Southern California didn’t get as drenched as the north state during the winter’s deluge, but its mountain waterfalls are running fast and furious nonetheless. Pack mud boots for you and towels for Sunny as you explore this standout pair of cascades.
Escondido Canyon Natural Area near Malibu is home to a seasonal waterfall that plunges 150 feet into a gorge reached on a moderately rated, 4-mile round-trip hike that starts on Winding Way, just a mile out of town. Easy accessibility makes the path very popular on weekends, even though you have to hike eight-tenths of a mile along a private road before reaching the trailhead proper. (Beautiful homes and ocean views make this part of the trek more than tolerable.) The rest of the trail is wide enough for you and your leashed friend to walk side-by-side. You’ll cross Escondido Creek several times before reaching the tallest cascade in the Santa Monica Mountains. Go as soon after a rainstorm as possible to catch the fall at its most impressive.
Eaton Canyon Falls in the San Gabriel Mountains is a family-friendly (including leashed dogs, of course) jewel in Pasadena. The 40-foot cascade is just one attraction amid a maze of trails that sport bountiful blooms of wildflowers in season. The 3.5-mile (round trip) trail starts in the Eaton Canyon Nature Area and follows a usually dry creek bed to the falls, which explode down a natural amphitheater into a waist-deep pool. Hikers in the know wear bathing suits under their clothing to take advantage, and Sunny can take advantage, too!
Photo Credit: @ourdogriley
