Henninger Flats

The first time I ever did this hike, I was fourteen years old and a Boy Scout. We even camped up top! Fast forward twenty years, and here I am taking on this six-mile adventure again—but this time, with my boy Shadow by my side. As everyone says, it’s three miles uphill and three quick miles back down. Does it have some of the best views around? Absolutely, hands down! Is it easy? Definitely not. Is it worth it? Every single step. Lately, I’ve been hiking a lot, and I have to say, showing up at 7am with fellow hikers made this one of the friendliest hikes I’ve had in a while. Every person we passed said, “Good morning,” with a smile, and honestly, it was refreshing to experience that kind of camaraderie on the trail. Big shoutout to those hikers! You made an already incredible hike even better. So whether you’re chasing breathtaking views, looking for a challenge, or just hoping to soak in some good vibes, I 10/10 recommend this trail. It’s a tough climb, but trust me—it’s the kind of hike that leaves you feeling accomplished and inspired.

This was a moderate difficulty, and a 6 mile Out-and-Back hiking trip. I went to the Eaton Canyon trail, connected up to the Walnut Canyon Trailhead, than connected to the Mt. Wilson Toll Rd., and it was 3 miles constantly going uphill. This hike most definitely made me exhausted. Bring plenty of water and wear a hat. And wear comfortable hiking shoes. I consider this a full day hike, start your trip early. -12/8/2024

Patience is key on this one but the end is a breezy reward. The elevation is gradual in most areas which is tolerable, with a handful of steep corner turns as you go up. Going down, watch your balance as the decline can get sharp as well. This is rated a 3.5 hour roundtrip hike for 7.3 miles long. It's possible to take this in less time. The top of this location is also a campsite though no one was there at the time. A rewarding breeze wafts under the shade of the tall trees around you as you enjoy the view down to the San Gabriel Valley. On the downhill back to the start, we found there was a shortcut that was more steep as well and less traveled but clearly marked as a path. If you need to get back to the urban, this is the route to take. Would also recommend just having some type of map (google or apple maps) on your phone to make sure you're heading the right way back to the start. And bring plenty of water and wear lots of sunscreen, a hat and/or sunglasses, and a towel too for the buckets of sweat as well.

Beautiful spot! Be careful though, I saw a large bear wandering around the picnic area on Sunday, June 2, 2024. Luckily he walked past me, but you never know so be prepared.

Eaton Canyon Waterfall, crowded. Henninger Flats, nice and peaceful. Winter is perfect time to hike up the bright open hills with great views of the LA Basin all the way to the Pacific