Los Angeles happens to be blessed with sunny weather nearly year-round, and offers a geographical location that allows residents to hit some of the best beaches and mountains in the Golden State – in the same day. Suffice to say, finding something to do in the outdoors here is a given; however, there’s one activity that tops many Angelinos’ lists when it comes to getting out in the lovely Southern California elements: hiking. The next time you’re looking for a beautiful view of the Woodland Hills area, don’t go back to that rooftop bar – lace up your hiking boots, go chase some waterfalls (despite what supergroup TLC told us to do in their smash hit years ago) and head out onto the trail. Whether you’re more of a cityscape gawker or an ocean gazer, we’ve got the trek for you in this list of the best waterfalls near Woodland Hills!
Paradise Falls in Wildwood Park drops 40-feet into a large pool along the Arroyo Conejo in Thousand Oaks, and because of an almost excessive network of trails, these waterfalls near Woodland Hills may be reached by way of several routes. You may choose a 2.15-mile out-and-back hike or 2.55-mile loop that visits a small cave. It is a downhill hike from the trailhead to Paradise Falls with 260-feet of elevation change. If you visit Wildwood Park’s other main attraction, Lizard Rock, it makes your hike 4.35-miles or more. The trailhead is located at 928 West Avenida De Los Arboles in Wildwood Regional Park in Thousand Oaks.
Escondido Falls in the Santa Monica Mountains is one of the finest waterfalls near Woodland Hills and around Los Angeles, with an easily-accessible 50-foot lower tier and a more challenging 150-foot upper tier that’s jaw-dropping when conditions are optimum. As one of the best Los Angeles waterfall hikes, Escondido Falls and its accompanying experience, begins with a 3.8-mile round-trip hike to Escondido Falls just off Pacific Coast Highway, and goes uphill for 0.75-miles along Winding Way, a paved road that passes through the Malibu residences. After ascending nearly 200-feet, the path goes downhill and culminates with Escondido Canyon Park, a wooded area that beckons for everyone to relish – before you know it, you’ll be taking the dirt path to a trail that descends through a field of fennel and mustard towards a thicket where a small creek flows. Upper Escondido Falls is a true treasure; the water here cascades over a boundary of lush green moss and falls some 150-feet before crashing in a serene pool. These waterfalls near Woodland Hills sit at 27807 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.
Santa Ynez Falls in the Santa Monica Mountains tracks a picturesque shaded creek to a gorge with a short waterfall. This 2.5-mile hike has become quite the outstanding family adventure thanks to its moderate level (just 250-feet of elevation change) topography and its ability to hold a child’s attention for the duration. Once you hike all the way to gorgeous Santa Ynez Falls, you’ll be treated to an 18-foot waterfall that appears diminutive when it’s not rainy season, but still remains an indulgent hike to the cascade. Draping down the rock alongside the falls are maidenhair ferns, which spill into a small shadow-cloaked grotto. The trailhead is located at 17399 Vereda De La Montura in Pacific Palisades.
Solstice Canyon Loop Trail is a 3.4-mile moderately-trafficked loop trail located near Malibu, which features a waterfall. The trail is rated as “moderate,” and is primarily used for hiking, walking, trail running and nature trips, and is accessible year-round. Canine friends are also welcome, though they must be kept on leashes. The intensely picturesque canyon that’s mostly in the shade and in the Santa Monica Mountains must be experienced to be believed. The Solstice Canyon Trail is a properly-maintained and popular route with spur-trail opportunities for more adventurous hikers, boasting some key features that encompass a small creek and waterfall, the oldest stone building in Malibu that’s still standing, and several charming ruins – even those of a “moderate” mansion. Visit the AllTrails website for additional information.
In and around Los Angeles, a myriad of waterfalls can be seen on hikes, with most at their peak during the early months of the year when runoff from rainstorms provide the fullest flows. The aforementioned roundup offers a general look at the Woodland Hills area’s waterfall hikes based on the beauty of the falls and the quality of the trails to those tumbling waters.
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