Escondido Falls

Beautiful, breath taking,  green, lush, dangerous and unapologetically raw; our December morning swim was a well deserved cold splash and a refreshing treat! I spent my morning climbing up my Malibu Mountains, Escondido Canyon Trail, Malibu. We had to hike about 2.5 miles first  just to get to the trail. Then climb the ridge on our hands and feet - BEAR CRAWL- most ways by grappling rocks and trees. No ropes, harnessing nor clamps! But I wish we had them though because it was very hard and perilous in so many areas. Sliding rocks, mud, water, difficult terrain, slippery trails; many in our party of 10 were highly triggered. Dressed in yoga pants, we thought this would be just a little nature hike for the kids to enjoy. Many had to be helped, consoled and hyped up  just to continue. But it just reminded me of STL 😊 and our river trips so I just sang in the sunshine . This made the kids relax and climb while singing.  You can't cry and sing at the same time! We taught them it was ok to be scared but it's not ok to let fear keep you from what you want to accomplish. So- Yes we scaled two waterfalls with a 10 month old baby! Sure we had to slide back down that mountain on our butts but I have good padding there!  Yes, I ripped my pants wide open! Yes those rocks made me their wife!  You should have seen the amount of rocks, twigs, flora, fauna and dirt embedded there🙃.  Super sore ABSOLUTELY everywhere  and yet invigorated and empowered! Hey! I'm am good shape y'all! Let's go do it again next weekend!

There was some water 12/20/25 but not as impressive as some of the other pictures. Hike was mild with about 500ft of ascent total, if you’d like to challenge yourself try trail running, the trail was stable enough to run in new balance rebels, a road shoe. Probably would take an average of 1.5-2 hours if you walked/hiked it. Parking was available at 0900 on a Saturday, drove up from San Diego. Whoever is riding their horse up and down the trail and letting it poop everywhere and not picking it up needs to be shot tho, just my two cents on that matter

The waterfall is barely there but it is still a beautiful hike! The first part of the hike is up the cement road, that will be the hardest part of the hike. When you make it to the top of that road, follow the path down the field that will lead you to the actual trail. Overall I would say this is an easy to moderate hike.

This has actually reopened. We went there yesterday, July 2025. Gorgeous hike with a great mix of canyon and ocean views. You’ll feel like you’re walking through a peaceful little forest—there’s plenty of shade thanks to the trees. There’s a small parking lot with a $12 fee, but you can also try parking on PCH just before or after the trailhead (if you’re lucky). A porta potty is available at the start. The first stretch goes through a residential area, but you’ll hit the actual trail soon after. Along the way, you’ll cross a few small streams, but it’s easy to stay dry with a bit of care. The highlight is the waterfall about an hour in—a perfect stopping point. Don’t bother trying to go further; there’s no real trail beyond that, and nothing more to see. Highly recommend for a light-to-moderate hike.

Truly beautiful hike! The waterfall naturally gets very dried up in the summer, but still worth a visit!

Falls is dried up (August) - had to walk .9 miles through just concrete before hitting the trail. Pretty mid hike.

A really nice waterfall hidden away in the forest. The hike is quite easy and the waterfall was flowing nicely. Not too much elevation gain and decent amount of shade. There were a moderate number of people but not too busy. A great way to spend some time in nature on a nice stroll.

This hike to the waterfall is fantastic. Along the way, you'll come across charming ponds to cross. To avoid the crowds, I recommend starting early in the day. Once you reach the waterfall, take a seat and relish the stunning views. The entire trail is shaded, making the journey even more enjoyable. Connecting with nature in this manner is truly the best way to unwind and rejuvenate.

We came down from LA to try the Escondido Canyon Hike Trail on an incredibly hot Saturday. Coming from LA, the weather in Malibu was so much better and much of the hike was in shade, which is a big plus! The hike is to a water fall and on the way there you will go through some smaller streams of water, needing to balance on rocks/pieces of wood- unless you don't mind getting wet! I did slip and get my entire food submerged so make sure you bring extra shoes/socks in case for the time after the hike! The hike overall was pretty doable, maybe an hour to get through, and not too crowded, especially for a Saturday morning. We made it to the waterfall which was beautiful!

