About Monrovia Canyon Waterfall Trail

• Type: Trail

• Length: 2.3 km

• Traffic: Moderate

• Route Type: Out & Back

While we were in the Los Angeles area, we had the privilege of meeting up with a group of other dog owners and dog friends that we've gotten to know through Instagram. Our friends helped set up a hike so the dogs got to meet each other and they decided on Monrovia Canyon Park to do the Monrovia Canyon Waterfall Trail. Not being from California, it was our first time doing a hike here and we couldn't have been happier with the location that was selected! This trail was light to moderate and the waterfall at the end makes the whole thing worthwhile.

We enjoyed the hike on the Monrovia Canyon Waterfall Trail. While the paths aren't fully maintained or paved, the trail is fairly obvious and it's a good mix of going up and down, on dirt paths and areas where you need to cut through a bit of water. There are enough stones in the water that you can step on, but if your dog is pulling or it's busy, you might not have that luxury. There's also a little bit of mud in the area in case you were wondering about footwear. Most of the hike was shaded and the whole thing took around an hour and a half to go to the end and then back with dogs.

At the end of the trail, there's a nice area for gathering and watching the waterfall. The waterfall isn't very powerful, so you can get nice and close to it. This entire area is fairly wet too and you'll have to cross the stream here again (but you can find your way around or over it without getting wet). That's something to keep in mind in case you're planning on wearing runners. While there aren't any tables, this is a good place to catch your breath and maybe even a drink of water for the dog.

The hike itself wasn't too busy, though we did go early on a Sunday morning. We were definitely the largest group there (we had 13 dogs). On the way back, it did feel like it got busier, so it really could've been just the time of day. Although the trail says that dogs must be leashed, there are definitely off-leashed dogs as well, but it wasn't an issue for us. 

Note: There's also a $10 parking fee at the parking lot at the trailhead.

What we liked

• The trail is easy enough, but it's definitely a step above a casual walk.

• There's a waterfall at the end of the trail.

• Nice and shaded throughout the trail.

What we didn’t like

• The trail is not maintained very well and it gets pretty rocky in some areas. You also need to cut through the stream a couple of times, so your feet might get wet. The surrounding areas are muddy.

• There were bears in the parking and there have been bear sightings along the trail as well.

Our Recommendation For Reactive Dogs

For reactive dogs, aside from the off-leash dogs, the hike is not too bad. We did notice that some areas were very narrow, so there may be spots where your dog may have to pass by other dogs in close proximity. If your dog's not comfortable with that (especially if the other dog's off-leash), I would recommend doing this hike with caution, but I think all in all, you should be okay. Another thing to note is that since we were the first in the park and we were there really early, there were bears in the parking lot when we arrived. We didn't have any issues with the bears, but it's something to keep in mind.

Disclaimer

Markus is a reactive, but not aggressive dog. His instinct is to avoid other dogs and he may growl, bark or lunge if provoked, but will not attack. We normally do not have issues with leashed dogs when both sides are controlled, but we will be on guard when an oncoming dog is not leashed. There are varying levels to a dog’s reactivity and only you can decide if this park, trail or hotel is appropriate for your dog. Our visits generally will not include off-leash areas; most experiences shared on The Markus Project are within leashed or undefined areas.

Please remember that our past experience visiting a park, trail or hotel may not be the same as your experience at the same park, trail or hotel. We have no control of who visits the park and whether they adhere to park rules - like leashing their dogs on leash-required paths - or not. Please use your discretion with the information provided and with your personal knowledge of your dog’s reactivity when visiting these parks, trails or hotels.