Where to watch the sunset in Eagle Rock

All photos by Henry Nettler

All The Best Sunset Spots in Eagle Rock

#7 Chickasaw Rd.

(34.113746°N 118.20008°W)

A hidden gem of Eagle Rock, Chickasaw Rd. has a fantastic lower view of the sunset that really accentuates the more rich colors, since the sun dips below the horizon earlier. This is an easy, simple place to reach because it’s just on a regular surface street. All you have to do is go to Chickasaw Road, then simply walk to the apex of the hill in the middle of the street for an unmatched low-elevation viewing location.

#6 Gilman Rd. (Occidental College)

(34.12951°N, 118.20952°W)

This location is a bit different from the others on this list; it’s facing away from the sun. Sometimes a view like this is even better than a direct west facing view. This one’s also pretty easy to get to, as it is on a surface street just inside the bounds of the Occidental campus, one of the main attractions of Eagle Rock. All you have to do is go to Gilman Rd, walk to the top where the 3-way intersection is, then look straight down Gilman at the beautiful Occidental college campus and fading deep hues of Rayleigh scattering.

#5 The Wildwood gap

(34.13044°N, 119.20071°W)

The southern hills of Eagle Rock boast many gorgeous sunsets, one of which is located on Wildwood Dr. at the gap at 1561 Wildwood. The view from here is one of the highest on this list and boasts some great features, including: a curb you can sit on to view the sunset, the bountiful foliage that hangs over from the hillside trees, and the incredible view of the city that will leave you speechless.

#4 The Hartwick Bend

(34.13589°N 118.19763°W)

The Hartwick Bend is another lesser-known, albeit great, viewing place to see the sunset. To reach it is very simple and easy, all you need to do is walk south up Hartwick St. until you reach a bend where there is a large gap between houses. Here you can see a great view of Eagle Rock and a variety of succulents. There is a small downside to this spot: there’s not really a great place to sit and watch it here. You could sit on the sidewalk, but it’s not very comfortable. 

#3 Silverwood Dr.

(34.12977°N, 118.20145°W)

This spot is once again located in the southern Eagle Rock hills, near the Wildwood gap, however this spot has many aspects that the gap does not. First off, It has an unobstructed view of the sunset, whereas on Wildwood there are a couple of houses that obscure the horizon ever so slightly. There is also a curb here to sit and watch;it is an even better seat, as there is less debris obstructing the top of the curb. This spot is even higher elevation than The Gap, giving it a superior view of the city. 

#2 Fiji hill, More commonly known as “The Hill” 

(34.12870°N 118.20580°W)

This is a classic spot that most Eagle Rock residents will recognize immediately. It’s pretty straightforward to reach, with multiple entrances for all directions. The main way to get in is through the amphitheater at the back of Yosemite Rec Center. First, you should see a couple of slim, dirt pathways snaking steeply up the hill to their left. Then you simply have to walk up the length of the pathways until you reach one of the three best viewing spots. Here, ranked from worst to best: The swing set at the base of the final steep part, the backless bench at the tippy top of the hill, and last but not least, the famous graffitied slanting bench on the edge. From here you can see most of beautiful Los Angeles, facing approximately 280° West.

#1 Scholl Canyon Trailhead

(34.14765°N 118.21723°W)

Finally, the best spot, in my opinion, to watch the sunset in Eagle Rock: the Scholl Canyon Trail. In order to reach the prime viewing location here, all you would need to do is park at the end of Valley Vista drive at 34.14748°N, 118.20577°W. Then take either of the two paths west of the road, it doesn’t matter which, since they both end up at the same place. The lower one has nicer trees and a wider path, but the upper one has a better view. Keep following the path until you reach the apex, then watch the beautiful scenery as our revered celestial orb drops below the horizon, leaving its famous fiery wake behind just for you to watch.

Note: The sunset often looks much better when there is a fair amount of clouds (as seen in Image 4)

Note 2: All of these images cannot compare to the majesty of watching the sunset in real life; go try it!