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Went here yesterday, and I personally enjoyed the trail! If I'm not mistaken, I believe you have to pass at least 6 water pass ways with boulders and logs (some are slippery). When I reached the waterfall, it wasn't much water, which was okay but it was definitely a nice view. I didn't get in the water since I was hesitant, but I did see a few people get in the water. Upon arriving, my friend and I parked on the side walk across the entrance of the trail because the paid parking was short and full! So we just ended up crossing the street to begin the trail! People are very kind and respectful which is a plus! Definitely dog friendly! The service could be a bit better, but it's very slow when you get to the starting point heading to the entrance to the falls, so please keep this in mind when you decide to arrive at Escondido.

Since it's been raining here in LA, I wanted to see an active waterfall and this hike truly did not disappoint!! The hike was about 4 miles there and back. We also packed up and ate our lunches on a rock while enjoying the waterfall. We went on a Thursday morning at 8am since the parking lot is small (fit ~10 cars and $12). It does get filled up quickly especially on weekends. You can also park on PCH but just be aware of parking signs. I recommend going on a weekday morning if you can as we barely saw anyone during our hike. We mainly saw people as we were leaving. Be prepared to cross some creeks and get your feet wet but be careful as it can get muddy and slippery. We saw an older couple using hiking poles so they had no issue but we managed without it! Overall, try to go during the spring time because the waterfalls are beautiful!!! We saw a couple of big dogs along our way, just make sure they're on leashes so they don't go wandering off as the trail is pretty narrow :)

Escondido Falls is one of the best hikes along the coast of Malibu. The hike is a relatively easy 4 mile round trip, if you do both waterfalls, it leads you to one of the best waterfalls in Southern California. The waterfalls are beautiful now with so much rain we had. The first waterfall is easy to access, and the second waterfall is challenging and should only be attempted with caution and with the right shoes, (don't do it if your shoes don't have good grip) we saw people falling.. Has a bathroom right next to the parking lot, to parked is $12.00 only fit 9 cars so be there early if you want to park there. We park by the PCH for free got there before 7 am. Recommended Hiking Poles Hiking Boots with good grip Gloves for the ropes Enjoy the trails and please leave no trace.

Absolutely an amazing spot to hike. Parking costs $12 at the designated spot but there is free parking on PCH but you have to walk for a few more minutes which I think is better than paying. You first have to walk the main road, which is a little up hill but is easy, to get to the trail. Once at the start of the trail you'll go downhill cross 1 out of the 4 creek passings. Then you're met with a small sign with a bench and an arrow, following the direction of the arrow to the falls. Be prepared to get your feet/shoes wet depending on if the creek levels are high but when I went it was very easy to stay dry and walk on logs or rocks. Total hike round trip was about 3 miles. Difficulty was between easy/moderate. Definitely bring water and respect the park and not litter.

Don't let the walk from the parking lot fool you, the hike is a hike. We did almost 6 miles round trip. Bring snacks and water. So many beautiful view of both the ocean and mountains. My partner carried our 2 year old most of the way there. Dog friendly trail. We will definitely be doing this trail again.

This hike is ABSOLUTELY beautiful. The trail is very narrow, a few times you'd have to stop to let someone pass or wait for people to stop to let you pass. I went just after the rains, so the creeks and waterfall were bountiful but crossing was difficult as there were lines to cross using trees/rocks. At some point I just waded across. It gets muddy it gets slippery. Be careful. Parking sucks. There's a lot for like 4 cars at the bottom so odds are you have to park on PCH just pay mind to the parking signs. They looove to ticket there. I was able to complete this 4 mile hike (round trip) in about 1 hour and 20 minutes. I am not an avid hiker nor am I terribly in shape, but it was manageable. Have fun! Bring water! Bring snacks :)

I am not an outdoorsy type of person at all and I usually don't like hiking because of the wildlife and bugs however I recently decided to go to Escondido Trails to see the waterfall in person and it was a beautiful experience. The trail is pretty easy to hike with only a few steep hills and my favorite parts were crossing the creeks, testing my balance and of course reaching the waterfall at the end of the trail. Only took about an hour or so to reach.

Great easy hike! You may get a little wet on some streams on the way but not too bad! Also there are certain tiers. First tier is easy but after that im not too sure.

