 minutes to get to the top. There is now water at the top. The views are beautiful. Plenty of spaces for camping but Boy Scouts groups can reserve spaces since they do Eagle Projects up there which is part of the reason why it is so well kept but even so you will still find space within one of the three camping areas. Johann is there most weekends. Amazing guy full of knowledge and very helpful. read more

Difficulty: moderate Incline: moderate to steep for 3miles Switchbacks: not really just near the top Trail: wide, mostly dirt Mountain bikers: a few but the trail was so wide you rarely get hit by them Shade: none We hiked up to henninger flats from eaton canyon nature center. 1.5 miles from eaton canyon to the base of the henninger flats hike. Would recommend sunscreen. Sunglasses. Wide brim hat as there is no shade up this trail. Snacks. Water. For some reason this trail felt more strenuous than the hike up to inspiration point. I felt like the incline was steeper on this one than echo mt/inspiration point. read more

Went here for an overnight camp, it was so worth it. We will definitely come back here again. Loving the solitude!!! read more

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Unexciting, uncovered fire road hike to the campground. Beautiful view, but horribly managed. We got to the "first-come-first-serve" campground early on Saturday to find lots of open spaces. Once we had begun setting up, the person stationed there told us the entire main campground was somehow reserved for a small ground of kids. After coming up with lame excuses for 10 minutes as to why/how this non-reservable campground was entirely reserved we begrudgingly moved to the upper camping area only to find that there was homeless guy camped out dead center of that area. From the looks of his elaborate tarp setup, he had been there quite some time. He walked thru our camp several times & threw things at our leashed dogs. On top of that, the group we got kicked out of the main area for was tiny & took up less than half of the area which they had somehow reserved all of. Despite the boring hike, I'd consider camping again if the "rules" of the campground applied to everyone & they didn't let homeless people camp there indefinitely. read more

Just came back from an overnight at Henninger Flats Campground. The boyfriend and I packed our day packs up with our gear and traversed the 3mi hike to get to camp to join some friends. It was my first time backpacking and although the inclines aren't too challenging, the 15+ lbs packs we had made a difference. We were also carrying a gallon of water which made it all the more challenging. Some tips: ** Pack water - there is no longer running water up there, I'm guessing it's because of the drought ** Layer up - at 2000+ elevation, it gets mighty cold at night ** The camp provides wood for fires, and each site has an oven where you can cook/table to prepare your meal. ** Be prepared for very basic (not so clean) restrooms - hey, can't always be spoiled with running water/spotless restrooms when camping, right? ** Park a block or so from the trailhead. Don't make the same mistake we did and park downhill from the trailhead vs. uphill from it. The hike was completely worth it. We were lucky enough to snag the campsite that was right by the view of the SGV/Greater Los Angeles Area. We were lucky enough to come when it was overcast/cold, so we didn't have a problem with bugs or rattlesnakes, though we did see a couple of frogs. Our group hung a couple of hammocks up and enjoyed the quick getaway/backdrop of city lights into the night. Henninger Flats gets four "knopes" (ala my 'Parks and Rec' list) in my book. read more

Henninger Flats Campground - Hiking Near Me - Altadena, California

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Closed for Covid. They say they probably won't open until August. Sigh. I really don't understand campgrounds being closed for this kind of thing. read more

Am I the only one who leaves reviews in the que for a few years since this one has been there since 2010 November 3, 2010? One of the best things about this hike is how quickly you get up about everything. This hike is very significant in that the first time my wife and I did this hike we were not married yet. We started at 6 AM and we climbed and climbed and climbed in about 30 minutes we were literally above the clouds. Being a local hike and one of our favorites we've done this many times with the hiking group or just alone with the dogs with the baby or just the two of us. We actually mentioned this during our wedding ceremony this one moment we first did the hike we were above the clouds and we realized that it was a metaphor for our entire life and all our successes reaching out becoming this amazing. This hike really is nothing extraordinary we are climbing up the fire road for approximately 2 and half miles reaching Henninger Flats Campground at the end of it in just under an hour if you're going at a good rate. One of the highlights really is getting up to check out the museum at the visitor center seeing the stuff wildlife and the topographical map with many trails and see how you can connect them. Traveling past here to idlehour campground is a great hike or even going on to inspiration point after that to complete the loop that we do with our hiking club every year 17 miles total (coming up December 16th, 2012 we will do this again). For the Henninger Flats Hike Stats:5.4 miles roundtrip with 1,360 elevation gain/loss Mostly exposed so sunscreen is recommended and plenty of water. See ya on the trail read more

This was a great place to take the family on a weekend. Finding Parking was not bad. We will come back here again.

