Escondido Falls

Regarded as one of Los Angeles county's finest coastal waterfalls, Escondido Falls has two stunning tiers, an easy-to-reach lower one and a harder, rugged upper tier. Lining the paved trail to the waterfall are fashionable Malibu residences that overlook the pristine Malibu beach in the distance.

Unlike many falls in Los Angeles, Escondido Falls is open to mountain biking along with horseback riding and off-leash dogs. Take a seat next to the fern-lined falls and enjoy the tropics around. The trail to the falls is wide with colorful wildflowers on both sides. It winds along lush forests and fields with towering redwoods and pines. There are crystal-clear creeks crossing the forest every few miles and you need to hop over their rocks to continue. Escondido Falls is also a popular birdwatching and wildlife watching spot and has towers for the same. The highlight of the hike is the upper tier of the falls which can get rocky but the view of Malibu Hills from the peak is worth climbing over boulders with your dart gears. Most of the residences visible also have fantastic golf courses, outdoor pools and batting cages, making the falls zone quite picture-perfect.