A scenic 150-ft lower waterfall on a free 3.6-mile moderate hike; upper falls are on private land and off-limits.
Escondido Falls in Malibu offers a scenic 3.6-mile moderate hike through MRCA Escondido Canyon Park, completely free. The 150-ft lower waterfall and surrounding canyon views reward the effort without the cost of entry.
Dogs are welcome on leash. Note that only the lower falls are publicly accessible; the upper tiers sit on private property and are off-limits.
Spring offers the fullest water flow and most comfortable temperatures, though the hike is enjoyable year-round.
Year-round, though spring brings fuller flow and cooler temperatures.
2-2.5 hours
No fee or permit requirement was published on the managing agency's site when we last checked — confirm current conditions before you go, since these change.
Via a 3.6-mile round-trip trail rated moderate by the managing agency.
Yes, per the managing agency's own page — but check current leash rules before you go.
We track 5 waterfalls in Southern California Mountains.
There are 2 other waterfalls we track in Los Angeles County. All Southern California Mountains waterfalls →
lamountains.com
MRCA (Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority) Escondido Canyon Park page, checked Aug 2026; page content appears to date from an earlier revision, so verify current conditions before relying on it. Only the lower falls (150 ft, tallest in the Santa Monica Mountains per MRCA) are publicly accessible — the upper tiers are on private property and off-limits. Trailhead address: 27200 Winding Way, Malibu; exact coordinates not independently confirmed, so left null.
Checked August 2026.