Great hike with nice views most of the way!…read more It's a nice downhill at the beginning toward the waterfall, but it's definitely challenging on the way back since it's all incline. I recommend bringing a hat since there's not much shade, especially on the way back up. My group purchased our parking pass at a nearby store, but it seems like you can also purchase a parking pass once you're at the top.

Relatively easy hike at about 3.8 miles. I did it with family members of different ages, along with…read moremy 8-year-old golden retriever, and everyone handled it well. The trail is beautiful and mostly shaded, which makes it especially enjoyable. I recommend starting no later than 6:00 a.m. to avoid the heat on the way back. The return portion is mostly uphill, so it's best not to tackle it during the hottest part of the day. You'll also need a parking permit (costs $5) for your vehicle.

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!

Worked on this trail recently with Bear Canyon Trail Crew and had a blast…read more The trail isn't that difficult with a few stream crossings with shallow water lines in February 2026. The trail has some decent shade in some areas, but a lot of exposed areas as well. This trail is secluded from the outside world compared to Chantry Flats and is a perfect day hike to get away from people. Highly recommend coming early to beat the heat and find parking. A day pass or an adventure pass is needed for parking. Beware of poison oak. There's a lot in this area. Would come back!

During a recent weekend backpacking trip with my son and his Boy Scout troop, I enjoyed our first…read morenight of camping at Hoegee's Camp on the Loop Trail. As posted in my other Chantry-esque reviews, I've hiked this area hundreds of times, but always with young kids or inexperienced hikers... thus, we end up at Sturtevant Falls instead of venturing into connected trails. This time, we arrived at the Chantry lot around 6 P.M., hung our Forest Adventure Passes on the rearview mirrors, and backpacked with headlamps into the local hills. At the bottom of the asphalt-paved trail from the parking lot-- just as soon as you cross the footbridge, the trail to Hoegee's branches off to your left. A slow but steady uphill climb saw us arrive at Hoegee's camp in the dark of night. Just a few other folks were availing themselves of campsites, so our group of about 15 made camp, and enjoyed a sack dinner. All trash and food was secured in bear cans (which we brought) and a bear box that was found in the middle of camp near the trail. Plenty of bears in the area at all times, so be bear aware. No, actually, you probably aren't very good at creating a bear hang, and you're doing it wrong. Use the bear box! Plenty of water rushing over the nearby spillway for late winter/early spring was a delightful sound as I fell asleep on my not-entirely flat camp spot selected in the dark. In the morning, we awoke with the morning light to a beautiful canopy of oak trees. After breakfast, we tore down camp quickly, and continued up the loop for Spruce Grove. This hike can be completed in a single day, to be sure... but if you want to stretch it into an overnighter, camping here is free for first-come, first-served folks. Do note that there are no restroom facilities at Hoegee's camp-- so you're going nature potty and/or digging a latrine. Please be sure to move far away from Winter Creek before digging your little hole... everyone downstream thanks you :) If you're doing the day loop, there is a restroom at Spruce Grove, but no running water.

How fortunate we are to live close to truly a magical and extraordinary place! The moment you set…read morefoot on the trail, it's an eye awakening experience and you'll momentarily forget you're still in the Los Angeles County. Yes, the parking is a nightmare but it should be expected on a weekend so your best bet is to arrive early. We wanted to avoid the hassle of fighting over a parking spot so we paid $20 at the deli shop area. If it was anywhere else I wouldn't have paid that much but you guys should've seen the road. Carmageddon '19. There's two waterfalls within the canyon, the Hermit and Sturtevant. The Hermit falls is fairly the smaller one while the Sturtevant is more packed with people hanging around for an afternoon delight of packed lunches. The hike to both falls is enjoyable and tons of greenery to see, you'll also come across mild creeks in between the trails. But the absolute brutal part of this hike is the return back to your car. We're talking about a true form of evil inclining up a hill, vicious steps that seem to make no progress, but just as hard as it is .. the outcome is rewarding when you reach the top.

For a first hike in California, this turned out to be a really great one! The trail isn't too long…read moreand doesn't take too much skill to hike, which makes it a great afternoon trip out. There are a few nice views at the start but the rest of the trail was largely in the woods. And honestly? That's totally fine! It had great shade cover and helped make the whole thing feel peaceful.

This trail is a serious hike into the foothills. The views are stunning, the wildlife is varied…read more You might see bears, deer, bobcats, rattlesnakes, coyotes, even mountain lions. There is very little to no shade. Bring water and hats. If you bring your dog it should be on a leash - as much for your pet's safety as anything else. People who don't respect the wildness and steep mountain trail can get seriously hurt. Airlifts are not uncommon.

Mt. Wilson is such a great and fun climb. It's long but not overly challenging or technical. I…read morewas looking forward to the cafe at the top, but they were closed for the winter. A couple of people told us they spotted bears. The descent towards the parking lot seemed long. The hike is about 15 miles with 4,400 ft of elevation gain. My favorite part though and the primarily reason why I would do this hike again and again is the amazing ice cream shop in town! Mother Moo Creamery has the most amazing homemade ice cream and pies and anything and everything they make. I will do anything, absolutely anything for good ice cream. Easy parking and there is a very disgusting bathroom at the trailhead. Come and create your own adventure.

Peaceful here could use more water but perfect for fishing or just relaxing will be back soonread more

Probably my favorite part of Crystal Lake is the drive up Highway 39 to get here. It's about 25…read moremiles north of Azusa into the San Gabriel Mountains, and the only way to get there is a beautiful winding mountain road. The lake itself got its name in 1887 from a judge in Pasadena who always raved about the crystal clear waters that were prime for fishing. It really had its heyday in the 1920s through the 1950s. That's when all the construction that you see around the lake happened. Sadly, after the 1960s, it basically started to decay and was not kept up. You can find an article from 1990 that the LA Times published complaining about the condition of the place that you still see today. You'll see graffiti, trash, broken stairs, tons of algae, all sorts of stuff that you wouldn't see many decades ago. I would love to see this place cleaned up and have some national park-level structuring to it. Swimming is prohibited, but you can fish and it's a short walk around the perimeter of the lake. There is also a small café close by for groceries and food, and there are many different campsite options available from cabin to ground. I would love to see this place get the treatment it deserves someday, and I would suggest to all Southern Californians, it really is a beautiful place to visit, and even after driving 15 minutes up the road, you feel like you are in a totally different place and for once I was happy to have no cell phone service. Make sure to download your maps!

Nice and beautiful park in city of arcadia…read more Some of the hiking trails were very organized

Love coming here when I need a break from the real world. Its a great park with some basic trails…read moreand steps with beautiful views and scenery. I just saw a deer here this week when I came for a moment of relaxation. They have bathrooms, a mini-museum and a huge campground "theater" where you can perform, etc, as well as barbeques and lots of seating.

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.

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.