Love Letters to Eaton Canyon: Eaton Fire Trail Closures

It has been four weeks since we woke up to a smokey-grey sky and the news that life in the northern San Gabriel Valley would be upended. Four weeks since a once-in-a-decade windstorm would blow through the Greater Los Angeles Area, sparking not one, but several devastating once-in-a-generation wildfires, and leaving in their paths unfathomable destruction.

In the aftermath of the Eaton Fire, which tore through the foothill cities between Lincoln Avenue and Santa Anita Canyon, leveling much of the beautiful unincorporated town of Altadena, I can’t say that I’ve lost anything. Not really. I have friends and colleagues who have been impacted, who have lost everything- who have lost their homes or are unable to return for the foreseeable future because of the damage to their neighborhoods. Being south of the area, I still have a home to return to. And yet, I feel a heaviness, one that can certainly be tied to empathy and concern, and also a heaviness that feels personal and deep in my soul.

I have often written about the trails above Altadena. It had been our gateway to adventure, with Eaton Canyon being easily accessible from Altadena Drive and connecting hikers to Mt. Wilson, Mt. Lowe, and the peaks around Eaton Saddle. It was the place where our first-graders would go on their first ‘big kid hike’ to the waterfall, guided by their teachers, where they would learn to connect with nature and try to avoid falling in the water. When my uncle from the Philippines came to visit, my parents and I took him up to Eaton Canyon with the kids to show him what regular Pasadena-folk did on the weekends. It would be one of our last family outings before losing my dad.

Then for several years, up until the Covid19 pandemic changed life forever, we would hightail it up after school to the Pinecrest Gate every Monday evening for our weekly Henninger Flats hikes. The kids would race up to the sign with their weighted packs and enjoy snacks and views of the valley below before heading down and stopping at the McDonalds on Altadena Drive and Washington Boulevard for more snacks. Sometimes we would bring Owen, and he would happily receive the free pets while devouring his trail treats. He had hiked Eaton Canyon many times in his floofy life, and he seemed to enjoy every single adventure even while huffing up the mountain. Now Henninger Flats is closed, and that McDonalds burned in the conflagration.

In addition to our weekly Henninger hikes, we would drive up Chaney Trail to Millard Canyon. We had discovered this hike thanks to a helpful LA County Sheriffs deputy who recommended it when a small brush fire had broken out in Eaton Canyon back in 2018. Millard Canyon would become one of our favorite places to take Owen, especially as he got older. Other than having to lift his floofy tail up from the stream to the actual trail at the start of the half-mile trek, this was an easy hike for him and the kids. We spent many a Sunday exploring the hikes along Chaney Trail: Millard Falls, Sunset Ridge, Dawn Mine. So many adventures over the years, and still a part of our routine, even after Owen crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.

And I think that’s what makes this so sad for me. I could keep writing and recounting our many adventures. Our hikes to Echo Mountain, exploring around Cobb Estate, nighttime hikes that were probably less-than-smart with Owen on a short stretch of Altadena Crest. So many memories of walks and adventures, of pupcups and sneaky cheeseburgers and treat trips- and my soggy doggy splashing endlessly in the stream. It seems silly, but it feels as though the loss of Owen has been compounded by the loss of our favorite places. Inspiration Point became a place of solace for me. I loved the strenuous hike from Echo Mountain through Castle Canyon, which worked out my body and soothed my mind. I’d sit under the familiar pavilion with my snacks and my journal, contemplating life, meeting other hikers enjoying the sunshine and fresh air, and being able to reset in nature. The wood and stone structure burned down in the fire. These mountains were my place of refuge, and I miss all of it.

