Eaton Canyon trails will remain closed through 2025 due to damage from January fire

The trails in Eaton Canyon and the surrounding area that were damaged by January’s 14,000-acre Eaton Fire will remain closed at least until the end of 2025.

That’s because the region needs more time to recover “without us trampling all over it,” said Norma García-González, director of L.A. County’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

At a news conference at the Henninger Trailhead on Thursday, officials also stressed the importance of protecting hikers from unstable terrain and dead trees. The Eaton Fire and ensuing rain, they said, completely wiped out a lot of the trails.

“Everything looks the same up there. It's like a moonscape,” said L.A. County Reserve Sheriff's Deputy Daniel Paige, who is part of the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team. “Even experienced hikers can get lost or injured.”

“We’ve had firefighters and other employees get hurt and killed by trees falling on them. The threats are very real,” said Justin Seastrand, forest recreation manager at the U.S. Forest Service. To protect the public, he added, the region will be closed until the end of this year — and “very possibly” through 2026.

To deter entry, trespassers will be fined up to $5,000.

Finding alternatives

Annually, Eaton Canyon gets about 1 million visitors, and the area is especially popular on Memorial Day weekend, García-González said.

This year, the county is urging Angelenos to explore other trails. On the county’s website and app, prospective visitors can choose a trail according to their desired level of difficulty. They can also check if a trail is dog friendly, if it’s open to horseback riding or if it’s appropriate for mountain biking.

Keeping people out, said Seastrand, is already helping wildlife bounce back. The Eaton Canyon Nature Center, a nonprofit whose volunteers help care for local flora and fauna, has reported seeing deer, coyotes and bobcats repopulating the area.

“We all have a connection to these local mountains. It's our backyard, our retreat, our place to go exercise [and] reconnect with nature,” said Paige. “I definitely understand the temptation to take a side trail and enter. But we're asking you guys to lead by example.”