Waterfall Hikes in Los Angeles
Now Go See It is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
A list of wonderful waterfall trails in Los Angeles to use to plan your next amazing outdoor adventure.
Los Angeles’ Best Waterfall Hikes: (Jump To)
We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite waterfall hikes in Los Angeles. Los Angeles is a hiking paradise. If you ask an Angeleno, they can name you their favorite hike in Los Angeles. There are plenty of hikes with great ocean or city views (like Runyon Canyon), but it’s rare to find flowing water within Los Angeles County.
As you check out our list of the best waterfall hikes near Los Angeles be sure to take note of the notes about the best time to take the hike. Rainfall is very seasonal in Los Angeles, so if you take one of these hikes at the wrong time of year, the waterfall might just be a dry pile of rocks.
Waterfall hikes in California are special because the waterfall isn’t always there. The best time to see the most significant flow is after a rainstorm or as the weather starts to melt a heavy snowpack high in the surrounding mountain ranges. It is important to keep safety in mind when planning your hike. Often hiking areas around waterfalls are prone to flash flooding. Never take one of these hikes during a thunderstorm or other heavy rain event.
It’s also important to take the same precautions for a waterfall hike that you would for any other outdoor activity including bringing enough drinking water, wearing sunscreen, and dressing in appropriate clothing and shoes. Also, be aware of local wildlife like rattlesnakes that can be dangerous and unexpected.
The absolute best guides for hiking and biking in any area are produced by Falcon Guides. They are accurate, easy to follow, and comprehensive. We have an entire bookshelf at home filled with these books.
Ad:
Waterfall Hikes Near Los Angeles
Eaton Canyon Falls Trail:
Best Time: Spring
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: Approx. 3.5 miles round trip
Park: Eaton Canyon Natural Area
Eaton Canyon Falls Trail Parking: Eaton Canyon Nature Center (There is also an overflow lot with entrance gates on New York Drive).
AllTrails: Eaton Canyon Falls Trail
Eaton Canyon is one of the most popular waterfall hiking trails in Los Angeles. Begin the hike at the Eaton Canyon Nature Center parking lot. If open, start inside the nature center to gain some background information about the topography of the area. You will also learn about the plants and animals you may see along the way. They even have a gift shop.
The hike is an out-and-back trip that is mostly flat. There are a lot of really fun stream crossings with varying levels of rock and stick balancing and long jumping required. The probability of wet shoes is high. You’ll pass under Cost Live Oak trees that offer occasional patches of shade. In the Spring the trail is often surrounded by wildflowers.
When you finally reach the 44-foot waterfall stand and admire it as it cascades down the rock face into the shallow pool below. Then turn back around and follow the same path back to the nature center and parking lot.
Escondido Falls Trail:
Best Time: Winter and Spring
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: Approx. 3.8 miles round trip
Car Parking: Winding Way Trailhead ($12 Fee)
AllTrails: Escondido Falls Trail
Escondido Falls is a delightful waterfall hike near Los Angeles. Technically it’s located in nearby Malibu. After parking you will take a trail that hugs an adjacent paved road. After a bit, you will branch off and go down into the riverbed which sometimes has a flowing stream. You will cross over the stream multiple times on your way to the falls. If there is only a drive streambed, it’s likely that the waterfall will be not much more than a trickle when you arrive. If the stream is flowing heavily, you’re in for a treat.
After about a mile of hiking, you’ll reach the base of the falls. It’s a large limestone wall with lush green moss. The water flows down the rock face. Look up the steep cliff. The multi-tiered waterfall is a full 150 feet tall. Admire the water as it gracefully tumbles over rocky cliffs.
The trail ends here. They strongly discourage visitors from climbing up the steep rock face to the upper portion of the falls. During our visit, there were many people who were not heeding this advice. It is a very steep climb on wet, mossy rocks. The best advice is to stay safe and admire the falls from below.
Paradise Falls Trail:
Best Time: Spring
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Length: Approx. 2.5 miles round trip
Park: Wildwood Park
Car Parking: Wildwood Park Parking
AllTrails: Paradise Falls Trail
Experience a serene escape to Paradise Falls, nestled within Wildwood Park. Wildwood Park is a large open space located in nearby Thousand Oaks, California. The beautiful park is home to a diverse group of plant and animal species. The varied landscape includes grasslands and a freshwater marsh.
