Looking for an outdoor summer excursion? Go check out Escondido Falls Trail! This hike follows a winding creek through a canyon, offering lots of shade, wildlife, and a beautiful 150-foot waterfall. Escondido Falls Trail is an easy trail to follow and stays cool through the heat of the day, which makes it the perfect summer hike. Read all about our experience hiking Escondido Falls Trail this summer below.
Escondido Falls Trail has been on my list of hikes to go on, with the kids, for a couple years now. More than anything, the drive had been the biggest obstacle. We had a free Friday open this summer and decided to just go and tackle Escondido Falls Trail.
I mentally prepared for a whole lot of traffic and endless complaining from the backseat. We ended up leaving the house later than I wanted to, around 7:30am. Apple maps was predicting a 50min trip, which was not terrible considering. Traffic steadily moved forward and soon we were driving along the coast.
Escondido Falls Trail has a small parking lot right off the main highway. (by small, I mean 10 parking spots only) Spaces are limited and I highly suggest arriving early to grab one. Thankfully, when we arrived close to 9:00am, there were two spots still open. There is a fee to park, but it does cover the entire day. There is a pay kiosk at the entrance of the parking lot. (more information will be at the end of this post) I saw a public safety vehicle and two sheriffs drive through the parking lot, enforcing the law. Please be mindful of this and only park in designated parking spots and ensure you put the parking pass in your window.
Part of this hike is walking along the road, up the hill, through the residential area, before making it to the trailhead. (There is absolutely no parking along this road and there is a giant sign that lets you know this. Just in case you thought about parking closer.) This part of the hike is the most strenuous, since it is mostly uphill. Just follow the dirt path along Winding Way road. Take in the scenery and catch a glimpse of the ocean.
You will know when you are close when you head downhill that has a shrubbery field on the left. A large sign posted at the trailhead will let you know that you have made it to the Escondido Falls Trail. We began our short descent on this wide dirt path. There were lots of erosions, so watch your step.
Continuing this main dirt path, it will curve to the left, as you come to the first stream crossing. There are a total of 5 streams you will need to cross throughout this hike. The water is shallow and only a few inches deep during the summer. (If you choose to hike during the springtime, be prepared for deeper water.) Logs and stones in all stream crossings will help you get across without having to walk directly through the water. Unless you are wearing waterproof shoes, sandals, or don’t mind getting your feet a little wet, then you are good to go. Just watch your step, there are tons of tadpoles and baby frogs in the water.
A question that has been asked way too many times, you know what I mean if you have kids. The answer is yes, you are almost there. After crossing those 5 streams, which help keep the kids entertained, you will have about 10-15 more minutes of walking left. There is a stretch of the path with a clearing where you can see the top of the waterfall. Soon enough, you will hear the glorious sound of the falls.
The path opens to a large area with a giant tree and wooden bench to the right. You will notice a pungent smell coming from what people call the “bearded” waterfall. This is by far the most moss I have ever seen on a waterfall, hence where the nickname comes from. The ground has a slope to it and the dirt is loose, which makes the ground pretty slippery. It was not too crowded when we arrived, but if you want a photo in front of the waterfall, there can be a bit of a wait. My oldest went looking for creatures in the water and found quite a few. We even got to see a California Mountain Kingsnake!
Despite it being in the high 80’s, the hike itself was doable, due to the shade. Most of the trail stayed cool since it ran along the stream. My kids stayed entertained with all the creatures we found along the way and getting to cross through the water. We thoroughly enjoyed this mid-morning hike at Escondido Falls Trail and hope you do too!
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