Escondido Falls Trail

Winding Way
4.3
7 Reviews
Escondido Falls Trail
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Details

Distance
3.74 miles
Elevation Gain
699 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back

Features

Wildflowers
Waterfall
Dog Friendly
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About this place

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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Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and be sure to follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly.
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Ben Lertsakdadet
3/15/2017
The Water is Flowing!
Just hiked Escondido Falls this past weekend (March 11, 2017), and the water was flowing from the Upper to Lower Falls and down the ...
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Danielle Dong
2/6/2017
Great!
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 ...
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Tori Marsh
1/19/2017
Make sure you go after a big rain!
I made the mistake of going right in the middle of summer, during the drought! There was no waterfall, and it was really just ...
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Dorothea Trujillo
5/8/2016
Worth It For The Hike
I was a little disappointed when I finally arrived at the "falls" and there was nothing but a giant mud puddle (my dogs loved ...
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Brittany Rouille
10/23/2015
Look for the Rope Swing!
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 ...
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Clare Healy
10/2/2015
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 ...
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Mike Stokely
3/1/2015
There is very little water these days unless you go right after a good rain storm. It is still a great hike with beautiful ...
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