I loved the familiar drives through Altadena- the charming homes and winding streets. I miss taking for granted the drive down Lake Avenue, every time thinking that we had to pay a visit to the quirky Bunny Museum, but too distracted by stopping for food at one of the myriad of coffee shops and restaurants in Altadena. And now those places are gone. I haven’t lost anything, but it feels like I lost something. We didn’t live in Altadena, but we lived life there. It feels as though our memories have burned up, and it’s going to be a very long time until there is a semblance of normal, and I’m not sure what the future will bring in the years to come. I wish I had taken more pictures. I wish there had been more time.

Some things to consider:

At time of writing, the Eaton Fire, as well as the Palisades and Hughes Fires are all 100 percent contained. We are forever grateful to the responders from California and beyond- from out-of-state, Canada, and Mexico- who worked tirelessly to build containment lines, save structures, and give hope.

Places that were not damaged in the fires are slowly beginning to open up. I saw on Yelp that Unincorporated Coffee Roasters on Lincoln Avenue is supposed to open on February 10. Unfortunately, many other Altadena favorites, especially those near Lake Avenue are gone. Lost to the fires are Side Pie, Cafe de Leche, and Fox’s, along with many others. According to the Internet, Side Pie plans on reopening, as does Cafe de Leche. Cafe de Leche has a coffee spot on PCC’s campus, as well as a Highland Park location if you need a more immediate caffeine fix.

At time of writing, the Angeles National Forest is under a partial closure on account of the Eaton and Bridge Fires. The latest order, dated January 25, 2025 includes the best local trails: Millard Canyon, Mt. Lowe, Mt. Wilson, Gould Mesa and Paul Little Picnic Area, Switzer Road, Tom Sloane Trail, Mt. Disappointment and San Gabriel Peak, Sam Merrill Trail and Castle Canyon, and many more. Also included in this latest order is the newly reopened Chantry Flat trails: Upper and Lower Winter Creek Trails, Mt. Zion, and Sturtevant Falls. It is now unfortunately, newly closed again. For more information, visit the U.S. Forest Service site.

Bailey Canyon Wilderness Park in Sierra Madre was also affected by the Eaton Fire. It is closed until further notice. This was another favorite place- whether to hike up Jones Peak or to explore the nature trails with Owen.

I’ve signed up to help with trail restoration when it is safe to do so. I signed up with Los Angeles County Trails. There are planned events for various trails in LA County this coming spring, as the winter rains can damage trails. Eaton Canyon Nature Center Association also has opportunities for volunteerism by sending an email. It might take a while for them to get back to you, so please be patient if you’re interested in helping.

The last time I was at Eaton Canyon was on a quiet Thursday after the election. I was there on a school field trip, a collaboration between our high school art program and a fourth/fifth grade class at one of our elementary schools. It was a beautiful morning learning about native science and practice and the importance of observing and working with the land. Listening to the presentation and the resilience of the Tongva people gave me hope for the future even in the midst of uncertain times. I was saddened to read that the fire impacted the Tongva Taraxat Paxaavxa Conservancy. While I have faith that the land will heal, especially with traditional ecological knowledge, this is a deep loss for the Tongva community. For more information and to help with the recovery efforts, visit tongva.land.

Recovery and rebuilding will be a long road. Even so, there have been many glimmers of hope in these worst of times. The Pasadena Humane Society continues their work in rescuing and reuniting pets with their families. Many have given to various GoFundMes supporting families and businesses, and it is beautiful to see the generosity and support of the community. The San Gabriel Valley has come together in many ways to help out where they can. We have seen some of the worst of humanity in these disasters, but we have also been witness to some of the best, and I love our community for it.

Until this catastrophe, I don’t think I realized how much Altadena and the surrounding communities were a regular part of our family’s life. In talking with friends and coworkers, it seems nearly impossible to not be impacted in some way, especially when we know so many who have been more directly affected. I hope for the residents of Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre. The disaster that has fallen on So Cal is unprecedented. This fire went further south than could have ever been anticipated, and there was little anyone could do to stave off its destruction. There has been so much loss. And in this, I hope too that there will also be light and healing- and maybe some calmer precedented times. Be safe and well. With love from the Cranky Camper.