Long and difficult hike but worth the view! About 10 miles…read moreround trip from Cobb Estate. Bring a hat, lots of water, snacks, sunscreen, and BUG SPRAY. Me and my husband started around 7:30am and finished the whole hike around 1pm at a steady pace with about an hour break when we got to Inspiration Point. The hike from Cobb Estate to Echo Mountain was a breeze for us, but the hike from there to Inspiration was a whole other story. I recommend wearing long pants as the second half of the hiking path isn't as clear and pretty narrow on some parts. We took our time and treaded lightly but still got some minor scratches on our legs from all of the branches and leaves. My husband started getting irritated from walking into all of the spider webs lol. Not sure if the actual hike was 2 miles from Echo Mountain because it felt so much longer than that. We started getting really tired near the end from all the incline. We almost gave up until my husband saw the view of Inspiration Point. Once we got there, the views made it all worth it! Would we do it again? Maaaaaybe lol.

Updated review: I've been to Inspiration Point twice now, most recently after the great Los Angeles…read more"blizzard" of early 2023. And how super intense and cool (figuratively and literally) it was! Total about 10mi from the top of Lake - Echo Mountain - Castle Canyon trail - Inspiration Point - Sam Merrill trail - Echo Mountain and back down to Lake. DEFINITELY a strenuous hike and would highly recommend hiking poles, sunscreen, water, and snacks! The view is incredible, especially with tons of fresh snow everywhere. Hiked this early March 2023 and the Castle Canyon trail leading off from Echo Mountain (a decent hike in its own right) is pretty challenging, if not a bit brutal in some areas: slippery snow, downed trees and bushes blocking the path, and a heavy incline. Again, highly recommend poles. Once at Inspiration Point the view is phenomenal. The Pacific Ocean, Palos Verdes, Catalina Island, and even Anaheim and Irvine are all visible from the top, and downtown LA too of course. Lots of picnic benches and photo-op-worthy view finders for major Southern California sites. Gorgeous San Gabriel mountains in the background. The Sam Merrill trail leading down the backside of the mountain (and then curving back around to the south/west) is much more tame (but still a bit precarious with 2+ feet of snow) and very sun-exposed all the way back to Echo Mountain. All in all probably one of the more butt-kicking Los Angeles hike. Takes about 4-5hrs round trip depending on your pace.

A friend and I wanted to go hiking the morning of July 4th. First, we went to Sturdivant Falls,…read morebut there was a locked gate that met us and many many other cars! I found out about Gabrielino trail from Yelp! (Thank goodness for reviews) The address led us to a small parking lot, but as we walked towards the trail, I realized that there was a much larger parking lot, but not quite sure how to get to it. The trail was very beautiful and an easy hike (Nothing to steep, unless you go off the trail down towards the stream). We saw a horse and lots of dogs. The surprising part was all of the streams throughout the trail. It made for a very peaceful and tranquil walk! I was grateful for a good amount of shade that is along the trail as well! Although it's a bit of a drive from my normal hiking areas, I would definitely love to come back here for a walk or run!

First time visiting this trail, and I brought my 11-year-old daughter along. It reminded me a lot…read moreof the Sturtevant Falls hike, but without the steep climbs, mostly flat and easy to enjoy. There are plenty of great spots to stop and take in the river, and we even came across an area with hundreds of baby frogs. The highlight was spotting a bear I'll definitely be coming back to run the trail on my own and explore farther in. One of the best things about this hike is that you can make it as long or as short as you want. You don't have to go very far to experience the beautiful scenery. It's a great outing for all ages, lots of small kids and older adults were enjoying the trail as well.

Had so much fun hiking here. We climbed to the peak of a couple mountains, made it to two stone…read morepiles. Our starting point was at the opposite way of the loop, the trail wasn't very clear but we kept moving forward. We began hiking around 9 AM made 4 or 5 stops and finished at 5:40PM, I started tracking the distance roughly by the 3rd hour of our hike and it marked 14.7 miles. Most of the signs up were all rusty and unreadable. The combination of strong and cold winds, the rocky trail, a loose sandy ground on the steep areas were to die for- literally. Some parts were incredibly challenging but it was an exhilarating experience.