A nice moderate hike from the beginning to the end. Due to extreme heat that we suffered this summer, waterfalls was non-existent. We're planning another hike come fall and hopefully we'll have a full view of the falls, autumn leaves and breath of fresh air. Come early by 7am to get your parking by the entrance on Winding Rd. Parking is free but very limited spots. Porto potty is available at the entrance of the hike. Will come back again!

Recommend to go early. Lots of people but the wait is worth it . About 3 water ways to get over so be ready to maybe get your shoes wet.

Hiked Escondido Falls this morning 2/10/23. 1.7 miles to the Falls and all of that is rated easy. Took us 90 mins total for the entire hike. Getting up to the 2nd falls is more challenging though, not because of the steepness, but due to the gravel and dirt. It's easy to slip and requires getting a bit dirty on the way down especially. We saw a man slip really bad on the way down so I can confirm getting scratched up is easily possible. There are ropes for part of the climb but not for the whole way unfortunately. If you want to give it a try it's to the right of the lower falls, past the crushed chain link fence. The parking lot for the trail is right off of the PCH just west of Geoffrey's Restaurant. For the first .75 mile you'll be walking on asphalt past some beautiful homes and then you will reach the trailhead. Once you get down to the flat part of the trail there is a lot of shade coverings however it's not as diverse flora wise compared to some other trails around LA. I give it a 4/5 for a few reasons. It's very easy and you don't go through a lot of nature, just three small stream crossings and you're at the falls before you know it. There is also horse poop everywhere so it's easy to step in that if you're not paying attention. Finally this is a very busy trail. You will see many people on the way in and on the way out. The parking lot often fills up, also it's $12 to park. It's not the sort of trail to go to be alone or in your thoughts due to the crowds.

This is probably my favorite hiking trail. Going on Mother's Day, wasn't sure what to expect. Besides the parking situation is horrible and if you don't leave early to find a parking spot along PCH. PLEASE FOLLOW THE SIGN. If you see the NO PARKING SIGN with the arrow pointing to which area, do not park there. We spoke to the parking enforcer and he was giving tickets, where our car was one car before the sign, so we were ok. Sad to see $73.00 tickets on Mother's Day. Once we started walking through the 10 Million dollar residential area, you finally reached the start of the hiking trail. It takes 1 hour to walk to the beautiful waterfall, it's worth the nice trail. Your feet will get wet if you're not careful with the crossings along the trail. It got busy, but everyone was very respectful and waited their turn to take photos in front of the waterfall. It was nice to see hikers being patient and enjoying the view. Stunning!

Amazing place This is the trip to Escondido falls. One of the shortest trails you will ever experience but the waterfall is amazing. Great scenery and a lot of people. What to expect: A lot of people Rarely any parking. $12 parking - only 9 spaces to park Free parking next to the street. (Don't park next to the tow sign, park a few feet away from it. About 1.6 mile trail to the waterfall

BEWARE we parked in the small lot at the bottom of this hike and someone broke into the trunk of our car and stole a backpack with a computer and wallet and tried to use it :((((( disgusting behavior why can't people just be respectful. This was on a Sunday at 4 pm.

Beautiful place to stroll and go for a casual hike! the waterfall is lovely and stunning. Nature is wonderful

When I moved to Malibu 32 years ago, this is the very first trail I hiked on! I am celebrating that day because this is a magical trail that leads back to a sometimes flowing waterfall. I have not seen it flowing like this honestly ever! We had an abundance of rain this year. Please be respectful and pick up garbage if you see it. This is a sacred place, it is Nature. We are Nature. Thank you, enjoy the trail as often as you are able, Nature is the great equalizer.

I love the Escondido Falls hike!! It's typically more shaded, takes you through beautiful foliage and ends with a waterfall. It's out and back to the waterfall - I've been before where there's just a trickle but lately the water has been abundant due to all the rain. It's definitely a busier trail so I'd recommend an earlier morning hike here to beat the traffic.

