Switzer-Land!

Hike to Switzer Falls in Los Angeles County

{JANUARY 2023 NOTE: Stay safe. Wait until storms have passed before hiking any trails, and before heading out, be sure to check official websites for updates on trail status, closures, hazards, etc. Expect wet, muddy, and slippery trails, and exercise caution and good judgment, including with water crossings. Do not cross swift flowing waters. Proper hiking shoes are essential, and an extra pair of socks to change into is recommended. We also recommend waiting a week or so post-rains to let conditions calm down, and keeping up to date on trail conditions.}

Recent rains make the next several weeks a good time to visit Switzer land! Switzer Falls, that is. This 50-foot two-tiered tumbler is a beauty, and roars after rains. There are a few ways to reach the two-tiered waterfall, some more reliable than others.

We recommend the 3.6-mile (round-trip) trail through a fragrant, shaded canyon paralleling a year-round stream to Switzer’s lower falls. Starting on the popular Gabrielino Trail, follow signs to the falls while hiking alongside the swiftly flowing Arroyo Seco. Alders and oaks offer a cool canopy. Criss-cross the stream nearly a dozen times as a series of switchbacks lead to a dryer environment where yellow evening primrose flowers and yuccas flourish in soil. {JANUARY 2023 NOTE: Be very cautious with these crossings and do not cross if the flow is too swift, especially if rain has been recent. Expect wet conditions all-around after plentiful rains} The trail hugs the cliff before descending again to the canyon floor. Stay left, and it’s one last hop, skip, and jump over the water to lower Switzer Falls, a 15-foot tumbler pouring into a large green pool (the upper falls is taller, but there’s no official trail to reach it and the scramble is dangerous). Watery reflections and filters of sunlight play on the surrounding boulders, creating a calm oasis.

Switzer Falls is off the Angeles Crest Highway (SR-2). Starting in La Cañada Flintridge, take SR-2 approximately 10 miles north, then look for the sign-marked turnoff on your right. Follow the steep driveway down to the main parking area. A National Forest Adventure Pass is required for parking. Dog friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  4. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  3. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

    View
  4. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

    View