Will never give nature less than 5 stars but this was a CHALLENGING hike. So beautiful and plenty…read moreof rest points to break up the hike but man was I feeling it afterwards. We packed plenty of water and snacks and followed the trail etiquette(downhill hikers mover over to uphill hikers, ect) Our figure 8 route included: 2.5 miles to echo Another 2 to inspiration point where we sat and ate a quick lunch- love the telescopes all over!! Another 1.5 to Mt Lowe! This part was definitely the hardest for me, quite a bit of elevation gain in a small space but I did it! The swing wasn't at the top but still a gorgeous view. 10/10 would hike again and a great conditioning hike for Mt Wilson!

We started the hike at 8am It was perfect weather, we got in through the bridge up to Henninger…read moreFlat is around 3 miles then is another 3 miles up to Idlehour Camp Trail. It's so worth it to the beautiful creek and the sound of the water is so relaxing. Recommended to bring mosquito repellent and cover your legs or you will end up all scratched at idlehour trail. Enjoy the trails and please leave no trace. In total we did 12.1miles in 5 hours

If you've ever seen those poor souls trapped or worse--injured-- on the Eaton a canyon waterfall,…read moretrying to comb up and over, know now and forever that there is a safer way to access upper Eaton Canyon. While the hike is approximately 13 miles round trip, the journey is worth the effort. Idlehour campground is nestled in a higher elevation section of Eaton Canyon, approximately 3 miles past Lower Henninger Flats. About 1 mile past the fire station at Henninger, look for a small wooden footbridge on the left of the trail and signs for Idlehour campground. This small trail off the toll road heads down into Eaton behind Henninger. While there is a lot of poison oak, the riparian flora and fauna are quite different than what one finds in lower Eaton near the white bridge. Bay trees, stinging nettle, willows, and abundant wildflowers in season color and perfume the landscape. There are a few primitive campsites here, with small wood burning stoves. Fire permits are required, and while you might get away with sleeping the night here, it's also best to make reservations. There are no restroom or trash facilities here, so plan on packing out what you pack in. Near the water, various insects, spiders, and other bugs like millipedes are abundant. California tree frogs, California newts (one of the most toxic creatures on earth!), and small fish can be found in the creek. Songbirds and raptors are occasionally seen. Large mammals like deer, coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, and bears are generally in the neighborhood, so store food safely away from camp... That old Bot Scout trick of hanging it from a branch at least 10 feet off the ground works! Idlehour can also be accessed from Inspiration Point via the Idlehour trail, which begins roughly where the Sam Merrill trail ends about 0.3 miles past Inspiration point via the Castle Canyon trail. All trails are marked with new wooden signs... Although finding your way back to Henninger via the Idlehour trail from Inspiration Point can be a little tricky. Head east from the Idlehour campground sign and start heading uphill. This is not a particularly difficult hike, but it's length makes it a moderate effort. Bring extra water, maybe a light snack, and plan for a few buggy spots, especially during the summer. The gnats can get thick.

It's the @light_skin_dragon blasting off to the wilderness where I belong. I am going through…read moresomething personally where I won't speak of. My co-worker/friend hit me up saying let's go hiking. I was like bet. That would take my mind away from what I'm thinking about. So I discovered this on my app that I pay for. And I told him about it so we meet up and we came. I had my eyes on this place for a while because I haven't seen a water fall since I went hiking in Alaska. So he thought we were gonna do a Griffith hike but no this one was more intense. We have to walk into the water to get to the other side and btw the trail itself is like a mile so it literally is like a hour so together if you go there and back. We met a nice man there as well he went with his wife and 8 kids and I mean the kids were you g with 2 older children. So that inspired me to come and bring my daughter. Btw parking you need a parking pass which cost 5 bucks but we didn't get one and it was okay but just letting you know there are two different parking spots as well we parked higher up where we had to walk down to the trail.

