On Saturday, July 20, 2024, the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team (AMRT) responded to four separate incidents involving injured hikers at Eaton Canyon. According to the team’s Instagram account, three individuals suffered severe ankle sprains while another required assistance due to heat exhaustion. The temperature in downtown Pasadena reached a high of 99°F.
In one particular case, a senior citizen slipped down a five-foot scarp in a hazardous section of the trail leading to the main waterfall. This spot is frequently eroded each winter by a hidden watercourse that merges with Eaton Creek just 15 feet downstream from the water mining bunker. The Eaton Canyon Trail segment between the Chuck Ballard Memorial Bridge and the main waterfall is not considered an official trail by the Angeles National Forest. As a result, it is completely unmaintained and subject to far more hazards than most trails.
Eaton Canyon is one of Southern California’s most popular hiking trails, but it is also one of our rockiest. There are ten river crossings that separate the waterfall from hikers beginning their journey at the Nature Center. In an attempt to stay dry, many hikers will hop across rocks in the creek to get to the other side. This is not advised as many rocks are both unstable and slippery from other trail users. Always bring the proper amount of water, foot ware, and clothing when hiking in the Angeles National Forest.
Should you walk that waterfall trail with waterproof footwear and wade across the stream?