2302 Crescent Dr. Altadena, CA 91001 This is the approximate address where I parked before walking down Pinecrest Dr. to the beginning of the Mt. Wilson Toll Road that leads up to Henninger Flats instead of starting from the Eaton Canyon Nature Center. Just be wary of signs that don't allow any parking on the weekends. The hike itself is one long fire road without any cover so remember your sunscreen and hat since the sun can get pretty intense. It's a constant incline all the way to the top so I got a good workout from the trek. This is a very easy, manageable hike for anyone! You get some really cool views of the Altadena and Pasadena area and it's pretty easy to make out Downtown LA in the far distance. I did not expect to find people camping up at the top and it seems like a great spot to get away from the busyness of LA! Last tip: The gate for the fire road gets locked after sundown and my friend told me she had to climb through a hole in the fence one time when she got locked in. Just watch out for the sunlight, otherwise you might have to end up doing the same! read more

Henninger Flats Campground - Cool stone bench at the top! - Hiking Near Me - Altadena, California

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No shade on this trek and parking is best around the residential area surrounding the park Enter from the Easton canyon side for best access to the 2.5 m one way trail Good views (not as grand as echo mountain) but slightly easier than echo mountain as well read more

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I Yelped Eaton Canyon because I heard so many wonderful things about this waterfall etc... When my friend and I got to Eaton Canyon we noticed how busy it was so we took the high road, literally. We did not go up the paved path, we hiked the big incline to Mt. Wilson. This hike is pretty much up all hill with a few stops along the way and benches for those that need the rest. Lots of bugs when you get up to Henniger Flats, lots and lots of bugs. We also saw two deer and a baby rattlesnake. The restrooms were out of order and the outhouses were absolutely disgusting. There is this little trail behind the fire watch command post where there are some great views and you might encounter some wildlife like we did. Happy Trails! read more

Henninger Flats Campground - Baby rattlesnake - Hiking Near Me - Altadena, California

It's been years since I tackled the Mt. Wilson Toll Road on a mountain bike, and it still stands out as one of the toughest trails I've been on. The standout feature I remember is Henninger Flats. Henninger Flats is 2.5 uphill miles from the trailhead. Put your bike in granny gear, or close to it. The trail is just what this Northern California boy thought the San Gabriels would be: dry, rocky, shrubbery, HOT. When I got to the Henninger Flats sign, I was surprised to find a large, flat area with lots of shady trees, and developed! Yep, buildings, piped water, restrooms, picnic tables, the works. Far prettier than what I expected. It's not just a rest area. It's the kind of place I'd love to throw up a tent and stay for a few days. The problem is getting there, of course. This is not the sidewalk on the sand in Santa Monica, it's a true butt-kicker. 2.5 miles seems longer when you're going uphill in the Los Angeles sun. Bring lots of water and trail mix. Hiking, I'd give it at least one hour one-way, and only a little less than that on a mountain bike. Henninger Flats is a fond memory of mine, but be prepared if you go. If you think you're halfway up (and you're not), huffing and puffing with a parched throat, wondering how much longer, don't say you weren't warned ;-) read more

I love, love, love Henninger Flats. We did this hike in October and we started the hike around 5pm. We watched the sunset on the way up and made it to Henninger Flats right at dusk, then hiked down in the dark (DARK!)... and it was INCREDIBLE. I've been to Eaton Canyon countless times in the last couple of years and this last October was my first trip up to Henninger... I really don't know why we waited so long. The hike up is switch back after switch back with great views over the Valley, and on a clear day you can see the ocean. Every few switch backs there is a bench that you could take a little break on. It's 2.5 miles up and once you reach Henninger its a different world.. all of a sudden there are trees and a beautiful campground. There is running water and bathrooms! We didn't stay the night up there that night... Although there were some campers... we plan to go up soon and stay a night and hike up to Mt. Wilson the next day. For those that live in the Pasadena area.. if you look up near Mt Wilson and Eaton Canyon and you notice a patch of trees on a hill waaay up there... thats Henninger Flats! I had always wondered what was up there, mystery solved! More info here: http://www.simpsoncity.com/hiking/henninger.html read more

Henninger Flats Campground - Dusk at Henninger Flats - Hiking Near Me - Altadena, California

