Eaton Canyon (Marschal A. Fazio)

Reviewed by: Marschal A. Fazio, Life Science teacher, University High School, Los Angeles.

Location: Eaton Canyon Natural Area is located at 1750 N. Altadena Dr, Pasadena, CA 91107, (34.184968,-118.095646), one block north of New York Drive in Pasadena, California. There is a sign on the east side of the street which clearly marks the entrance to the Park. From the 210 Freeway eastbound, exit at Sierra Madre Boulevard/Altadena Drive. Turn left (north) at the first light (Altadena Drive) and go 1.6 miles to the park entrance. From the 210 Freeway westbound, exit at San Gabriel Boulevard/San Marino. Turn right (north) at the second light (Altadena Drive) and go 1.5 miles to the park entrance.

Phone: 626-398-5420

Accessibility: Parking is free but limited, especially on weekends. Nature center is accessible to those with limited mobility, as well are some of the nature walks. The hiking trails can be a bit rough, We took a stroller down most of the main trail, but the offshoot canyons trails are a little rough. Good sturdy shoes or boots should be worn when hiking these trails. During the winter when the water level is high the wash may limit access for some to the hiking trails, please check conditions before you venture out on a hike.

Description: Eaton Canyon Park is a 190 acre botanical, zoological and geological nature preserve in Pasadena, California at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. Visitors to the park can view native plants in animals in their own habitat, amazing geological features, and a beautiful waterfall, while hiking and or horseback riding.

Eaton Canyon, was named after Judge Benjamin Eaton, who built one of the first Ranch houses along Fair Oaks, not far from Eaton Creek. He was instrumental in developing the Mount Wilson Toll Road in the 1890’s.

The Eaton Canyon Wash and Canyon has had a long and diverse history, from vacation cabins and resorts, to secret military rocket research. Most of the 190 acres that make up the park were once Southern Pacific Railroad land, which was open for homesteading when the railroad decided it did not need the land. A Large portion of the Eaton Canyon wash was designated a bird and game sanctuary in the 1930’s with much of the rest of the park and canyon areas donated to the city in 1950. The first nature center was built in 1963, but was burned in the 1993 Altadena Fire, and had to be rebuilt (re-opened in 1998).

A historic feature of the park is the Mount Wilson Toll Road which allowed passage by way of wagon and later automobile from Altadena up to the summit of Mount Wilson. It is the same roadway which the Wilson Observatory telescopes were transported from the valley floor to the top of the mountain. In the 1930's the road was closed due to the opening of the Angel's Crest Highway and was given over to the Forest Service. In 2005, torrential rains caused a large section of road to be washed away. It took several years to rebuild and fortify the road section. The road officially opened for hikers in 2009.

The Park is open from sunrise to sunset all year long, while the nature center is open from 9-5 except on Mondays, and Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years day.

Audience: Who should take a field trip to this location and why? Be specific and explain how a particular student or teacher might benefit.

A Life science teacher would benefit from visiting the park because it provides local examples of the chaparral biome and as well as permanent and temporary aquatic ecosystems.
An Earth science teacher would benefit from visiting the park because it provides stunning examples of metamorphic and igneous rocks; as well as faulting, erosion, and alluvia.
An engineering teacher would benefit from visiting the park because it provides examples of flood control systems, as well as bridge and road building and rebuilding when nature intervenes.
A physics teacher would benefit from visiting the park because it provides a great example of falling water. Physics students could calculate flow rates and mass of water falling from the falls or flowing through the stream.

Science Concepts Addressed: Give examples of specific science concepts that may be addressed by visitng the field trip site and explain how they are addressed.

Biomes and Ecosystems: Eaton Canyon is a beautiful natural habitat for chaparral plants and animals. Interspecific interactions; parasite, host; herbivory (acorn woodpecker, storing acorns).
Earthquakes: The San Gabriel Mountains are a part of the San Gabriel fault system, which is part of the larger San Andreas Fault.
Volcanism: Many examples of intrusive igneous rocks.
Rock Cycle: Many examples of both igneous and metamorphic rock.
Environmental Science: Care and management of natural areas. Human nature interface

Study Guide

Tasks

While inside the nature center observe the rocks of Eaton Canyon exhibit. Take note of the types of rocks found in the park.
1. What major type of rock is not generally found in Eaton Canyon?
2. While on a walk along the trails at Eaton Canyon photograph, describe and identify at least three different types of rocks. Post the images on a photo sharing site like PicasaWeb or Flickr and post a link in your field trip report, alternatively you can post the images directly in your report document.
Take one of the three short nature walks around the Nature Center. at each stop along the way record your observations in the field trip report. Think about your five sense. Summarize what you have learned from your walk.
1. What do you see?
2. What do you hear?
3. What do you smell?
4. What do you feel?
Take a hike. Walk along the Eaton Canyon Trail. If you have a lot of time you can hike all the way to the Mount Wilson Toll Road bridge. Along the way observe and photograph examples of each of the following?
1. Acorn Woodpecker or evidence of their presence
2. Erosion and weathering of rocks
3. Human influence on the landscape
4. A plant adapted to periodic fires
5. An example of a non-native or invasive plant.
6. Competition
7. Mutualism
8. Parasitism
9. An example of an alluvia
10. Evidence of Plate tectonic activity

Observations

Nature Center

Why is the Canyon named Eaton Canyon? What did the early settlers call the region?
Explain why the Coast Live oak is an important resource in the southern California chaparral community? Be sure to mention the native flora and fauna, the native people of California, the early european settlers in your response.
Why is Yucca an important plant to the Southern California chaparrral community? Be sure to mention the native flora and fauna, and the native people of California in your response.
What mountain range does Mount Wilson belong to? What mountains make up this range? What is the highest Peak?
What are the hazards of the park? What precautions should you take to avoid getting hurt?
Take a look at the food web described in the nature center. Trace the energy from the sun through at least one chain in the web. For example SUN --> coffee berries --> ground squirrels --> coyote.
Some organisms are specialist and have a limited range of environmental factors and diet, while others are generalists and can use a wide range of resources. List some organisms in found in Eaton Canyon that could be described as specialists, and list others that would be considered generalists. Is their a pattern in the organisms positions in the food web?
Many plants have physical and/or chemical defenses to prevent herbivory. Give several examples of both defenses seen in native plants of the chaparral. What precautions should you take so you don't wind up an inadvertent victim of these defenses.
Periodic fires are a natural part of the Chaparral community. Much of Eaton Canyon, including the visitors center was burned in a wild land fire 20 years ago. What are some ways in which the plants of the chaparral are adapted to periodic fires? What are some ways we can prevent these natural fires from burning down houses in our neighborhoods?
Many animals have adapted well to living with humans, while others have not fared so well. Give several examples of animals that have adapted to human existence as well as others which have not. How can we limited our impact on the environment in order to help those organisms that have not fared well.

Google Doc- Version of field trip guide

After your visit

Take the following Wildlife Quiz. This will test you on how well you can identify the plants (flora) and animals (fauna) of Eaton Canyon.

Additional Resources

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