We went to Malibu looking for a waterfall hike, and this was the top pick made by a friend. We also did some research on hikesoeak.com to make sure we knew where to go. Here is the basic rundown we did not really get clearly from any source. You park at the bottom of a residential neighborhood in Malibu. The is a parking fee of $15 at this ranger station and you pay at a machine, then put the tag on your dash. We did not see any other parking options. You go up the main road heading up. On any nice day, you will probably just be able to follow the other hikers. After about a 10 minute walk up, you will see the clearly marked trail on the left. Do not stop at the unmarked trail right before it. You follow the trail down and to the right until you start going up. Eventually, you will come to the first set of falls. There are streams and things to cross along the way, but nothing too treacherous, dangerous or steep. Your shoes just may get a little muddy. It is quite lovely here. The second falls will be up to the right. The trail is not marked. In fact, it says trail ends here right where you want to go up to get to the second falls. I only recommend doing this at your own risk, obviously, and also only if you are a fit climber with proper climbing shoes. It gets much steeper here. There are a few ropes along the way. But still danger of slides if you are not super careful. A gorgeous place, the second fall. Well worth it for us. Enjoy!

One of my all time favorite hikes! There's 2 waterfalls. First one is family friendly and the 2nd one is for the brave. Definitely worth it if you're not worried about getting your hands dirty. If you're wearing sandals or crappy sneakers forget about it. IF you made it to the 2nd waterfall, there's a final challenge to climb up into the waterfall for an amazing view. You'll feel like the king of the jungle sitting in a theone

!!!!!!!!! When parking on PCH for the "free" parking, be aware that Malibu parking citations still come and check. AND they looked to see if I had a front license plate?!?! I got a ticket for not having a front license plate so be careful. Few spots to park in the parking lot, at this time it's $12. The porta potty was beyond gross as it hasn't been emptied in what seems like months since poop was coming out of the hole of doom. So pee in nature. Starts off nice but start early since there isn't much shade. All concrete in celebrity homes. There's an area where there's a sign on the LEFT, Don't take this small trail with weeds. It's a fake. Keep going and you'll see the ACTUAL sign and a more gradual dirt hike on the left as it goes downhill. A few river crossings with slipper rocks and logs so be ready to get your socks wet. Dogs allowed on leash! Once you get to the falls, it's nice to see in LA. They used to allow you to hike up and see the triple 3 tier falls but you can't anymore because it's private property so that's the end of the hike. There's a good amount of shade on the hike but always bring water! Overall great hike just so weird I got a ticket while parked for not having a front license plate.

Escondido is SO gorgeous. California has more rain this year and the upside is that Escondido now has a flowing river, there is a waterfall, but there's no going under it as the water flows down large rock formation. I recommend this area. It's more of a walk, than a hike. I also recommend spending the whole day on this side of town when you're here already. I'd you love nature, you'll like this place.

Cool trail. Waterfall that greets you at the end of trail. Good family hiking trail. Lots of shaded areas.

Great hike! Not too difficult, hike is fairly easy. I have not seen this water fall with water in over 7 years. The scenery was filled with color, flowers bloomed and grass is green.

I loved this hike. We went early on a Friday morning and found parking (small parking lot, but does have a handicap porta potty). It was clean in the morning but can't say the same when we got back. Shame people can't be respectful for others. Parking is $12 for the day, and I did see people parking on the Main Street. First you have to walk almost a mile to the trail thru a beautiful neighborhood and it's up hill (good little warm up). I read some reviews saying you will get super wet, not true lol. There are creeks you have to cross, some people walked thru the water (ankle high) but others used logs and rocks to cross. We brought our small dogs and were able to pick them up and cross. I saw people helping others to cross which I love to see. The flowers and greenery are so beautiful. Some muddy and slippery areas, but the right shoe gear and being careful is key. I saw all sorts of shoe gear and some people barefoot, you do you! The waterfall was gorgeous, loud, and full. Yes you might have to wait your turn for a picture, but being in nature was worth it. We brought water, towel (just in case), a dog backpack just in case my small doggy got tired, hat, and a positive attitude. People were very friendly. There is shady areas and some sunny areas (a good mix). Very beautiful hike! FYI when we were leaving a lot of people were arriving, around 12:30-1pm. Enjoy!

