Waterfall hikes in San Diego can be special if you go at the right time. San Diego has great weather year round, with very little rain. This makes for awesome beach weather but in terms of waterfalls don’t expect to find Niagra Falls in San Diego. In the summer, a lot of these waterfall hikes dry up and turn into a trickle with stagnant water. The best time to go chasing waterfalls in San Diego is during the winter months.
Some awesome waterfall hikes in San Diego are Cedar Creek Falls, Three Sisters Falls, Los Penasquitos Canyon, Oak Canyon, and Dead Horse Falls. They vary in difficulty, distance, and location. My all time favorite waterfall hike is Three Sisters Falls.
Table of Contents
Oak Canyon Waterfall
- Trailhead:
- Distance: 2.7 miles
- Difficulty: Easy
- Dog Friendly: Yes
- Parking:
Located in Mission Trails Regional Park, Oak Canyon is a short easy hike to a small waterfall. Great for families. There is a little bit of rock scrambling that younger ones may need help with. Other than that, it’s a very easy waterfall hike. You’ll walk along a creek and cross several foot bridges on the way. Follow the All Trails Map. It’s easy to take a wrong turn with so many connecting trails. Part of this hike is shaded with trees and lots of greenery. The rest is exposed to the sun, so pack a hat. Bonus- this hike will take you by Old Mission Dam.
Los Penasquitos Canyon
- Trailhead: 12020 Black Mountain Rd, San Diego, CA 92129
- Distance: 7.3 miles
- Difficulty: Easy
- Dog Friendly: yes
- Parking: $3 fee in the lot
- All Trails Link
There are multiple different paths you can take to get to the small waterfall at Los Penasquitos Canyon. You can really make it as long or as short as you’d like. It’s a popular spot for all outdoor enthusiasts, including mountain bikers, runners, and horseback riders. This easy waterfall hike is family friendly. It’s mostly flat, and decently shaded.
Note that the park closes at 5pm so plan accordingly. It’s very close to the city, making it convenient and crowded during the day. Come early to avoid the crowds. Surprisingly you’ll find lush oak trees here, and can even spot frogs in the stream. Just be careful, with these oak trees comes poison oak! Eeek.
Dead Horse Falls
- Trailhead: 32.85955,-116.61093
- Distance: 2.5 miles
- Difficulty: Easy
- Dog Friendly: No
- Parking: Dirt lot
- Fees: $10 day use fee. Self-pay so bring cash
Located in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, Dead Horse Falls is a fun, short hike. This hiking trail has some trail markers. It does split twice. I would recommend this for older kids that are able to walk over some rocks on their own.
I actually did this one early summer of 2020 and the water was still flowing! Depending on the route you take, a section of this hike takes you through a stream.
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is not dog friendly. Dogs are only allowed on paved roads and campgrounds here. The waterfall is very small, about 5 ft. But the swimming holes at the bottom and top of the falls are awesome! Even in the summer the water was cold!
Read more about it on my website
Cedar Creek Falls
- Trailhead: Cedar Creek Falls Trailhead, 15519 Thornbush Rd, Ramona, CA 92065
- Distance: 6 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
- Est Time: 3-4 hours
- Dog Friendly: Yes, but not recommended
- Parking: Dirt Lot
- Fees: $6 PERMIT REQUIRED
- All Trails Link
Definitely one of the best waterfall hikes in San Diego. The hike is all downhill to the waterfall. The trail is well maintained. What makes this hike challenging is the 3 mile hike back up. Many rescues and deaths have happened at Cedar Creek Falls due to heat stroke, lack of water, injuries, and overall hikers being unprepared. This is not for the hiker just starting out, and is definitely not family friendly.
Although Cedar Creek Falls is dog friendly, it’s not recommended to bring your dog.
If you properly prepare, pack more than enough water, some snacks, and do your research, then you’ll have a great time! As always, check the weather. In the summer, Cedar Creek Falls becomes Cedar Creek Trickle with a stagnant pool of water. The best time to do this hike is during the winter months.
Plan for this to be an all day trip. From downtown, it takes about 50 minutes to get to the trailhead. About the same time from north county.
Don’t forget to reserve your permit online beforehand. There are only 75 permits available per day. Permits are good for up to 5 people. Reserve your permit here
Three Sisters Falls
- Trailhead: Three Sisters Falls Trailhead, Boulder Creek Rd, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070
- Distance: 4 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
- Est time: 2.5 hours
- Dog Friendly: Yes but not recommended
- Parking: Dirt lot
- All Trails Link
Another popular waterfall hike in San Diego, 3 Sisters Falls is located in Cleveland National Forest. The last 8 miles of the road to get the trailhead is gravel and very rocky. The parking lot fills up very quickly. It’s best to start early in the day to get a parking spot and avoid the heat. Like Cedar Creek Falls, the hike is downhill to the waterfall and all uphill on the way back.
Three Sisters Falls is dog friendly (on a leash) but it’s not recommended. Some sections of this hiking trail are very narrow. A wrong step can cause a serious injury. The boulders at the waterfall can also get slippery and difficult to walk on. Many rescues have happened for dogs and people alike.
In the past, there was a section of this hike that required you to use a rope to get across. That is no longer the case. The trail went under some development so it’s safer. There are no more rope crossings.
It’s a moderately challenging hike because of the hike back up to your car. Water, water, water. I can’t stress it enough. It’s better to pack too much than too little. There is no shade on this trail.
From downtown, Three Sisters Falls is about an 1 hr and 15 min drive. Plan for this to be day trip. Like most waterfall hikes in San Diego, this is best in the winter months after a good rain.
Final Thoughts On Chasing Waterfalls in San Diego
Although it’s nothing like our neighboring PNW states- WA and OR- waterfall hikes in San Diego are still a great adventure. The best time to go on a waterfall hike in San Diego is during the winter months after we’ve gotten a good amount of rain. Even in late November, some of these waterfall hikes can still be dried up. It all depends on how wet of a year we’re having.
If for some reason you do decide to chase waterfalls in the summer, always check the weather. Most of these waterfall hikes are inland and it gets extremely hot in the summer here. So many people and dogs have been rescued from these hikes because of heat exhaustion.
Here are the final things you want to check before a waterfall hike in San Diego:
- Weather– is it the right time of year?
- My hiking ability– can I comfortably complete this hike or is it too challenging for me?
- Fees/permit– are there any required?
- Am I prepared? No one ever got back from a hike cursing because they had too much water. This also includes proper hiking shoes! Especially for Three Sisters Waterfall.
This isn’t meant to scare people away from hiking these trails, it’s just meant to double check that you are going to safely enjoy these waterfall hikes. Happy hiking!
