🌤 Trail Weather — Plan Your Hike
Updated every 6 hrs · Trailhead coords
🟡
High Heat — Plan Around It
Start by 7am. Carry 3+ liters. Avoid exposed ridgelines after 10am. Watch for heat exhaustion.
💨 Wind
5 mph SE
Gusts to 11 mph
💧 Humidity
19%
Dry — drink before thirsty
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi
Good visibility
☁️ Cloud Cover
0%
Clear — full sun exposure
🌅 Sunrise
6:58 am
Ideal start time
🌇 Sunset
6:17 pm
Off trail by this
Today — 3-Hour Intervals
8 pm
🌙
88°
Feels 85°
💨 8/22
11 pm
🌙
84°
Feels 83°
💨 9/24
5-Day Forecast
💧 Humidity
25% Dry — drink before thirsty
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
0% Clear — full sun exposure
🟡
Warm & Humid — Extra Water
💧 Humidity
42% Comfortable
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
6% Clear — full sun exposure
✅
Good Conditions — Go Hike
☁️
Sun, Oct 18
Broken Clouds
💧 Humidity
35% Comfortable
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
61% Mostly cloudy
✅
Good Conditions — Go Hike
💧 Humidity
34% Comfortable
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
0% Clear — full sun exposure
✅
Good Conditions — Go Hike
💧 Humidity
51% Comfortable
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
2% Clear — full sun exposure
✅
Good Conditions — Go Hike
Trailhead elevation only. Conditions change at altitude. Check weather.gov before heading out.
Oct 16, 5:24 pm
A wide smoothly graded fire road climb that tests steady uphill pacing. The destination is a historic mountaintop tree nursery where thousands of experimental pines and cedars overlook the entire LA Basin.
Trail Overview
Henninger Flats surprises people. You expect a viewpoint and you get an active tree nursery at 2,600 feet — rows of young pines, cedars, and native specimens being grown for reforestation projects. It is genuinely interesting. The climb is on paved fire road which means no shade on a hot day. This trail is runnable and many people use it for training. Good year-round hike because of the fire road surface.
This Hike Is For You If…
All fitness levels. Good training hike. Accessible for hikers who struggle with uneven trail surfaces. Year-round option due to low snow exposure.
Skip This Hike If…
Skip in summer after 8am. The fire road is fully exposed and the heat on the return descent is significant.
What to Expect on Trail
Terrain: Paved fire road entire route. No technical sections. Some loose gravel at edges.
Shade: Mostly Exposed
Water: None — Carry All Water. No water on trail. Water at Nature Center before you start.
Views: Good
Crowds: One of the busiest San Gabriel trailheads. Weekday mornings significantly quieter.
Dogs: Yes, dogs are welcome on this trail.
Best Arrival: Before 8am on weekends. One of the busiest trailheads in the San Gabriels.
This is a Tier 1 sourced review. Trail information is based on published sources and research. Andrew has not personally hiked this trail yet. Photos and firsthand sensory detail will be added when upgraded to Tier 2.
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5.5 miRound Trip
1400 ftElev. Gain
ModerateDifficulty
2.5-4 hoursEst. Time
2600 ftHighest Point
Out-and-BackRoute Type
YesDogs
NonePermit
Trailhead & Logistics
Address: Eaton Canyon Natural Area, Altadena Drive, Pasadena, CA 91107
Parking: Free paved lot at Eaton Canyon Nature Center. No Adventure Pass required. Fills on weekends — arrive before 8am.
Bathroom: Flush Toilets
Cell Service: Good
Best Arrival: Before 8am on weekends. One of the busiest trailheads in the San Gabriels.
Trail Reality Check
Henninger Flats surprises people. You expect a viewpoint and you get an active tree nursery at 2,600 feet — rows of young pines, cedars, and native specimens being grown for reforestation projects. It is genuinely interesting. The climb is on paved fire road which means no shade on a hot day. This trail is runnable and many people use it for training. Good year-round hike because of the fire road surface.
Terrain: Paved fire road entire route. No technical sections. Some loose gravel at edges.
Shade: Mostly Exposed
Water: None — Carry All Water — No water on trail. Water at Nature Center before you start.
Views: Good
Crowds: Very Busy — One of the busiest San Gabriel trailheads. Weekday mornings significantly quieter.
Who should do this: All fitness levels. Good training hike. Accessible for hikers who struggle with uneven trail surfaces. Year-round option due to low snow exposure.
Who should skip this: Skip in summer after 8am. The fire road is fully exposed and the heat on the return descent is significant.