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This trail is a great little work out, I've been here numerous times with friends although we always took the alternate path (the steep incline trail adjacent to the Roosevelt entrance called Walnut canyon). The trail is a continuous linear incline with a grade of around 20%~30% and significantly higher if you take the trail I mentioned earlier. If you plan on hiking this before or after hours I suggest you park on Roosevelt ave & N Altadena Dr. and go through the hole in the fence (literally). If you're going on normal hours or you just want a longer hike you can park on the Pinecrest Dr. entrance or at the Eaton Canyon Nature Center. There are basically two trailheads, the Pinecrest Dr. (bridge) and the Eaton canyon trail (follow the trail until you reach the bridge and there's a short trail to the right that leads up to the bridge) and then there's the aforementioned trail which is basically adjacent to the Roosevelt entrance. As someone else mentioned before there are 4 benches in total with the distance decreasing linearly. There is pretty much no shade on this trail so watch out if you're going to hike this during a sunny/hot day. There's not much to see on the trail itself but you get a nice view of the SGV and the river bed. Once you get to the top there's a little museum/nature center, restrooms, and water fountains. There's also a lot of trees but that's to expected from a tree nursery haha. read more

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Started this hike around 1015 AM on a Cloudy Saturday from the Eaton Canyon Parking lot headed north. Soon, a creekbed appeared, which requires crossing at one point or another. After hiking another quarter mile on the right side of the creekbed, there is a spilt on the trail along with a sign indicating "Henniger Flats", but no arrow directing. After asking an elderly Korean lady, my group went left into the hill. The trial becomes very steep very quickly and is definitely strenuous for the average person. After several turns into the hill, one is greeted with some stunning views of the Pasadena area below. This steep trail continues for few more switchbacks/vista-points until it meets up with the Mt Wilson Toll Road. Mt Wilson Toll Road used to be a road for cars, so the path is wide and much less steep than the previous section. My group traversed to the campsite in quick fashion at this point, as the trail is very manageable. The Campground offers park benches for lunch, some bathrooms, views of the San Gabriel Valley, etc. There is a Fire Station there as well as a mini-museum, that has some historical artifacts. Even with breaks, it should not take longer than 1hr 40min from parking lot to Campground. The way down is a breeze as well, one can stop by Eaton Canyon waterfall to get a more complete experience. Overall, a fun intermediate hike, that is great for all levels of hiker, but the trail itself can get a bit boring after the initial steep part. read more

Henninger Flats Campground - sign at destination. - Hiking Near Me - Altadena, California

This hike was intense you are at an incline the whole way up... I'm amazed that I made it and didn't give up... I highly recommend going early like at 6am the sun gets too intense for me. read more

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Review of the hike, not as much for the campground itself. I started from the Pinecrest gate instead of the Eaton Nature Center just to avoid the pointless walk on the Eaton Canyon Trail. Unfortunately, it looks like the neighbors dont like the weekend crowds because there is a restriction of NO PARKING ON WEEKENDS and 2 Hrs on WEEKDAYS. But you can drive up the street where the restriction ends I suppose. The hike is very similar to Echo Mountain on the Sam Merrill trail or Verdugo Mountain on the fire road. Very windy up the side of the mountain and well maintained fire road. After about half way, you can spot the patch of evergreen trees at the top, which seem FAR AWAY. Thankfully there are some benches, but on a sunny day, I'd rather find solace in the very few spots of shade behind a tall tree. The 2 mile marker is easy to miss, but even still, you got another 1/5 to go and is probably the hardest part. The view along the way is great, minus the smog of course. But once you FINALLY get to the top, its even more amazing. Crazy that there is a small pine forest 2600 feet over LA. The smell of the pine trees is so refreshing along with the gentle breeze. Very peaceful. There are multiple camping spots with picnic tables, and what I think are some grills. It looks like its open to camping, I so no restrictions other than no fires. The benches along the edge are a pleasure to sit and contemplate as you look down and see cars on the 210 march like ants. Took me 1:40 (with a lot of breaks) and almost an hour to walk back. I wish I had time to go and relax at Eaton Falls after, I would recommend that. read more

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With this hiking trail, free, easily accessible to anyone in LA County---WHO NEEDS A GYM MEMEBRSHIP! I've been hiking this trail for many many times already, its just that this was the only time i have got the chance to pen down my review. amazing trail, absolutely challenging, especially is you run it to the top (You might need to go to a masseurs though after), and picturesque. way tooooooooo hot because its too out-in-the-open though, but who cares! smother yourself with an SPF 1000 read more

