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Escondido Falls Trail

Malibu, California

4.3/5
based on 7 reviews

Details

Distance

3.74 miles

Elevation Gain

699 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Derek Mathewson

Escondido Falls trail is an out-and-back hike located near Malibu, California. Take in Upper and Lower Escondido falls to enjoy 200 feet tiered of waterfall. Get the camera ready and shoot a few keepers of the falls. Duration: 2-3 hours.

This 3.8 mile out-and-back hike takes place on a very easy to use trail. The first 0.75 miles on Winding Way are paved, leading you up to Escondido Canyon Trail. As you head up Winding Way, it’s safest to stay on the side of the road on the dirt. You’ll take this paved road up roughly 200 feet before descending into Escondido Canyon Park.

After a shaded mile in the park, you’ll arrive at lower Escondido Falls. This 50-foot waterfall is a great reward for the 1.75 miles you’ve hiked so far. If you’re up for it, upper Escondido Falls is a 150- foot fall. There’s a route to the right of the lower falls, which will help you make it to the upper falls. To get to the top is going to be a bit of a scramble so prepare yourself – make sure you’ve got the strong hiking shoes on. Also, be prepared for the slippery descent on the way down. There is a rope to help you up a very steep part of this 150 foot climb over 0.10 miles.

Once you’ve made it back down to the base, relax and enjoy yourself before heading back to the car.

After your hike, you can relax at the beach or consider hitting up Lily's. for a burrito to refuel.

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Features

Photography
Hiking
Dog Friendly
Waterfall
Wildflowers

Escondido Falls Trail Reviews

Just hiked Escondido Falls this past weekend (March 11, 2017), and the water was flowing from the Upper to Lower Falls and down the creek that follows the trail. It definitely starts off a bit unconventional walking up a paved road, but then you find yourself walking into an open meadow into a tree covered trail. The trail was easy to follow leading to Lower Falls, but if you plan to make the extra trek up to Upper Falls, I would suggest wearing hiking shoes. The path up to the Upper Falls is less obvious as there are multiple paths you can take. Getting up wasn't difficult, but coming down requires a bit more time due to the loose dirt and gravel making things slippery. Overall, it was great hike and very family friendly up until the Lower Falls. With the recent rain we've been having, I don't think there is a better time to try this hike.

Fairly straightforward hike to get to the lower falls, but reaching the upper falls was a challenge because there's no clear trail to reach it. Getting to the upper falls involved lots of mild rock climbing, and for me, the added bonus of lots of mud and slippery rocks due to a recent rain. I enjoyed the adventure though, and the view is definitely worth the trek!

I made the mistake of going right in the middle of summer, during the drought! There was no waterfall, and it was really just a big mud pit. To see the waterfall in action, try and go right after a rain big rain storm (although those are hard to come by in LA!)

I was a little disappointed when I finally arrived at the "falls" and there was nothing but a giant mud puddle (my dogs loved it however). Although I will say that the hike was well worth it for the trail there was surrounded by beautiful trees and greenery. Plus, I'm always looking for new places to hike where I can bring my dogs and this was a great trail for that.

A nice simple hike that is greatly shaded. Look for the rope swing along the trail on the right side. If your'e lucky you may even get the guy playing his guitar in the canyon. It's a beautiful sound as it echoes all around you.

Yeah, definitely don't expect too much of a waterfall these days, but still worth the trip! Enjoy the solace of the trail and keep your eyes out for the rope swing along the way.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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