💦 Best after winter rain
SoCal family waterfall hikes
Curated by Simir Shah
18 spots across Southern California — add your zip or city to sort by what's closest to you
Holy Jim Falls
Trabuco Canyon
An easy ~2.5–3-mile round-trip through a shaded, fern-lined canyon to a 20-ft grotto fall; great for families, but the gravel access road is rough.
🗓️ Best Dec–May after rain
💵 $ Adventure Pass
Tenaja Falls
Murrieta
An easy ~1.5-mile round-trip to a 150-ft multi-tiered cascade in the San Mateo Canyon Wilderness, with one creek crossing early on.
🗓️ Best Dec–May after rain
Black Star Canyon Falls
Silverado
About 6–7 miles round-trip with a rocky boulder-scramble finish to a 50-ft fall; scenic but long and uneven — best for fit older kids and teens.
🗓️ Best Jan–Apr after rain
Bonita Falls
Lytle Creek
A short ~1.5–2-mile round-trip along South Fork Lytle Creek to a tall multi-tier fall with easy creek crossings and rock-hopping.
🗓️ Best Jan–May after rain
💵 $ Adventure Pass
Monrovia Canyon Falls
Monrovia
An easy ~1.5-mile round-trip in a shady canyon park to a ~30-ft fall — one of the most kid-friendly waterfall walks in the San Gabriels. Check park status first.
🗓️ Best Dec–May after rain
💵 $ parking
Hermit Falls
Arcadia
A ~2.5-mile loop from Chantry Flat into Santa Anita Canyon to a small fall and swimming holes; switchbacks down (and back up) suit older kids.
🗓️ Best Dec–May after rain
💵 $ Adventure Pass
Sturtevant Falls
Arcadia
About 3–3.5 miles round-trip from Chantry Flat to a graceful 50-ft fall, passing rustic cabins and the creek; moderate and shaded.
🗓️ Best Dec–May after rain
💵 $ Adventure Pass
Heart Rock (Seeley Creek) Falls
Crestline
An easy ~1.8-mile round-trip along Seeley Creek to a heart-shaped pothole beside a ~20-ft fall; gentle grade is great for kids — watch footing near the edge.
🗓️ Best Dec–May after rain
💵 $ Adventure Pass
Big Falls
Forest Falls
A very short walk (~0.5 mile round-trip) to an overlook of one of SoCal's tallest falls; easy for all ages, but stay at the overlook — terrain beyond is dangerous.
🗓️ Best Apr–Jul (snowmelt)
💵 $ Adventure Pass
Switzer Falls
La Cañada Flintridge
A ~4-mile round-trip along a creek from Switzer Picnic Area; the easy upper section suits little kids, the full fall view is rockier.
🗓️ Best Dec–May after rain
💵 $ Adventure Pass
Los Peñasquitos Canyon Falls
San Diego
A flat, shaded creekside walk to a small cascade over rocks; very easy and largely stroller-friendly, though the falls can be a few miles in. Check fire closures.
🗓️ Best Jan–Apr after rain
Trail Canyon Falls
Tujunga
About 4 miles round-trip in Big Tujunga Canyon to a tall ~30-ft fall with easy stream crossings; flat first stretch then a moderate climb. Rough access road.
🗓️ Best Dec–May after rain
💵 $ Adventure Pass
Cedar Creek Falls
Ramona
Read the warning before you plan this one: it's a 5.5-mile round trip that goes DOWN to an 80-ft fall and swimming hole, which means roughly 1,000 feet of fully exposed climbing on the way back when you're already tired and hot. There have been multiple heat rescues and deaths here. You need an advance permit from Recreation.gov, and this is a cool-season hike for fit older kids — not a summer family outing.
🗓️ December–April only; the Forest Service restricts or closes access in extreme heat
💵 Advance permit required (Recreation.gov)
Three Sisters Falls
Julian
About 4 miles round-trip to a three-tiered cascade; very steep with rope-assisted sections and a strenuous climb out — for older, experienced kids and teens only.
🗓️ Best Dec–Apr (avoid summer heat)
Escondido Falls
Malibu
A ~3.5-mile, mostly flat round-trip in Escondido Canyon Park to the mossy lower tier of the Santa Monica Mountains' tallest fall; upper falls are closed.
🗓️ Best Jan–May after rain
💵 $ parking
Rose Valley Falls
Ojai
A short ~1-mile round-trip from the Rose Valley Campground to the base of a 100-ft limestone fall; one small stream crossing, otherwise easy and great for kids.
🗓️ Best Dec–May after rain
💵 $ parking
Seven Falls
Santa Barbara
A ~3.5-mile round-trip up Mission Canyon to sandstone pools and cascades; the start is easy/paved but reaching the pools involves boulder-scrambling. Strict parking.
🗓️ Best Jan–Apr after rain
Nojoqui Falls
Solvang
An easy ~0.6-mile round-trip in a county park to an 80-ft fern-draped fall; restrooms, picnic areas and fields make it ideal for young families.
🗓️ Best Jan–May (trickle year-round)
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Before you go: SoCal waterfalls are seasonal — most run best December–May (or spring snowmelt) and may be dry by late summer. Check trail conditions and fire closures, bring water, and note which trails need an Adventure Pass or permit.
Frequently asked questions
Are there waterfalls in Orange County?
Yes — Holy Jim Falls in Trabuco Canyon (an easy, shaded family hike to a grotto fall) and the longer Black Star Canyon Falls in Silverado are the OC favorites. Both run best after winter rain.
When do SoCal waterfalls actually flow?
Most are rain- or snowmelt-dependent and run best from about December through May; many slow to a trickle or dry up by late summer. Spring after a wet winter is the sweet spot.
Which waterfall hikes are easiest with little kids?
Monrovia Canyon Falls, the lower part of Eaton Canyon, Nojoqui Falls near Solvang, Heart Rock in Crestline and the Big Falls overlook in Forest Falls are short and gentle — great first waterfall hikes.
Do I need an Adventure Pass or permit?
Several trailheads (Holy Jim, Sturtevant, Switzer, Bonita, Heart Rock, Big Falls) require a National Forest Adventure Pass to park, and Cedar Creek Falls needs an advance permit. Check before you go.