We went on a Sunday morning around 7am. We were able to find parking in the lot, but filled up by the time we came back from the hike. There is a $12 parking fee in the lot but lots of free parking along PCH. The trail itself was about 3.8 miles round trip. It was a pretty easy hike considering my dog was able to do it without any trouble. It is dog-friendly, but dogs must be kept on leash. The first 20 min of the hike from the lot was in the residential areas. Be careful of incoming cars on the pathway! There were a few cars that sped through here so stick to the sides. The pathway then splits off when the residential area ends and you want to stick to the left side to head toward Escondido Falls trail. The pathway can get pretty narrow to the first waterfall as you hike, but there is not that many inclines. When we reached the lower waterfall, it was more like a water faucet than an actual fall. It is summer and LA is in a drought right now so we didn't expect there to be much water anyway. Hoping to check it out again in the fall/winter when there's more rain!

Car was TOWED had to pay just under $500. I made sure I was behind the tow sign but I guess there is another tow sign behind it!! terrible feeling after after a hike and you are stranded. Escondido Falls was filled this Memorial Day weekend with a lot of inconsiderate and loud people, and yes I'm refraining from being specific. I'd say leaving was the best part of the hike but my car was towed. wasn't worth it

Nature is the best medicine Beautiful place to go hiking, decompress and recharge I absolutely recommend it

It is short hike like 3,5 miles round trip; but it is a very beautiful hike. There's a small parking lot and it is $12 to park there, but honestly, you don't need to pay that money, if you don't mind walking another 2 extra minutes, you can park by the pch highway. Make sure you park off the road and watch for mailbox and house entrance. After you park, you need to walk half a mile on asphalt to the entrance of the Canyon Trail. Once you arrive to the Canyon Trail, it's a short hike to the waterfall, but you need to cross four small creeks, when there's no water, they are very easy to cross. But when there is water, especially after a long rain, the water might be very fast and you may be getting wet. It may also get muddy after rains. Waterfall is gorgeous. It's very picturesque. You'll really have fun with the waterfall and it is really high. There is a second waterfall that you need to climb, I never went up there, my friends went up there and they said it's a very strenuous climb to the second fall. While crossing creeks, it helps a lot if you have a hiking pole. This hike is very popular and it gets very crowded. It's partially shade and partially open air. There are restrooms at the parking lot, when I used it on February 2023, they were clean.

Fun hike on a cloudy day! 5/5 after rain (2nd photo) 2/5 during the summer (1st photo) - Bring a cap and water since the hike is long and not shaded. - Recommend wearing shoes you don't mind getting wet if going during the winter/early spring. - Moderate hike. Only difficult park was balancing on logs and stones to cross the creek. This won't be a problem in the summer/fall. - Took 30 minutes to get to the waterfall from the start of the hike - Parking lot has limited spots and require payment or park on PCH. 20 minute walk to the start of the trail. - Visited May 2023 (crossed 5 streams mid calf length) and June 2018 (only a trickle of water at the end. Not worth it)

Did the hike to the lower fall. I'm 100000% a beginner hiker and this was 100000% doable. I did the hike in cheap Walmart water shoes because I figured I'd be crossing a lot of creeks; which I did. If you're just doing the lower fall hike (~1.7mi from the parking lot) then I recommend the water shoes (didn't go higher so I cant recommend them for the whole trail); lots of people were trying to figure out hot to cross the creeks without wetting their socks and some didn't even go into the falls because of this :/ it was like 75 degrees outside and 12:30 when I started... then I wadded around the falls for nearly an hour so my total hike was about 3hrs.... Total of 3.4mi in and out. Also I did not have an issue securing a parking spot in the (tiny) lot when I arrived but PCH was COVERED in parked cars near the trail. Must pay the fee for parking in the lot or will get a ticket; saw this happen to the car next to me. Back to the trail: the most strenuous part was the paved residential area going up because it was the steepest part. Lots of little dogs, old dogs, and children were enjoying this trail. Saw many people power walking and jogging on it; some even came from the higher falls. The fall isn't as strong as reviews from a few weeks ago- or months ago! So I recommend going before this heat wave dries out the fall again. Happy hiking :)

