Beautiful Waterfalls in SoCal to Add to Your To-Do List

When you think of Southern California, waterfalls might not be the first thing to cross your mind. But, come spring, the region becomes home to a plethora of cascading wonders and panoramic waterfall hikes. If you’re an avid nature lover pining to explore waterfalls in SoCal, all you have to do is pick one, gear up, and start your adventure. While it’s hard to say which one’s the best, you really can’t go wrong with whichever one you pick, as all waterfalls in SoCal are guaranteed to be quite scenic and majestic. Here is a roundup of can’t-miss waterfalls in SoCal that highly recommend seeing, exploring, and even swimming in. 

The Best Waterfalls in Southern California

Eaton Canyon Falls

Location: Eaton Canyon Natural Area

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Distance: 3.8 Miles

Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Route: Loop

Dogs Allowed: On Leash 

Located in the San Gabriel Mountains, the delightful Eaton Canyon Falls are one of the most-visited SoCal waterfalls.  With a drop of around 40 feet, this year-round attraction is a must on your itinerary. Hiking to the top of Eaton Canyon Falls allows you to admire wonderful views of the area’s pristine natural landscape.

The Eaton Canyon Falls trail leads you through a narrow canyon to the stunning gorge. If you want to bask in nature’s tranquility on your own, consider coming earlier as Easton Canyon is a rather popular spot for nature lovers. The later it is in the day, the less chance you have to complete one of the best waterfall hikes in Southern California by yourself.

Holy Jim Falls

Location: Cleveland National Forrest

Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

Distance: 2.5 Miles

Time: Between 1 and 3 hours

Route: dirt road

Dogs Allowed: On Leash 

Located in the Cleveland National Forest, Holy Jim Falls is one of the most visited waterfalls in SoCal, and possibly the most breathtaking waterfall in the Golden State. It's also a great destination for families as the hiking trails around the falls are quite easy. According to local lore, a loud-mouthed resident of the area—nicknamed Cussin’ Jim—is said to be the namesake of this waterfall in Southern California. His friends and neighbors decided to give him the ironic nickname of “Holy Jim."

With time, the name stuck around and was inherited by this SoCal waterfall, which symbolizes the area’s charming character. While on your way to Holy Jim Falls, watch out for the potholes around the last five miles or so. It’s a good idea to come with a 4x4 as the paved road becomes a bit bumpier towards the end. You need an Adventure Pass from the U.S. Forest Service to hike here. Please check online for the trail’s current status. 

Millard Falls 

Location: Angeles National Forest 

Difficulty Level: Easy

Distance: 1.2 Miles

Time: 1 hour 

Route: Out and Back

Dogs Allowed: On Leash 

Located in the San Gabriel Mountains, you can access this 50-foot-high showstopper by way of a lovely scenic canyon. Among the unique features of this waterfall in California is its boulder top, which makes for a breathtaking view especially after heavy rainfall cleans things up.

Make your way to the waterfall by parking at the Millard Campground Trailhead parking lot. The path to the top twists and turns along Crystal Creek so be sure to stay on course with the trail markers. The serene atmosphere of this beautiful area makes this one of the best waterfalls hikes near Los Angeles. Once you reach the waterfall, allow yourself a moment to take in all its glory. A large cliff rock on its right side grants you a front-row seat to the cascading wonder. 

Waterfall Hikes in Southern California

Paradise Falls

Location: Wildwood Regional Park, Thousand Oaks

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Distance: 2.55 Miles

Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes

Route: Loop

Dogs Allowed: On Leash 

Out of all the best waterfalls in Southern California, Paradise Falls is among the few open for year-round visits. A very extensive network of trails leads you to these striking 40-foot falls, including a 2.15-mile route and 2.55-mile loop route. The return leg along the banks of Indian Creek will prove more relaxed in comparison—charming picnic areas provide a place to rest or have a snack on this waterfall hike in Southern California. 

If you feel like doing a longer trek, consider adding nearby Lizard Rock to your hiking route. This peak rises over five hundred feet from the canyon, offering great views of Stagecoach Bluff, and getting to it adds another 2 miles to the hike.  

Escondido Falls

Location: Escondido Canyon Park, Malibu

Difficulty Level: Easy

Distance: 3.7 Miles

Time: 2 hours

Route: Out and Back

Dogs Allowed: On Leash 

If you’re looking for an easy hike along a glorious shaded trail, look no further than Escondido Falls—one of the best waterfall hikes in SoCal. You might find the first mile or so a bit unusual, as Malibu’s opulent mansions are the main landmarks for the first part of the trail.

