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One of my favorite parks for the past couple of years has been Hahamongna Watershed Park. My neighbor invited me to meet up with her and her pups here and ever since, it has been my go-to park.

The park is beautifully maintained with plenty of facilities which include a 24-hole Frisbee golf course, numerous picnic areas, barbecue pits, an athletic field, hiking trails, and restrooms.

Our favorite part of the park is the hiking trails. This is a great place to walk if you want to feel like you are in the wilderness without leaving the city. Beautiful trees, golden light, mountain views, and sparse crowds make this a fantastic place to take your pups.

Hiking Trails

Lower Trail

We mainly visit this park to walk the pups and haven’t utilized the other amenities that are available. Initially, I did not realize the park had more than one trail. I always just started walking along the dirt path heading towards the San Gabriel Mountains which eventually leads you to JPL’s (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) parking lot. 

As you walk towards the San Gabriel mountains, you will see an equestrian center to the left, so spotting people on horses is very common. The further you go down, the trail is no longer marked so make sure to keep an eye on where you are going.

It’s hard to get lost, but one time I wasn’t paying attention and almost went the wrong direction which would have taken me much longer to get back to my starting point.  

It rarely rains in Southern California, but when it does, this area of the park is fun for dogs who love jumping in water puddles.

California had an unusual amount of rain one year, so the area had streams of water and puddles throughout the area closest to JPS’s parking lot. Zooey especially loved jumping around and getting her paws wet.

It’s also a fantastic place to visit during the colder months as the sunsets are spectacular. The plants in the area are also constantly changing so it’s always fun to see what the landscape is going to look like if we haven’t visited in a while.

Upper Trail

The upper trail is a stark contrast from the lower trail. This trail is mostly shaded and the paths are quite narrow. It’s a nice stroll around the park especially on warmer days as the trees blanket you with shade.

This trail will eventually lead to a small bridge which was such a nice surprise when I first stumbled upon it.

Just like the lower trails, this is a trail for horses as well, so you will come across quite a bit of horse droppings, so definitely watch your step and make sure your pup doesn’t try eating it like Kuma.

We see equestrians often and it’s such a lovely sight to see horses so up close. Zooey is unsure of the horses, but Kuma doesn’t seem to mind them at all.

This area is also where you will find picnic tables and barbeque pits. It’s a great spot to have a little picnic since it’s very well shaded with clean public bathrooms.

Gabrielino Trail Western Trailhead

I recently discovered this trail and it’s on the opposite side of the other trails I mentioned above. There is also a completely different parking lot for this trail.

I really enjoy this trek especially after it has rained as it dumps a lot of water into the stream. It’s a great area for your pup to play in the water and it’s pretty shaded as well.

Parking

The park is sort of split into two sections. When you drive into the park, you can continue to go straight and park at the top where you will find picnic tables, barbecue pits, and restrooms. If you choose to take a left shortly after entering the park, you will head down a small slope that will lead you to the main parking lot.

It’s a relatively small parking lot, so it gets pretty full during peak hours. We’ve never had an issue parking mid-morning or around sunset. 

Nature

There is a lot of wildlife here and it is also a protected area with mature trees serving as a drainage area. There is currently work being done to improve the plantings and trails so you’ll see areas under construction.

In the summer, I keep a very close eye on Zooey as rattlesnakes are more prevalent. There is also a ton of foxtails in the summer so I always check Zooey’s paws when we get home.

I always find a handful of foxtails between her paws. It’s also very dusty as the trails are not paved, so be ready to have your shoes turn brown as well as your pup’s fur.

Final Thoughts

Hahamonga Watershed Park is like a real-life poem-in-motion celebrating the joys of the great outdoors in LA County. It’s also a popular park for disc golf and the course here is home to the world's first permanent disc golf course.

It’s a beautifully maintained park that welcomes families of all ages and offers spectacular views of the San Gabriel Mountains.