Henninger Flats Campground - Hiking Near Me - Altadena, California

Heninger Flats was one of my favorite places to climb with my mountain bike. Why? Because it's safe to bike alone(there are always plenty of hikers). It is steep, (2,600 ft elevation) so the ascent is a bit of a workout. Since the last time I've been here though, i noticed the difference in the air quality. Hikers with dogs don't pick up their dog poop. It is all over the trail and it stinks!! I hope there is a clean-up group that would do aomething about this problem. Or at least put up a sign and dog pop bags the hikers can utilize.. read more

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If you ever need to destress from everyday life, just come here. I've been here several times, day hiking and backpacking. Park in the residential area and it's a nice neighborhood. Get there early as possible. Most important tip I can give is this... bring water!!! There's no running water and no place to filter water. They're in the process of running water but I forget when the project will be completed. When I go backpacking I bring 3 liters to drink and cook with, along with a frozen bottle of ice tea. They have a vending machine at the museum/ visitor center on the campground and soda is $1.00. Personally I think this trail is moderate considering it's all uphill on the fire road. Almost 3 miles to the campground. Mostly in the sun and some shade. There's 3 benches along the way up. Once you get up there, there's few areas to camp. Pick the lower camp. It's the best view. Don't forget to check in with the firefighters, if you're doing overnight. Yes, it's owned by LA County Fire Dept. Speaking of firefighters... Hands down to the best camp hosts ever!!! If you ever get a chance to meet Firefighter Anderson, he's awesome!!! Very friendly and helpful. The campground has fire stoves. The firefighters will help you get free firewood from the place where they keep all the firewood or you can grab as much as you need. Make sure you take the fire permit test online if you're bringing portable camp stove. There's also bear lockers so you don't have to bring a bear cannister. They have benches and plenty of shade in case you wanna chill in your hammock. I haven't ventured away from the campground but they said there's some trails to go hiking beyond the campground. Always take precaution and be aware of your surroundings. The best part about this campground is it's free to camp!!! First come, first serve. If you have any other questions, just go to the visitor center and ask away. Enjoy the view of LA!!! read more

One of my most favorite hiking spots :) Not the most scenic (there are views on the way to the top), but definitely a great butt workout. Plenty of switchbacks and elevation to get your heart pumping and your thighs sore. Plus, at the top of the hike, you get rewarded with a gorgeous view & a lovely picnic area. The Pinecrest trail head is not very obvious (just a metal gate, the actual "Henninger Flats" sign isn't seen until the end of the hike, so don't try looking for the sign as the beginning of the trail head). I would say if you are slightly in shape, this trail is not difficult at all. There is no (or very little) shade at all (until the top) so during the summer, you definitely want to go really early and bring plenty of water. The best things about the trail is that it isn't crowded (even on a Saturday!), and it is a really straightforward dirt path trail (yay to not getting lost!). read more

Just camped there last night for the first time and had a pretty great time overall. Pros: -Amazing view -Staff available 24/7 at visitor center -Lots of places to explore while you're up there, I was worried about getting bored but I never was -Even on a Saturday there was only one other person with us at the lower campground, two at the upper lever, and none at the highest (Fuji) Cons: -It gets FREEZING. I was wearing a shirt, a jacket, a heavy coat, warm pants, and two pairs of socks with two blankets and I couldn't sleep the whole night because of how cold I was -I was really disappointed at how much you could still hear traffic, helicopters, and sirens -There were many loud hikers coming up to our site throughout the day, which is understandable but if you want more peace and quiet I'd suggest staying in the upper campgrounds -No restrooms, outhouses only -Campsites aren't designated or marked so someone ended up setting up camp right next to us which was kind of annoying Overall I was still very happy with this FREE campground. The hike up there is really tough when you're carrying all of your gear but the way down is easy. read more

Although it's first come first serve, most people come here to hike, so the campground wasn't even half full the day we were there. If visibility permits, you get to see the entire city. Absolutely no water so be prepared. There are fire grates, and you can use the branches and trunks on the ground. read more

The trail starts at the Eaton Canyon Nature Center; however, you veer off to Walnut Trail and up. You'll avoid most of the casual hikers going to Eaton Canyon falls and make your way up an incline. The initial incline is a bit challenging and most of the hike is switchbacks with minimal/no shade. The end of the trail has picnic tables, benches, and gorgeous trees that provide shade. The hike is worth it in the end. You'll see the city from above, which is cool but not the most gorgeous view. Coming down, I somehow missed the original trail and went further towards Eaton Canyon. There's no way of getting lost here as there are tons of people and you'll eventually end up at the bottom. If you're hiking this length, you might as well visit the falls too. read more