I have been here many times. Is a short hike with a beautiful waterfall…read more. Don't forget to bring your adventures pass or you will get ticketed... Is an easy hike family friendly you might get your feet wet, you will pass about 4 creeks . Enjoy the trails and please leave no trace.

This is one of the most amazing hikes in LA- this canyon in the springtime is magical. And it's…read morenot crowded either, due to a few factors: it's kind of a longish hike, there's a walk just to get to the trailhead (unless of course you have a key to the gate, like me) and taking the little-known shortcut requires balls of steel and exposure to poison oak. But once you get past this, there's a well-constructed, easy to follow trail that takes you through deserts, rain forests, dripping grottoes, majestic cliffs and waterfalls, gold mines, and more. And all of this is just a few miles from civilization. If you're lucky (!) you might see deer, foxes, bears, bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, hawks, crows, and skunks. And maybe a tarantula! If you go, please don't litter, clean up after your animal, and do not leave your toilet paper, diaper, or poop bag next to the trail or the creek. That's just gross, and believe me, you will ruin the day for a lot of people. Pack it out! I don't have any pics of the canyon past the waterfall, these pics are just a taste of what you'll see!

This hike had a lot to offer. Pretty green mostly covered trails a lot of crossing water when it…read morehad rained before. About a 6-7mile hike round trip depending on your starting point we started around Altadena area by fair oaks street. Bring- a lot of water depending on how you handle hiking Adventure pass is needed to park I don't use them but some walking / trek sticks could be useful in some parts. I'm a large guy it took a lot out of me to get there it's a moderate to hard hike for me. With more exercise and a few more hikes under my belt to get back into shape I would hike it again. A lot of connecting places to hike through to as well. Echo mountain connection - inspiration point .

This is an awesome trail!!! Will definitely come back. Parking was difficult but it was worth the…read morestruggle. The trail is pretty easy but it's described as moderate. I love that there are so many different trails you can take depending on how long you want to hike. Views are nice and the trail is clean. No shade though.

This by far one of my favorite local hiking trails. It will definitely test your resolve with…read moreunrelenting inclines that will have you gasping for air. Once I conquered the ascent, I was rewarded with jaw-dropping views that made the struggle worth it. Pro tip: go early, like 6am to avoid the crowds, bring extra water, a sense of adventure, and a reminder that you're doing this because you are in California and this what Californians do. IYKYK!! Five stars for the scenery, and fresh air. Oh yeah when you see Gumby your almost there.

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

Nice beginner destination for a backpacking trip…read more 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.

One of my favorite trails of the Angeles. It's less crowded than Echo Mountain or Eton. It's longer…read morethan Millard or Monrovia. You can couple it with Millard falls to see water if you like, otherwise you are up on the ridge. It's single track and there are occasional mountain bikers to beware of. Otherwise, on a weekday it's solitude and beauty. I would say it's a moderate hike depending on how high you go up. Beware there is a lot of poison oak. In the spring and early summer there are a lot of gorgeous flowers. Enjoy!!!

Five stars for the view at the top!! So beautiful! You can see all off LA…read more The hike itself is pretty challenging. Most people would be able to do this, but it has quite a few steep uphill portions. Definitely wear hiking/trail shoes. We went in the morning, so most of the climb up was shaded, which was nice. Then we took the paved path back down to the start. You can spending 2+ hours out here, taking about an hour to get to the main peak area with a few picnic tables. Would be a great spot for have lunch or a snack! Then there is further spots you can continue on to. The trail is not heavily trafficked, but they were a number of mountain bikes. Keep you eyes open for them speeding down the mountain! I would absolutely hike here again, great workout & beautiful views. (And easy parking compared to many places in LA!)

I remember going to this place when I was young I was a teenager and I would go with my friends…read moreinstead of going to school on a short day and I saw the broken down mansion and I am not lying I saw a harpy eagle there! It was wild it didn't have a tag it didn't have anything on its legs it was just perched on one of the brick walls that was outside of the mansion and it looked down at me with those black eyes I'm telling you the devil is there. It is creepy as hell

This place is very pretty and hidden. It's a great place to go for a hike any time of the day. Be…read morecareful with the snakes tho.