On a quiet day, we visited a familiar local park to break up the doldrums of distance learning. Monrovia Canyon Park is a local park in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains that offers miles of hiking trails, scenic views, and a popular waterfall.
Echo Mountain is a popular front range hike with easy access from Altadena. At 5.5 miles round trip with about a 1400 foot elevation gain, it is considered moderate. There are some cool ruins at the top, harkening back to the 'Golden Age of Hiking."
Descanso Gardens, located in La Canada-Flintridge off Interstate 210, west of Pasadena, is described as "an urban retreat 20 minutes from downtown Los Angeles." The gardens boast 150 acres of botanical collections, pretty walking trails, and seasonal displays.
A nice hike at dusk, the Mt. Wilson Fire Road from the Pinecrest Gate takes us up a moderately strenuous hike to the Henninger Flats Campground, a nice spot for a snack and views of the San Gabriel Vallley below.
The Cranky Camper 