Distance
5.04 Miles
Time
3.5 Hrs
Difficulty
Moderate
Season
All Year
Elevation Gain
1531 Ft
Feel like learning a bit of history on your next hike? If so, I highly suggest paying a visit to Henninger Flats.
Henninger Flats is a wooded flats located above Eaton Canyon and Pasadena. The hanging basin features multiple objects from local history including a fire tower, tram wheels, and a cabin. The flats also serves as a high elevation nursery for reforestation purposes.
Henninger Flats Map
Henninger Flats Parking & Directions
To be redirected to the trailhead on Google Maps, click the following link: Henninger Flats Trailhead
Many people who hike to Eaton Canyon Falls also use this trailhead, so expect lots of people on the weekend.
Henninger Flats Trail
Because the lot at the trailhead is very small, you may have to park in the neighborhood across the street.
There is very little shade on this trail, so don’t forget to pack plenty of water and a hat.
You’ll have to cross the Eaton Wash and hop onto the dirt road. Crossing the wash is safe the majority of the year.
Just be careful during the rain season, as you don’t want to be caught in a flash flood.
After crossing the wash make a right onto the dirt road and a left to begin ascending up Walnut Canyon.
There’s a little flats area where Walnut Canyon Trail intersects with the Mt Wilson Toll Rd.
It’s shaded and offers a nice view of downtown LA. If for any reason you can’t make it to Henninger Flats, this is your next best destination.
Hop onto the Mt Wilson Toll Rd to continue up to Henninger Flats. If you look back, you’ll be able to spot Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in the distance.
It’s the cluster of white buildings in the background.
And just like that, you’ve made it to your destination.
The scenery instantly transforms from dry buckwheat to wooded pine trees and green grass.
As you’ll notice, there are multiple campsites, as backpackers travel through the area.
The day that we visited had extremely clear skies. We were able to see everything from the Cleveland National Forest to Catalina Island and the Santa Monica Mountains, and hopefully you will too!
The hills closest to the ocean in the image below are the Rolling Hills in Rancho Palos Verdes.
These are the best seats at Henninger in my opinion. I took the shot above while sitting on these benches.
I love how Henninger Flats features historical relics from our local mountains.
For example, a fire lookout that was once located in the Santa Monica Mts from 1925-1971 and known as the Castro Peak Fire Lookout Tower, has been permanently moved to Henninger Flats.
The object below is one of the two sets of wheels which belonged to the OM&M or One Man & Mule Railway.
The tram was powered by a mule named Herbert, and transported people from Inspiration Point to Panorama Point.
The famous Herbert. Courtesy of the Altadena Historical Society.
The cabin in the image below was built in 1875!!! It belonged to Theodor Pickens, the first American to settle in La Crescenta.
The area he settled was called Brigg’s Terrace. In the 1960’s, the new owner of the property had the cabin removed to Henninger Flats as a means of preserving an amazing part of our local history.
Don’t forget to check out the Henninger Flats Museum shown below.
Although I couldn’t find a schedule online, you can call this number 626 794 0675 before you visit to see if they will be open during your hike.
The nursery can be seen towards the back of the flats while Mt Fuji towers above.
However, Henninger Flats is surrounded by many peaks. Although it’s a bit hard to see, Mt Wilson, where are the antennas are located, is in the image below.
If you haven’t already, get yourself to Henninger Flats.
The area, along with its local history, will help you feel more appreciation for our beautiful San Gabriels.
Henninger Flats History
Based on SoCal maps depicting the regions controlled by our local Native American tribes, Henninger Flats was more than likely a part of the Tongva people’s region, or possibly the Serrano people.
Unfortunately, because most of our Native American history was lost, we cannot say for sure.
However, we do know that the first American settler was a man from Virginia by the name of William Kimber Henninger who arrived in the area in 1880 due to the gold rush. Henninger married a Native American woman and quickly turned Henninger Flats into a small mining operation.
However, this is where the online confusion begins.
According to James Henninger Aguirre, Henninger’s great great great grandson, his family name was intentionally misspelled and his William’s wife was incorrectly labeled as a Tongva tribesman. After much research and investigative work on his family history, James was able to prove that William’s wife was actually a part of the Serrano tribe.
Serrano means “mountain people” in Spanish, a term given to them by the Spanish because their territory included much of the San Bernardino mountains and a good portion of the San Gabriels. You can find the interesting story of the Henninger family by clicking the link here.
In 1892, one my favorite local mountain men and also a mayor of Pasadena, Theodore Lukens (shown below), visited Henninger in 1892 requesting a bit of land for a reforestation purposes. This is how Henninger Flats became one of the most important forest nurseries of its time.
After William died, Henninger Flats was sold to the Mount Wilson Toll Rd by his daughters. Eventually, the land came under the control of the Forest Service, as it still is this day.
However, the most significant period in Henninger Flats history was during the time of Lukens direction. Lukens leased the land from the Forest Service in 1903 and used it to carry out experimentations including the planting of conifer seeds, fire prevention, and more.
Many of the pine trees in our mountains were planted by Lukens, and they’re still there today!
According to Shirley Sargent’s book which I’m holding in the image below, “Theodore Parker Lukens: Father of Forestry,” Lukens received orders for seeds and seedlings from such diverse sources as Henry E. Huntington, Theodore Payne, Sen. Thomas R. Bard, Harrison G. Otis, the Mt Wilson Toll Rd Company, and locations as far away as Chile and Australia.
Additionally, one of the largest plantings supplied by Lukens in 1905 included 17,000 seedlings for the development of Griffith Park in Los Angeles!
Although Lukens was removed from the reforestation project, he was not deterred. He got in touch with his buddy, John Muir (yes, that John Muir), and began advocating for watershed conservation in the San Gabriel Mts.
Our mountain patriarchs, John Muir on the left and Lukens on the right 1895.
Thanks to people like Theodore Lukens, we have been able to protect much of our beautiful San Gabriel Mountains.
