The trail was pretty easy. I showed up at 6am on sunday 3-29-26 and parking was already getting…read morefull. When i left at 9:30am the parking was completely packed and people were parking on the side of the road. Mostly shaded hike besides beginning/end

It's been years since I've been to this hike. I was always hesitant to return to sturtevant falls…read morebecause parking is super packed on the weekends unless you go there super early. I made it a mission to arrive there by 6 AM to guarantee myself a parking spot and it was still a little dark so I brought my flashlight. The view of the falls was so pretty! I was the only one there by 7 and a lot of people were hiking to the falls when I was returning to the parking lot. Glad I revisited this trail again.

Very beautiful place. Just an hour's drive from La Crescenta, much closer than Big Bear…read more There's still snow there, the road is clear, and along the way, there's a mountain stream and a reservoir where you can stop. Download a map in advance, as there's no signal there. There's a small lake where you can take a walk, and a forest with a cozy family café where you can grab a snack.

Plenty hiking opportunities, refreshing air, and a nice scenic drive in. Be sure to have a full…read moretank, as there is no gas services. There is a cafe/ convenience store across from the campground where you can also purchase your day use park pass for $5. I experienced a foggy day, which gave a cooling effect to my hiking. Restrooms are vault toilets, so unpleasant smells and a mess are a given. The lake has lots of swampy algae, therefore not appropriate for swimming or water sports. However, they do allow fishing with permit. I am a nature enthusiast and it was saddening to see the lack of humans respect for nature, with graffiti and trash in some areas of the park. Crystal lake definitely could use more funding to preserve its natural beauty. The loveliest part is listening to woodpeckers as they work, watching an eagle fly above with a fish in its talons, and treading quietly not to startle the squirrel who is crossing my path. I suggest picking up a map with hiking trails from the rangers post or convenience store, before planning your day!

Loved this 1.8 miles hike. Lots of trees for shade, distinct trails to walk. The Waterfalls was…read moresmall but beautiful. We saw deer, squirrels , lizards , snake and butterflies. Recommended hiking shoes and sticks . It wasn't rocky but there were areas steep and slippery. It was a very good experience.

I visited Monrovia Canyon Park for the first time with a friend and had a great experience. We…read moreparked at the first lot ($5) and started our hike from there. We made it to the waterfall, continued to the Nature Center, and then looped back to the parking area about 3.3 miles total, which took us around 2 hours. The hike has a steady uphill on the way in, but nothing too difficult just be ready for the incline. There isn't much shade along the trail, but the waterfall at the end is definitely worth it. We were told by other hikers that it's even more beautiful after it rains, so I'd love to come back and see it then. A ranger also mentioned that the trail can extend up to 7 miles if you want a longer hike. There are restrooms at the entrance parking lot and at the Nature Center, and both were very clean, which is always a plus. Overall, a great spot for a moderate hike with a rewarding view at the end!

An easy 3.3 mile out and back trail in the city of Duarte. The trail is popular to bikers and dog…read morewalkers. I noticed all dogs are on leash, which is very good. The trail is separated from the busy street so its safe to walk around and enjoy the park. Lots of shaded walk way. Nice view of the mountains as well. Family friendly.

It's an enjoyable trail, or more like a neighborhood stroll to get your exercise in. It's not a…read moresuper charming park, but it's accessible if you're looking to have a quick workout. It is mostly paved walkways and a sandy road, for you to walk through. The trail itself is about 3.3 miles long, but honestly...only the first mile and a quarter is worth the walk. It is very dry or desert-like in the middle. There's not much to see in between that stretch. And your foot and knees will hurt walking on the paved walkways. There's also many cracks and raises along the path, so may be challenging for anyone with mobility or may need wheelchair access. Street parking mostly and as of the time of this post, the sidewalk entrance is closed, so just walk through the grass.

Great quick hike up to "sunset bench" ... a little less than 3 miles round trip (2.67 miles)…read more Entrance as others have mentioned is tricky to spot. Go up private looking drives with a few mailboxes out front. Brick pavers and a beautiful mid century modern home on the right is the entrance area.

