Hike to Eaton Canyon Falls and back in less than an hour

Don't allow the fact that the ambiguously called Moist Canyon is located within the Eaton Canyon Natural Area deter you from visiting this well-liked location. This hike is ideal for you and your children who are older than five. There are multiple stream crossings on the short, easy hike of less than three miles, so make sure everyone is wearing shoes that can handle getting a little wet.

Take the main Park Road Trail about 1.5 miles through a wooded, rocky area that gently slopes, starting at the Nature Center parking lot. Enjoy wading in the shallows after you arrive to the 50-foot waterfall, which plunges into a stunning granite punchbowl; however, avoid ascending to the razorback trail above the falls as two individuals perished doing so this past year. If you want a challenge, continue on until the trail reaches the Mt. Wilson Toll Road, where you can begin an eight-mile hike to the Mt. Wilson Observatory. If not, simply go back the way you came. If you choose to take a detour into Moist Canyon, be sure to keep an ear out for gunshots; nonetheless, the Pasadena Police Department insists that everything is completely safe.

Don't miss: On weekdays only, you can park outside of the Pinecrest Gate, which is only a little over a mile from the waterfall, and skip the most tedious part of the trip.