Don’t be surprised If the park looks vaguely familiar. The area was used as a filming location for classic TV shows like Gunsmoke and Wagon Train. The area was home to the Chumash until Spanish colonization in the 19th Century.
The easy-to-moderate hike is relatively flat and easy to navigate. In the summer there is very little shade until reaching the canyon so plan accordingly.
The 40-foot waterfall is located in a canyon. Along the way, you will hug the river with a few crossings. This is a great place for wildlife spotting.
ad:
Millard Canyon Falls Trail:
Best Time: Spring
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: Approx. 1.2 miles round trip
Car Parking: Millard Canyon Trailhead (Adventure Pass Required)
AllTrails: Millard Canyon Falls Trail
As part of the Angeles National Forest visitors to the site require an Adventure Pass. A Southern California Daily Forest Adventure Pass can be purchased for $5 while the Southern California Annual Forest Adventure Pass will set you back $30. The pass covers everyone inside one vehicle. If you have a second vehicle, you can add an additional annual pass for another $5. Annual passes are valid for one year from their date of purchase. A list of vendors as well as an option to buy passes online is available on the Forest Services Website.
Embark on a hidden gem of a hike that leads to the charming Millard Canyon Falls. This is a rare Los Angeles area waterfall hike that is almost completely in the shade. When the water is flowing there will be a lot of rocky river crossings, so be sure to wear shoes that can get wet.
As you end your journey through the picturesque landscapes, you'll encounter a 50-foot waterfall surrounded by lush greenery. The trail's moderate difficulty level offers a rewarding experience for hikers seeking both adventure and natural beauty. Because of the moderate hiking pace, the trail is often very busy on weekends and holidays.
Waterfall Hikes in Los Angeles to Consider Later:
There are a few Southern California waterfall hikes that I omitted from this list because of closures due to recent fires and potential mudslides. I wanted to list a few closed trails, so you can check periodically to see if they have reopened for public use. The best place to check the status is on AllTrails. I provided a link to each hike for easy access.
Please do not attempt to visit these trails until they have been reopened. Unmaintained trails can be hard to navigate and come with additional hazards like washouts, downed trees, and wildlife that have become accustomed to having their space back.
Fish Canyon Falls Trail:
AllTrails: Fish Canyon Falls Trail
This hike to Fish Canyon Falls is on the longer and steeper side of the trails we have mentioned so far. The difficult trek is worth it when you arrive at the three-tiered waterfall cascading over rock faces. The trail has been closed for a few years because of fires, and perhaps due to its proximity to an active mine site.
Monrovia Falls Trail:
AllTrails: Monrovia Falls Trail
The complete closure of Monrovia Canyon Park by the city of Monrovia after the Bobcat Fire was a loss for the region. Hopefully, the woodsy 3-mile hike to the cascading falls will reopen again soon.
Hermit Falls Trail:
AllTrails: Hermit Falls Trail
Attempting to enter the Angeles National Forest to see Hermit Falls comes with a $5000 fine for entering a fire rehabilitation area. Much of the nearby park has reopened, but this trail remains closed, reportedly until at least 2024.
The trail was popular for the scenic 2.5-mile walk and for the swimming hole at the base of the falls.
Sturtevant Falls Trail:
AllTrails: Sturtevant Falls Trail
The Sturtevant Falls Trail seems to be the nearest to reopen on the list of closures due to the devastating Bobcat Fire. Some road rebuilding and maintenance in the area are making the possibility of reopening inevitable.
Viewing the 50-foot waterfall at the end of this trail is just one of many highlights including the views of the Los Angeles basin and other smaller waterfalls along the way.
Sturtevant Falls is also part of the larger Angeles National Forest. When it does reopen an Adventure Pass will be required.
In Closing:
Waterfall hikes in Los Angeles can be a fun way to experience the local nature while getting some exercise. I always encourage visitors to go on a hiking trail in Los Angeles when visiting for the first time. It’s a great way to discover what it’s really like to live in Los Angeles.
