Hikes to Los Angeles Waterfalls

Numerous waterfalls can be seen on hikes around Los Angeles. Most LA waterfalls are at their best in the early months of the year when rainstorms and runoff from snow provide the fullest flows. Some waterfalls dry out completely in the fall, so timing is important. The list below offers a general ranking of LA's waterfall hikes based on two criteria: the beauty of the falls and the quality of the trail to the tumbling waters. ... Read more.
Heaton Flats Trail in the San Gabriel Mountains
Half a mile from the start of the crowded trail to the Bridge to Nowhere, you'll find a junction with Heaton Flats Trail, which rises above the canyon carved by the East Fork of the San Gabriel River to offer big views and plenty of solitude. Enjoy panoramic perspectives of some of the most notable peaks in the San Gabriel Mountains (including Mount Baldy, Mount Baden-Powell, and Iron Mountain) along the trail to a 4,000-foot high clearing on the ridge. ...Read more.
Distance: 6 miles · Elevation change: 2000 feet
By: Published: September 27, 2012 Last updated: December 5, 2025
Fish Canyon Narrows in the Sierra Pelona Mountains
Not to be confused with Fish Canyon Falls on the east end of the Angeles National Forest, the Fish Canyon Narrows reside on the far west end of the Angeles in the Sierra Pelona Mountains north of Santa Clarita. Here a mountain stream passes through hundred-foot cliffs that are at time only twenty feet apart. The red rock walls mimic those you might find hiking in Zion National Park or other Utah canyons. ...Read more.
Distance: 10.5 miles · Elevation change: 650 feet
By: Published: July 22, 2012 Last updated: April 8, 2026
Winston Ridge and Winston Peak in the San Gabriel Mountains
Winston Ridge and Winston Peak are name-sharing neighbors in the high San Gabriel Mountains near the Mount Waterman Ski Area. While Winston Peak is the high point of the hike at 7,502 feet, the summit is covered with pines that leave little room for panoramic views. The best vistas come from the shorter 7,003-foot Winston Ridge, which has fewer pines and broader views. ...Read more.
Distance: 4.85 miles · Elevation change: 875 feet
By: Published: July 19, 2012 Last updated: April 9, 2026
Mount Hillyer in the San Gabriel Mountains
Rising to just over 6,200 feet, Mount Hillyer is actually one of the easier summits to reach in the high country of the San Gabriel Mountains. Beyond its boulder piles and pine forests, the stretched-out summit offers several sweeping views of nearby peaks and canyons. The shortest route to the summit involves hiking 1.33 miles up Mount Hillyer Trail from Horse Flats Campground, gaining 575 feet. ...Read more.
Distance: 6.25 miles · Elevation change: 1000 feet
By: Published: July 18, 2012 Last updated: April 8, 2026
Horse Flats Campground in the San Gabriel Mountains
Horse Flats Campground is a 25-site camping spot operated by the Angeles National Forest in San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, located in the high elevation of the San Gabriel Mountains. At 5,650 feet above sea level, or a mile higher than Los Angeles, the campground feels far from home, even through it is only about 30 miles from the city at the base of the mountains. ...Read more.
By: Published: July 17, 2012 Last updated: October 8, 2024