Overview
La Cañada Flintridge is a city of about 20,000 people (2018) at the extreme northwest end of the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California.
2 sights · 1 places to eat
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about La Cañada Flintridge
Descanso Gardens
Beautiful, private garden. Very similar to the Los Angeles County Arboretum, but smaller and more intimate. Make sure to visit the International Rosarium with over 3,000 roses.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
This is a national laboratory run by Caltech complete with a security check point. JPL is the leading U.S. center of robotic space exploration. JPL focuses on the exploration of Mars with its Mars rovers. JPL does have a…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–Jun. Summer highs reach about 91°F; winter lows dip to about 45°F. Very hot (Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Feb and Jan. (climate data from nearby Pasadena)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BUR Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport, Burbank — 10 mi away (major hub). Directions
- HHR Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport, Hawthorne — 21 mi away. Directions
The 210 freeway runs through La Cañada and connects it to such places as Altadena and Pasadena to the east and La Crescenta to the west. The 2 freeway links the city to Glendale and inner Los Angeles to the south and ends in La Cañada, and the 2 continues (as a two-lane highway) northward through Angeles National Forest where it can be taken to such places as Palmdale and Wrightwood.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Descanso Gardens
- Lunch Hill Street Cafe
- Afternoon NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
La Cañada Flintridge is famous for its fancy and rather pricey homes. It is one of the nicer communities in Los Angeles County. It sits against the Angeles National Forest to the north and is split in half by the 210 freeway. La Cañada is a suburban, primarily residential community with few tourist attractions.
Get in
The 210 freeway runs through La Cañada and connects it to such places as Altadena and Pasadena to the east and La Crescenta to the west. The 2 freeway links the city to Glendale and inner Los Angeles to the south and ends in La Cañada, and the 2 continues (as a two-lane highway) northward through Angeles National Forest where it can be taken to such places as Palmdale and Wrightwood.
See
See NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
This is a national laboratory run by Caltech complete with a security check point. JPL is the leading U.S. center of robotic space exploration. JPL focuses on the exploration of Mars with its Mars rovers. JPL does have an annual Open House that is held on or around Memorial Day weekend (last weekend in May). During this event it is open to the public, anyone can go at that time. Other times it is mostly closed to the public at large though some tour options are available through JPL Public Services Office for groups and individuals on an advance reservation basis.
Do
- La Canada Rose Float Volunteer One of 6 remaining self-built floats in the annual Rose Parade on January 1st of each year, this float requires year round work from volunteers to create unique and colorful designs. You can construct the float from metal to flowers all year on Saturdays from 9am-2pm at the Valley Water Company. Decoration requires signups online but takes place all day from December 26th to December 31st.
Eat
Eat Hill Street Cafe
Steakhouse with a wide range of foods.
Go next
Nearby
Glendale
City / town · 27 listings · 4 mi away
Pasadena
City / town · 64 listings · 4 mi away
South Pasadena
City / town · 4 listings · 6 mi away
San Marino
City / town · 2 listings · 7 mi away
Burbank
City / town · 32 listings · 8 mi away
San Gabriel
City / town · 5 listings · 9 mi away
Alhambra
City / town · 11 listings · 9 mi away
Angeles National Forest
Park · 12 listings · 10 mi away
My experience
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