However, Rural paradise awaits as you press on and the trail descends to a dirt road marked “Edward Albert Escondido Canyon Trail and Waterfall”. Marvel at the lush trees and wildflower beds on your way toward one of the best waterfalls in Southern California. This hike is certainly on the longer side, but it is quite easy and the dramatic scenes of water cascading from the terraced Escondido Falls are well worth the trip.

Trail Canyon Falls

Location: Angeles National Forest, Tujunga 

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Distance: 4.3 Miles

Time: 2 hours

Route: Out and Back

Dogs Allowed: On Leash 

The San Gabriel Mountains are home to one of the most picturesque waterfalls in SoCal, including the Trail Canyon Falls. The trail to these falls is only an hour’s drive from the  City of Angels, making this another great waterfall hike near Los Angeles you must check out. 

After a moderately difficult hike through water crossings and sycamore trees, you’re rewarded with awe-inspiring views of Trail Canyon Falls. Before kicking off your return leg, take a moment to enjoy the breathtaking view of the undulating mountain landscape. If you’re pressed for time you can also drive down the access road to the Trail Canyon Trailhead. This will shave three-tenths of a mile off your hike and can be done even with a regular 2WD passenger car.

Waterfalls in Southern California You Can Swim In

Cedar Creek Falls 

Location: Cleveland National Forest

Difficulty Level: Hard

Distance: 5.6 Miles

Time: 2 hours

Route: Out and Back

Dogs Allowed: On Leash

Southern California has no shortage of waterfalls you can swim in, and Cedar Creek is amongst the area’s most popular. Once little-known, growing social media attention placed this stunning waterfall in SoCal among San Diego’s most photographed spots.

The hiking trails at Cedar Creek Falls go downhill first and uphill on the way back, which is not what you’d usually expect. The rustic dirt roads lead you down to a scenic canyon surrounded by hills stretching as far as the eye can see. The three-hour hike is likely to consume plenty of energy, so stock up on water and snacks so you can stay fueled up.

At about a hundred feet, the waterfall flows into an idyllic pool—perfect for a refreshing swim. While a quick dip can rejuvenate, don’t wear yourself out, as you still have an uphill hike.

Three Sisters Falls 

Location: Cleveland National Forest

Difficulty Level: Moderate

Distance: 4.1 miles

Time: 2 hours

Route: Out and Back

Dogs Allowed: On Leash

Located 30 minutes south of Julian, the Three Sisters Falls is one of SoCal’s finest remote hiking trails. Three sequential, beautiful waterfalls greet you with gorgeous blue pools of water, which is exactly what you need for a summer swim. 

Despite its captivating surroundings, this area is not devoid of challenges—steep trails and slippery tracks earn it a high difficulty ranking. The journey gets more difficult as you proceed, so hiking shoes with good grip are recommended. Though ropes have been installed to fight the steepness, hiking poles are a sure way to make your trip faster and safer.

Tenaja Falls

Location: San Mateo Canyon Wilderness

Difficulty Level: Easy

Distance: 1.5 miles

Time: 45 minutes

Route: Out and Back

Dogs Allowed: On Leash

Perched in the San Gabriel Mountains, this waterfall in SoCal is the perfect spot if you want to do some wading under a spectacular waterfall. The Tenaja Falls trail is just 2.1 miles up a canyon and is considered quite an easy route, perfect for kids and pets alike. The trail itself is open year-round, although we recommend coming in summer when the water tends to be rather cold year-round. Also, please note that the four-mile access road to the trailhead has been damaged and must be walked, adding about 8 miles total to the hike. Nevertheless, this is a truly worthwhile journey if you want to go somewhere off the grid but still a stone’s throw away from Los Angeles.   

Black Star Canyon Falls 

Location: Silverado, California

Difficulty Level: Hard

Distance: 6.7 miles

Time: 5 hours

Route: Out and Back

Dogs Allowed: On Leash, Off leash in certain areas.

The trail to this waterfall in SoCal is quite popular with hikers and mountain bikers alike, and as such, it is a place with plenty of traffic. Located in Cleveland National Forest, the Black Star Canyon trail is one of the longer ones on the list at 10.8 miles round trip. The route is also considered relatively challenging due to muddy and slippery conditions and is not recommended for the uninitiated. 

Those adventurous enough to take on this hike will be rewarded with one of the best waterfall hikes in SoCal, complete with stellar views of a unique waterfall that has carved its route into the rock itself. In short, this is a long but very rewarding journey for the intrepid explorers that decide to take it on.