Lush Life

Hike to Etiwanda Falls in the San Gabriel Mountains

Etiwanda Falls Trail in Rancho Cucamonga packs a lot of bang for your buck: waterfall, wildflowers, panoramic views of the Inland Empire, and lush green surroundings as you walk. Nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, this 3.4-mile (round-trip) out-and-back trail is a favorite among locals, and you’ll quickly understand why.

The shadeless trail almost immediately begins with a moderate incline and continues uphill until you reach the waterfall. Frequent breaks to admire the stunning views of the Inland Empire below help give your legs a rest. Thanks to our winter rains, the trail is lush and green, with pretty purple wildflowers dotting the hillside. You’ll pass through areas of oak woodland, chaparral, and coastal sage scrub, as well as one of only three remaining areas of alluvial fan sage scrub in the whole state.

Shortly beyond an old irrigation system on your right, you’ll reach the falls. A small path to the right leads to an overlook viewpoint, while one to the left goes directly to the top of the falls. The 15-foot waterfall is particularly impressive right now, after all our recent rains, but is still fun to visit year-round. The views are always great. Bonus: Evening hikers will be rewarded with the sight of twinkling city lights set against the backdrop of a gorgeous sunset in front of them for the whole hike back to the parking lot.

The trailhead is in North Etiwanda Preserve at the end of Etiwanda Ave. in Rancho Cucamonga. From the 210 freeway, head north on Day Creek Blvd. until it dead-ends at Etiwanda Ave., then make a left. Follow Etiwanda Ave. until it turns into a dirt parking lot at the preserve. The preserve is open from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. March through October, and from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. November through February. Parking lot gates are locked promptly at closing time. Free parking. No dogs.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  2. Hike the Oursan Trail alongside Briones Reservoir in the East Bay

    Opt for Oursan

    Hike the trail less traveled in the East Bay's Briones Regional Park. The Oursan Trail is pure serenity on a wide hiking path skirting the northern shores of Briones Reservoir.

    View
  3. Most Peaceful Hike of All

    Is this the most peaceful one-hour hike in the Bay Area? It's got our vote! Lake Lagunitas is the smallest lake in a series of five found on the north side of Mount Tam, so it’s got that tiny but mighty charm. Do a 1.5-mile loop around the lake's shore-hugging trail.

    View
  4. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  2. Lace Up for Lacy

    Lacy Park in San Marino is a hidden gem that may very well be the most pristine green space in greater Los Angeles, and a concealed pair of nearby stairways makes it all the more appealing.

    View
  3. Hiker amid trees at Oak Glen Preserve in Yucaipa Southern California

    Apple of Your Eye

    That fall feeling is definitely in the air and on display at the Oak Glen Preserve. Apple orchards and colorful leaves are a bonus, as are the apple cider donuts and slushies you can enjoy post-hike.

    View
  4. Hike San Diego Volcan Mountain Wilderness

    Planet of the Oaks

    Let us count the number of oak tree species in the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian: coast, scrub, canyon, black, and Engelmann. Five! The preserve’s Five Oaks Trail is a 3.2-mile hike that boasts all five.

    View