I cant believe Eaton Canyon/Razorback Trail has so many reviews while Henniger Flats has so little. It's practically the same place.. Anyway, I've done the Eaton Canyon waterfall trail many times before and I didnt even know about the campgrounds. I always went under the bridge instead of up it. A good buddy of mine brought me up this way instead and I'm surprised at how different of a trail it was even though it was practically in the same area. You can park near the gate as many other Yelpers have mentioned then just cross the bridge and head up the hill. This way is more of an up hill fire road. The path is pretty straight forward so you wont get lost easily. There's no rivers to cross so you wont get wet. There's no giant waterfall to stare at at the end of the trail, but most of the hike you get a very nice view down of Eaton Canyon. The end reward is you see some awesome camp ground in a forest-like atmosphere. Walk to the side of the hills and you have a scenic view of the city. There's even benches along the way at scenic points. Very awesome! Another great thing was public restrooms at the campgrounds. Plus one * for my bladder! read more

So you are an idiot and want to trudge up a hillside under a blistering sun and a sky that shows NO MERCY? ok well then this is the place for you, especially during summer =D In other words there isn't much shade on this one, regardless of your route. It is a nice hike, but I bet it's a lot more fun when done at a time other than the middle of August... Ok so there are multiple ways to get up to Henniger Flats. I believe that the most common is to park at Eaton Canyon Natural Area and then hike to the bridge and take the firetrail up. The other primary option is to go up Walnut Canyon. So I went up the Walnut Canyon route with a friend 3 liters of water in my hydration pack and a few snack bars. Little did I know what all I was getting into. The parking lot at Eaton Canyon is fairly well known as is the flat trudging trail towards the mouth of the canyon from the lot. About 1/2 to the way to the bridge, there is a right turn that states its Walnut Canyon. That is where you want to go. Yes it is no longer flat and easy. Yes it is a Pain in the azz. Yes you want to use hiking poles. No you don't want to dilly dally and take the easy way. Yes you will feel the burn (sun and workout) before long. So you essentially go up a number of switchbacks and gain at least a thousand feet before you hit the fireroad. Just know that there is a copse of trees right near the junction that you can take a little break in and otherwise its back out into the blistering sun. The fireroad then goes up the rest of the route to the flats a ways further down the path. However the fireroad doesn't rise anywhere near as fast as the switchbacks did. In a few places the mtn provides an inkling of shade in the morning and there are a few random trees here and there for a brief shaded break. When you get to the top, there is a potable water spigot right behind the outhouses. So you can cool down after having hiked up about 3.25 miles up without many stops (unless you are smarter than I am, or the old dude who passed us going barefoot without a water bottle SMH). So it took us about 1.45min to 2 hrs to get to the top. We made it down in about 40 after enjoying a nice break at the top to look out over So Cal and rest in the shade. Overall this was a great hike, especially if you can handle the heat (during summer). It will get your azz in better shape if you do it a number of times in a row, guaranteed. So enjoy it, camp at the flats if you want (yes it is a real campground with a ranger station, bbq pits, and firerings), just go for the view, or something different just being outside for a while and off of the couch... I bet you will like it =D read more

Didn't stay here to camp, but used the service roads to the campground for hiking. We started the ordinary hike in the dirt parking area for the busy Eaton Canyon Trail. Beginning at the paved Eaton Canyon Nature Center is possible, but parking is usually full. Using Walnut Canyon to connect Eaton Canyon Trail to the Mt Wilson Toll Road can significantly shorten the hike, but it was closed due to disrepair. Eaton and Mt. Wilson eventually cross near a bridge which we were obviously forced to use. The longer and the flatter route along Mt Wilson to the campground was 7.7-miles roundtrip with a 1600' elevation gain. The campsite didn't feel detached from the city due to the short distance and the many man-made structures like the Henniger Flats Museum, forest fire station, retired fire lookout, and relics from the Mt. Lowe Railway. Reaching a visitor center at the end of a hike was a quirky reversal, but the museum had examples of local minerals, pinecones, birds, mammals, and glassware in the form of bottles and utility pole connectors. Only reaching 2530' above sea level, the views aren't that grand plus power lines obstructed. The forest was common brush with few trees and flowers. There was a general lack of wildlife likely due to the heavily trafficked trails. The roads continue to higher locations which should improve the situation. read more