Distance
1.2 Miles
Time
~1 Hr
Difficulty
Easy
Season
All Year
Elevation Gain
308 Ft
Millard Canyon Falls is an easy, 1.2-mile hike located near Altadena, California. The trail features a 50-foot waterfall and creek crossings. It’s a child-friendly and dog-friendly hike.
Trail Map of Millard Canyon Falls
Directions & Parking
Here is a link to the parking lot directions and address.
There’s plenty of parking, but can be impossible to find parking on weekends during waterfall season.
Restrooms are available near campground.
The Hike
The hike technically begins past the Millard Campground, but I consider the starting point to be right by the parking lot.
There are signs pointing to Millard Falls straight ahead, and Dawn Mine trail to the right.
I have the Dawn Mine hike posted in the “Ruins” section of the blog, in case you want to check it out! Plus, I have an extra open-access mine/tunnel in that post.
Passing Millard Campground, I had to climb over this stone wall. This is where the actual short journey begins.
I was here on a gloomy day, which was nice because it felt very shaded but a bit chilly in the morning.
The trail is mostly narrow and rocky as it goes through the canyon walls.
At this point, I was almost to the falls and could hear a few people.
After some creek crossings, I was at the falls!
Unfortunately, this year’s dry season hasn’t allowed Millard Falls to be flowing with lots of water.
But, it’s still very nice to look at nonetheless.
I like that there’s a large boulder at the top. It’s perfectly lodged between the canyon walls, giving it a unique look.
I also appreciate how well-kept the trail is, with little to no vandalism.
This is a really beautiful 50-foot waterfall that’s especially nice during the spring months after heavy rainfall or a good snow melt.
I hope you enjoy this trail as much as I did!
History of Millard Canyon
Some of the very first people to settle along the Arroyo Seco and Millard Canyon were the Hahamong’nas. This tribe used the Arroyo Seco as a major trade route and resource.
Over the decades, more settlers arrived from Europe and other areas. Many cabins were built, which you can see some of the remnants today. It later became a hotspot area for prospectors and miners.
You might be wondering, where did Millard Canyon get its name from? Well, it used to be called Church Canyon but was then named after Henry W. Millard, who came along in 1862.
He stayed in the area for many years with his family. He hauled timber and raised bees here. After his wife’s and daughter’s death, he left to reside in Downey, CA.
