Allow at least two hours for this four-mile round trip hike to a 150-foot waterfall that flows dramatically after heavy rain. The route starts unpromisingly—the first three-quarters of a mile winds through an exclusive residential neighborhood on paved streets, which feels a bit odd as you’re walking past multimillion-dollar homes. But once you enter the Escondido Canyon Natural Area proper, the landscape opens up and the dirt trail becomes genuinely beautiful, climbing gradually through chaparral and oak woodland with increasingly nice views.

The lower falls, around 50 feet high, come into view without much scrambling and make for a respectable turnaround point if you want to keep things easy. But if you’re willing to boulder-hop another 200 feet up the creek bed, the upper cascade is worth the extra effort—that’s where you get the full 150-foot drop, especially impressive when water’s running strong. The rock-hopping section is manageable but requires some picking your way carefully, so watch your footing.

Leashed dogs do fine on this trail. The initial pavement section is shaded and not too strenuous, and most dogs handle the dirt climbing without issue. The creek area at the bottom is the trickiest part with all those boulders, so depending on your dog’s size and agility, you might decide the lower falls are enough. Just remember to pack out what you pack in—bring bags for waste.

Getting there involves either the PCH from the east or the Malibu Canyon Road from the valley. Once you’re on PCH, look for Winding Way and turn north into the parking area. From there, it’s roughly three-quarters of a mile up the road on pavement to reach the actual trailhead. The parking lot itself can get busy on weekends, so an earlier start helps.