Switzer-Land!

Hike to Switzer Lower Falls in Los Angeles County

01.18.2023

{NOTE: We recommend waiting a week or so post-rains to do this hike. Let conditions calm down as water crossings are high right now. 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. If you go immediately after heavy rains, expect to get quite wet.}

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.

{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. Napa Valley Paddle kayaker and paddle boarder on the Napa Valley river

    Napa's Wild Side

    It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.

    View

  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

    View

  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

    View
  4. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

    View

  2. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

    View
  4. Hike to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in the Lakes Basin

    Lookout for This View!

    Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!

    View