Can't believe I haven't been to this trail. And being an angeleno. Pre super bowl hike on a perfect Sunday morning. There's a parking lot at the base of the entrance. Be careful, to park only at the designated parking spots. We've seen two cars got ticketed for parking on spots that wasn't part of it. It's 8.00 for parking. If the machine for ticket isn't working, there's a wooden box with envelops that you could put your cash in and leave the recipe on your dashboard. Parking is limited but there's street parking on pch. Not sure how long the street parking is for. Once you start, it's about a half mile walk up the road. Walking past beautiful properties. Halfway to to the trail, take a moment to admire the view of the Pacific Ocean. Million dollar view. The start of the trail, your going downhill. After all the rain that LA has gotten, the landscape is so luscious and green. Water was still flowing. Not quite sure if it's a standard thing. The trail alone is pretty easy. Beautiful scenery to take in. There was a pretty good amount of hikers on the trail. Once you reach the end, your greeted by a waterfall. I don't know if it just me but it sort of had a foul smell. Not sure what it's from. Ig was quite busy as people were lounging and enjoying the fall. One side of the fall had a rocky terrain that people were hiking up. It's pretty steep and noticed people were sliding down slowly to come back down. I spoke with someone who was up there and they said there was nothing up top. And the other side of the wall had a rope that you could use to hike up as well. Overall, easy hike with amazing scenery. Beautiful landscape. Weekends can get busy.

Amazingly challenging trails to water falls! A beautiful sight to see at the end and even more things to see if you're up for a dirty challenge to the second waterfall, I heard there was a third, but the second is the best one. Plenty of people come here with their families, friends and dogs.. even horses.. we had to watch out for horse poop and scale and super climb the mountains, but it was worth it at the end!

The hike to the fall was mostly shady with a few stream crossings. Once we arrived, there was a very distinct odor (smelled like sewage). There was also a group of people that played their music for EVERYONE to hear. News flash; We come to these places to enjoy nature. If you want to play your LOUD music, stay at home and party with your friends and family.

This was an okay hike. The 3.7 mile out and back hike is pretty easy. The first 0.7 miles is through a residential area (so you can check out the very bougie homes) and the rest of the hike is on some pretty compact dirt trail through some forrested area that leads to the water fall (or rather the wet rocks--which is what southern california waterfalls typically look like). I thought there'd be more water since it just rained a week before, but I guess I was wrong. The forrested trail looks like it's frequently used as an equestrian trail, so beware of the poop you'll see every so often. Visited on a Friday morning around 8am and was the first on the trail. The parking lot at the base of winding road was pretty empty. It cost $8 to park in the lot, so if you'd like the free option park along PCH. Overall, I don't think I'll be back anytime soon, unless there was pretty significant rain that would make it with checking out the waterfall.

This was a really fun hike with plenty of terrain changes and even some rock climbing involved. It's a moderate difficulty hike, but isn't too tiring on the feet and there is plenty of trees along the path for shade. We found street parking on the side of PCH, after that it's about a .5 mile walk to get into the hike. The hike to the first waterfall is a straight and wide path. It was really easy, but to reach the end of the hike is much more challenging. The difficult part starts with some rock climbing to ascend to the sharper inclined path. You'll notice that the hike gets more steep with loose rocks, so make sure to take your time to ascending up as well as descending on the way back. At the end of the hike is a large nature-made structure with droplets of water dripping. Some of my friends and I decided to make our way onto the cave-like opening. You'll have to climb up and there is a rope to assist you with the final leap onto the platform. It's somewhat difficult and scary, but that's what gets the adrenaline pumping. I loved the Escondido Falls hike, I will make sure to return in the future! We went in June so there wasn't much water, I'll try going in the Spring next time to see if there will be more water. Overall, I would definitely recommend this hike to anyone who enjoys nature and a bit of a challenge.

