Escondido Falls is a 140-foot seasonal waterfall in Escondido Canyon Park in Malibu, Los Angeles County, California, reached by a canyon trail off Pacific Coast Highway that ends at its lower tier.
The falls
The falls features tiered horsetails with a main drop of about 130 feet above a short tier of about 10 feet, pouring over a wall of green moss. A separate lower fall sits at the end of the public trail, just downstream. Flow depends on rain, and the falls are minimal or dry in dry weather.
Getting there
The trail starts at the Winding Way parking lot on Pacific Coast Highway, about a mile south of Kanan Road; parking costs $12 and the lot holds about 16 cars. The first 0.75 mile climbs a paved residential road, then the path drops into the canyon and follows and crosses Escondido Canyon Creek for about a mile. The walk to the lower falls is 3.5 miles round trip with 210 feet of elevation change, taking about 1 hour 45 minutes. The park is open sunrise to sunset.
The park includes 88 acres around the falls; visitors who want to see the middle and upper tiers can use a hiking and equestrian trail over Murphy Way, which also looks out over the coast. In September 2026 a Los Angeles County court dismissed Malibu's claim to the Winding Way and Murphy Way trail easements, preserving both under public management.
When to go
The falls run best in the early months of the year, after winter rain. Weekends are typically very busy.
On site
The public trail ends at the lower falls. Climbing to the upper falls is prohibited to protect the habitat and avoid serious falls; the unofficial route involves scrambling up roots and ropes. Leashed dogs, bikes and horses are allowed. The only toilets are at the PCH parking lot. Smoking and open fires are banned in this high fire-risk area. In February 2026 Malibu Search and Rescue helped an 18-year-old hiker with an ankle injury on the trail.
History and name
The Edward Albert Trail is named for a canyon-preservation advocate who worked to protect Escondido Canyon; he died in 2006.
Nearby
Lower Escondido Falls is on the same trail. Solstice Canyon Falls is about 1.5 miles away, Newton Canyon Falls about 3.2 miles and Zuma Canyon Falls about 3.3 miles.
Distances are straight-line.