Best Guide to Hike Paradise Falls, an LA-Area Hidden Gem
Last Updated: August 27, 2023
Paradise Falls is truly a hidden paradise in Thousand Oaks, not too far from Los Angeles. Plus, the trail to get to the falls is clean, scenic, and properly marked. As LA locals, Paradise Falls is one of our favorite hikes near LA! There are also plenty of nice picnic spots and tables around the trail, including a scenic picnic table at a teepee. Or if you’re a bit more rugged, you could stop to eat right at the base of the Paradise Falls.
Overall, Paradise Falls combines our favorite things about hiking—great views, a low key workout, and a feeling of being surrounded by nature. And it’s only a short drive from Los Angeles! One aspect of Paradise Falls that is especially fun is that there is a short trail that leads you to the top of the waterfall, which is not always the case for other waterfalls. Here we break down an LA local’s perspective on everything you need to know to hike Paradise Falls yourself.
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Everything You Need to Know to Hike to Paradise Falls: Table of Contents
- What is Paradise Falls famous for?
- How long is the Paradise Falls hike?
- How difficult is the hike to Paradise Falls?
- How far is Paradise Falls from LA?
- Is there parking at Paradise Falls?
- Is there street parking near Paradise Falls?
- How much does parking cost at Paradise Falls?
- Is it free to visit Paradise Falls?
- Are there bathrooms at Paradise Falls?
- How crowded is Paradise Falls?
- Is there food or water at Paradise Falls?
- Is it safe to swim at Paradise Falls?
- Is Paradise Falls dog friendly?
Best Advice for Hiking Paradise Falls, a Hidden Gem near LA
What is Paradise Falls famous for?
Paradise Falls in California shares the name of the waterfall from the Pixar Animated film Up. (But don’t be confused, the Paradise Falls in Up was actually based on a different waterfall—Angel Falls in Venezuela.) It’s a wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Once you’ve hiked a mile into it, you’ll be sure to be embraced by rolling hills in every direction.
How long is the Paradise Falls hike?
It’s a 3-mile out and back trail, 1.5 miles there and 1.5 miles back. Plus if you have time to have a picnic lunch at the falls and catch your breath, it’s not that much work at all to see such lovely falls. It’s a great hike for all ages—we saw lots of families with kids there. But if you are a fan of more strenuous hikes to see a waterfall, you can read about Switzer Falls as well.
How difficult is the hike to Paradise Falls?
The hike to Paradise Falls is no’t very difficult to hike. The first part of the trail is a gently sloping path from the parking lot, with beautiful hills on either side.
On your way to the falls, you may be surprised to have to go downwards for a while, so save your energy to come back up! You also have to be careful of the gravelly path going down to the waterfall, as it is easy to slip if you’re not wearing shoes with good grip.
Another potentially difficult aspect of hiking Paradise Falls is the lack of shade on a sunny day. Much of the trail to Paradise Falls has no shade, so wear sunscreen, especially if you go in the summer. But in the early Spring or late Fall the sun is not too bad.
Also, if you’re looking for added difficulty, you could lengthen your trail and try other hikes in the area. Once you get close to the waterfall, you’ll see that there are additional trails that branch off into the canyon where you can keep hiking. We just stopped at the waterfall and felt that was enough, but if you’re looking for a harder workout, go for it!
How far is Paradise Falls from LA?
Paradise Falls is only about an hour drive from LA, or about 50 miles. So for people looking for great hikes near LA, Paradise Falls is a perfect day trip. Paradise Falls is also a great day trip from Santa Barbara, since it’s only about a 1.5-hour drive from Santa Barbara.
Is there parking at Paradise Falls?
Yes, there is a pretty sizable parking lot, and it is free! We went late in the morning on a Saturday in the Spring, and we had no trouble finding a spot.
To get to the parking lot for Paradise Falls, follow Google Maps directions to the Mesa Trailhead. If it’s an especially crowded day at the Paradise Falls trailhead and there is no parking there, you can easily park your car at the nearby public park called Wildflower Playfield, which is only about .5 miles from the trailhead.
Is there street parking near Paradise Falls?
There’s no street parking near Paradise Falls, but as mentioned above, there is plenty of extra parking at the Wildflower Playfield park down the street.
How much does parking cost at Paradise Falls?
Parking is $0 at Paradise Falls. Can’t beat that price.
Is it free to visit Paradise Falls?
Yes, Paradise Falls is free to visit and free to park, nature’s best gift to us!
Are there bathrooms at Paradise Falls?
There are no bathrooms at Paradise Falls or in the parking lot at the trailhead. But there are public bathrooms at the nearby park Wildflower Playfield. So before or after your hike to Paradise Falls, you can easily stop at the bathroom at Wildflower Playfield. It’s free to park your car and use the bathrooms there.
How crowded is Paradise Falls?
Paradise Falls is not very crowded, but you will see people here and there. When we arrived at the falls, there were a handful of other people there. But we were able to get photos with the falls without anyone in our pictures or waiting on us.
Is there food or water at Paradise Falls?
There isn’t any food for sale at Paradise Falls; however, you may pack your own snacks. In terms of water, there is a water fountain on the trail close to the waterfall (near the picnic tables that you’ll see). This water fountain offers potable water to refill your water bottles.
Is it safe to swim at Paradise Falls?
We wouldn’t recommend swimming at Paradise Falls. First, swimming and diving at Paradise Falls is not allowed. Second, the water of Paradise Falls is “urban runoff,” meaning unclean and possibly harmful! To quote the posted sign at Paradise Falls, “No Swimming or Diving. This water contains submerged objects (Rocks, Debris) and is partially fed by urban runoff. It is not safe for swimming or diving.”
Is Paradise Falls dog friendly?
Yes! One of our favorite parts of Paradise Falls is that it is a dog friendly hike near LA! But there aren’t any doggy poop bags, so make sure you bring your own.
Plus, to get the best views of Paradise Falls, make sure you and your pup are prepared to cross a small stream. The stream crossing isn’t too hard for humans, but I had to carry my dog across, because she’s a petite 9 pounds. Bigger dogs should be fine!
Plan a Day Trip to Paradise Falls from LA
Overall, venturing slightly out of LA to Thousand Oaks for Paradise Falls was a great day trip. We highly recommend Paradise Falls for anyone looking for a relaxing day hike. Even though Paradise Falls is not too challenging, it gives you the feeling of stepping away from the bustle of the city. And since it’s a relatively short hike, you can easily do Paradise Falls in a morning or an afternoon. Add Paradise Falls to your LA hiking bucket list!