*DOG friendly *Child friendly *I went July 2020 around 11:30ish *To get to the entrance of the hiking trail you'll walk through the uphill neighborhood about half a mile. *Free parking on PCH I would rate this a beginner hike to get to the first waterfall. The first waterfall seemed to be a bit dried out. It was a nice spot to rest, take some pictures, and eat some snacks. For the Second waterfall I'd rate it Moderate. You'll basically have to rock climb. It was a bit steep and had a lot of loose rocks and dirt along the way. There are ropes along the way to help you climb up. Don't be afraid to crouch down and use your hands and feet to climb up (I did). I recommend wearing some hiking shoes or shoes with a good grip. I saw a lot of people slip and fall. Once you've finished climbing up, the second waterfall will be straight ahead fairly close. I would recommend hiking to the Second waterfall definitely worth the view! Parking: There was plenty of parking along PCH  fairly close to the hike entrance. If you park on PCH parking is FREE. If you park in the designated area for the hike parking is $8.00. They do have a porta potty in the designated parking area before starting the hike. TIP:  If you park on PCH make sure you check the signs and ensure there isn't a sign stating you cannot park there. Parking enforcement is STRICT here and they will give you a citation. I went on a Sunday and literally saw over 15 cars with parking tickets. Do not assume because there are cars parked there it is okay to park check the signs! I would also recommend arriving early due to the crowds. It's a popular hike so I'd say starting this hike around 11:30 or 12 is good! If you start too early it may be overcast since it's so close to the beach. For some nice weather & sunny skies I recommend 11:30 or 12.

We couldn't wait to review this hike. Especially because so many people had been asking us questions before and after. So I hope we can provide some answers. For context we went last weekend on 7/11/2020 to be precise. 1. I first recommend downloading the app AllTrails. We use this app for all our hikes and it's super helpful because it helps to guide you right to where the trail starts. The trail on this one starts after you hike up the road. You'll then see it on your left. 2. Parking here can be hit or miss. The day we went we had to park along PCH. But beware of SHERIFFs. They were out and about and giving tickets left and right. Also be careful about the parking lot that's at the entrance as well. My friend tried to park there and then a Sheriff pulled up and was writing her a ticket, but luckily she saw her and left right away. 3. Be careful when you're putting this address or this hike into google maps. We had followed the address given to us on a Time Out article, put it into google maps, and then it ended up leading us a street or two over from the actual hike. 4. The hike was great! Very easy and flat. Shaded for the most part as well. It was a really nice hike and wasn't too crazy. As some other reviews note there's normally a waterfall at the end. But when we went it was just a mere stream. Overall it was a great hike. Will definitely be coming back once we have a bit more rain.

Very easy, short hike. My friend and I went the wrong way and took an off trail which was beautiful after all the rain. We saw so many butterflies and everything was so green! We really wanted to see the waterfall so we headed back in the opposite direction. We were lucky last year in California as the drought was finally over and we actually got to see water! It was really crowded and almost everyone brings their dogs (I don't mind the latter). As a hiker that loves a good work out and is a sucker for views, this place was just okay. It has a decent waterfall (if you get lucky) but it's just too short.

Super nice hike well kept trail lots of foliage and shade plenty of spots to stop for a quick rest narrow trail still good for groups it's kid and pet friendly to the first waterfall the second is up a steep path that I didn't dare to try but my teenage boys did and said it was not easy coming down so make sure you have proper footwear only reason I didn't give five stars is because unfortunately there is not enough waterfowl for there to be an actual waterfall there is some water so still worth the trip

Beautiful hike especially after all the rain we received. Went on a Saturday a little later in the afternoon. There is a very small parking lot that costs $12 to park. But just park along PCH. You'll see signs that say no parking and tow away but there were many cars parked along the street and we were fine. About 5 water crossings expect to get your feet wet. Terrain can get a little uneven and narrow in some spots but otherwise the hike is pretty easy to navigate through.

lots of parking ( free street parking and paid parking lot). The trial is not too bad but the view was so worth it! We also got to see some horses on the hike. This hike also has a beautiful waterfall!

Yassss nature yassss! This is an easy hike that's extra lovely now that we've gotten a nice rainy winter under our belts. Everything is in bloom and maybe even a little overgrown, making the paths a little narrower and slower to pass on busy days. Even still, this is definitely worth checking out during these nice spring months before it gets crazy hot! The water falls are out in full force and the although it gets pretty busy, it's a photo op for sure. The entry of the hiking trail is pretty deep into a Malibu neighborhood. I didn't mind much as it was sort of fun seeing the fancy houses and yards, but it's worth noting that you'll spend the first part of your walk on the road. The hike itself is fairly easy--a mile and a half or so the waterfall and essentially an out-and-back unless you decide to climb up the VERY steep hill at the end (no thanks). This hike is also dog friendly, so you'll see lots of adorable canines while you're there. Parking is really limited--there's a small lot with about 20 spots, but otherwise you're basically stuck parking on the PCH. Make sure to read the signs (we saw tickets!) and be very careful walking as you're essentially walking on a highway with no sidewalks. There's one port-a-potty near the parking lot which is at least a half mile from the actual path, so plan accordingly.