Well maintained trail, it's a short hike with a steep uphill climb for a good part of it…read more It was a clear day so you can see all the way to DTLA! There's plenty of deer around so don't bother them and keep your distance. Parking on the street, be mindful of the neighborhood steet signs as the entrance to the trail is very suburban.

The hike is beautiful. It was the first time I've felt the energy from the mountains, the wild life…read moreis stunning, and driving further north east deeper into the mountains is worth the trip. I highly recommend if you have children/grandchildren or wanna take the friends out to clear their head and reset the mind for the week, bring them here.

This is the bottom of the trail, had a lot of fun hiking near "the bridge to nowhere"read more

A really simple straight forward trail. It's around 2.5-2.8 miles out and back depending on how far…read moreyou want to go. Large pathway and fairly flat. Went on a Saturday morning and only saw one other person. Pretty large parking in front and overall a nice walk. Wear bug spray, there flowing water which allows mosquitos to be in the area.

Easy hike, lots of entry points to River. The family and I had a great time. I'd recommend wearing…read morebug spray and bringing water shoes if you plan to take a dip. It was quite dirty with people leaving trash everywhere (so sad)! A few of us plan to return and clean it (we didn't have the time or supplies to do a deep cleaning of the place yesterday). I will say that the only thing that was strange was toward the end of the day (approx 5pm), there were two elderly ladies walking. One of them had long curly gray/white hair with the most creepiest looking face (best described as a corpse with yellowish eyes). The family (and kids) who seen her all got very creeped out. It didn't look like they were going to film anything. Anyone else ever see her???

This is the trail if you're looking for a crazy non stop incline. The entire trail is a 11 mile…read moreround trip. There are some parts that are gravelly. Be very careful to avoid injury. Should wear hiking shoes with traction. There's no shade so make sure you bring a hat and wear lots of sunscreen. Insect spray and net are high recommended. You will see army of Gnats flying everywhere. You will hit 3500+ elevation and it's a great trail for if you want to build that leg muscle and burn more calories. Pretty straight forward trail just one way up you will see a split when you're near the top. Make sure you make a right and a quick left if you're going towards mount bliss. Parking: I usually park at Encanto Park and walk towards the trail, about half a mile down.

Great hike since the beginning straight to business I would recommend to try this hike bring lots…read moreof water

As of October 2025, the price of admission has increased to $15. At least it was for the weekend of…read morethe annual dragon boat festival. Many cars were lined up before the recreation area opened for the day, so it took a while to find parking. Many teams found their patch of grass to pitch up tents for the better half of the day, while it seems those who weren't part of the festival were partitioned off. From around 7am to 4pm, a lively environment of DJs and live music, jersey vendors, drumming competitions, costume contests, and even Zumba, a nice mix of distractions between all the waiting between heats. The park's maintenance team were on hand cleaning the restrooms, emptying trash cans, and driving to and from whenever they were needed. Some of the dragon boat teams and vendors also drove into the booth areas which made it kinda dangerous with so many people. There was even a close call of an infant almost getting run over. In terms of dragon boat, participating in 250m sprints was a positive experience. Much different sense of urgency compared to the usual 500m.

Peaceful, Quiet, plenty space to Walk , Ride Bikes, Jogging, Picnics . Only $8 to get in if you…read morequalify or you could buy a yearly pass that's good for all State Parks.

Great way to spend a late afternoon. Bring a hiking stick for balance and leverage as coming back…read moredown can at time be a bit steep and slippery. Also use bug repellent because chances are you will be bit. The views are spectacular. Well worth the hike. It's definitely a good workout both in the going and coming back. Time well spent!

The harder the climb, the better the view. Now let's begin this hiking adventure review…read more Mystic Canyon Trail is short trailhead with a steady elevation gain of 700 ft that reaches 1,908 feet (hoisted flag point). This trail's degree of difficulty is considered Moderate albeit challenging. The trail is well kept and easy to navigate with little pockets of tree shades along the way. Hence, a hat and sunscreen and plenty of water are recommended. Furthermore, this M.C. trail interconnects with Lower Monroe and Punk Out trails. I proceeded further to 2,069 ft of the Punk Out trail. Views are amazing! Going back to the parking lot was a breeze. Parking lot is not big but can hold ~25 vehicles. Overall, this hiking trail is great for experienced hikers, family and dogs.