Had a great time at Escondido Falls! - Dog friendly -$8 parking in lot, not sure about parking in residential or on the street. - Great easy "hike" for beginners or for those looking for something more scenic and leisure and less grueling. Trail is pretty much flat all the way to the first fall. It starts out as a dirt path that winds through a neighborhood of big houses and mansions. Once you get to the start of the trail, it slopes down and into beautiful overgrown brush and trees. Throughout the remainder of the hike, you are mostly in the shade and cross numerous streams and see a nice variety of lush plants and colorful flowers. I want to say it took about 45 min to the first fall. We packed a lunch and ate at the base. Lots of rocks to sit on and have a nice picnic with a view. We didn't make it to the second fall as we had our four-legged friends with us and the path to the second fall was really steep and involved a rope and some serious climbing to hoist yourself up.

My friends and I did this hike around late March 2021. There is a small parking lot by PCH, though it's $12. You can also park along PCH for free. There's a total of three waterfalls in this trail but I only got to see the first one. In total, it was around a 3 mile hike. Mostly everyone was masked. It might be a little difficult to socially distance once you get to climbing up/down the trail on the way to the second and third waterfall. From the parking lot, you have to walk around 1 mile to reach the start of the trail. The walk wasn't too bad. It was scenic and and you could see the nice residential area around. Once you get to the trail, it was around another half a mile or so to get to the first waterfall. The hike to the first waterfall was very easy. There is no incline at all, a lot of greenery and trees, and some shade. Unfortunately, only a tiny stream was visible from the first waterfall. To get to the second waterfall, you literally have to rock climb. It's very steep and had loose dirt and gravel. This is definitely not for the faint-hearted or those who are afraid of heights. You want to make sure you have the proper footwear for this. A lot of people were sliding so be careful when you hike up and climb down. There are ropes to help you when you ascend/descend but there are small gaps where there aren't any. I initially attempted to climb this but I couldn't take it so I went back down. My friends made it to the second waterfall, however there also wasn't much to see. The stream in the second waterfall was just a tad bit more than the first. My friends said there was a huge line to get back down which is understandable since you definitely want to take your time. They found a shortcut on the right side with the rocks, which they found a lot easier than going down the main way. Overall, the hike to the first waterfall was easy and smooth. Make sure to bring shoes and be prepared to climb if you decide to go beyond the first waterfall.

Average hike. Escondido falls is located in Malibu in the suburb. There's a parking lot next to PCH but only like 10 cars are able to park there. Luckily there's free parking along PCH. I saw CHP write tickets to cars who parked along the No Parking area so be aware and read signs! To get to the trail, you must walk up a neighborhood and at the end of the neighborhood is the beginning of the trail. Entering the trail, it was like a forest with trees over hanging us. We followed the river up to the waterfall. It's less than 2 miles to get to the waterfall from PCH. There were way too many people by the waterfall and I didn't get a photo by the waterfall. You can go to the next waterfall by climbing a steep trail next to the first waterfall. It was dangerous and not recommended for beginners or kids. One wrong step and you might fall down a steep rocky cliff. The second waterfall is better than the first waterfall. It's peaceful and have better chance of getting photos. To get to the top of this waterfall, there's a super dangerous trail next to it. Me and my friend didn't want to get hurt so we backed out. This hike isn't exciting since there's not much scenery, all you see is bunch of trees. Way too many people and the terrain is not suited for average hikers in my opinion.

Super easy hike to the first "waterfall." (Took us less than 45 minutes). The second waterfall you gotta climb up using a rope. We parked on site ($12), but I heard you can park at PCH for free just look at the signs, so you won't come back with tickets on your windshield. We walked through residential area and into the trail, descent amount of shade. I climb a tree on the way (heehee), my Tarzan mode kicked in and then got to the first waterfall and guess what? No water. That's why I gave it 3 stars (not challenging and no water).

I went this Saturday and the waterfall was so beautiful. I definitely recommend you checking it out after a good rain the fall was overflowing. Very easy hike it was a little muddy due to the rain.