The drive up to this trail is not bad at all! I sometimes get scared of driving up high into the mountains but this was a pretty easy drive and there weren't any parts that I felt were scary. I was driving from Ontario, CA. You do need a pass to park in the lot. There are restrooms at the parking lot if you need to use them. The hike up is a pretty short one with pretty views! There are tons of shade from the trees and the water/waterfall was beautiful! read more

See all

Beautiful day trip good hiking and cool water refreshing and fun for everyone but please when going take out anything you bring in read more

See all

I had a great safe visit. I paid the $5 Forest Adventure pass at Elkhorn General store on Valley of the Falls Dr, a 1.2 mi from the Big Falls Trailhead and Picnic area. I had a great time hiking with my senior father in law, and my family. The water was refreshing. The parking looks great this spring. This water flows into Hunington Beach, the sea, the Santa Ana River Wash. It was 52 degrees on group our walk through the creek and Cross the wash. Our walk was cut short by other hikers falling in the creek. Big falls trail will lead you along the river bed to cross the creek to a path of a waterfall overlook. The ice cold water was coming from the area of the mountainside has snow melting as we warm up this Spring season. The creek felt refreshing this morning, I dampened my On Running shoes with waterproof silicone in the waters by crossing the creek on a fallen branch. I refreshed my sun beaten hair with the ice melt waters. I like this trailhead. For years Water from San Bernardino mountains has collected in way of steel pipes that flow by gravity on the steep mountainside above a creek pumped in tunnels to Water Companies piped downhill to be bottled and sold as Arowhead Spring Mountain Water. read more

See all

Wonderful day on the mountain with friends and family. I would recommend a visit here with family

Amazing lil gem! Hikes for all experience levels! First off, it's in the mountains, so its gonna be a little chillier than Orange/LA/San Bernandino. Second, there is limited parking at the trail head, but its free with a national park pass! The trail is a little vague, but super easy to get to the bottom of the falls. Just meander across the little creek, and you're there. Its an intermediate difficulty to get to the waterfall lookout, and there is some bouldering to get to the base of the falls. It's a georgous view, with a few flat areas to hang out. There were a couple wading pools on the way up, but not very big/deep. So many fun picture spots with the plants, tree pirches and rocky areas. A couple warnings though: - the bathroom was pretty bad, not trashed, but smelt like a month old litter box - the pools are rocky, grab water shoes! read more

See all

This is a really special place. It's a deluxe XL waterfall experience. The key for maximum enjoyment is to get here obscenely early. I did a failed initial trip after driving 2 hours. I had to turn back in disappointed after I couldn't find a place to park after over an hour of searching. The parking lot is really small. There's a two-lane road that leads to the parking lot and you're not allowed to park off the side of the road near the parking lot. You will have to drive 2-3 miles into town to find a spot when it's busy. I spoke with a park ranger who told me that he had to shut the site down the day before because of the crowds. If you park in unauthorized areas you will get ticketed and towed. Bottom line is get here at 6am and it will definitely be worth your while. The trail to the falls is short and rocky. The trail follows a creek and the total distance, out and back, is 0.7 miles. Once you reach the falls you can hang out at the lower falls section for a while. The water flows over a wide rocky area with fallen tree limbs. It's fun to climb around and hop from rock-to-rock. There's a real short trail that leads up the canyon that follows the different stages of the waterfalls as it falls down its many different levels, at times gathering into small pools of water. There's a black gate at the upper section for safety. You can view the entire journey of the water as it travels from the mountain top to the canyon floor. There's a nice picnic area at the trailhead. Be sure to bring you adventure pass or buy one at the nearby store. There are bathrooms but they are currently closed due to covid. There are porta-potties at the parking lot available for use. read more

As a Nor Cal trail walker, this was one of the easiest for us to drive through. Not a lot of winding roads, nor narrow, nor cliff side roads. We didn't make it to the water Falls because the ground was snow packed and we were not the weather prepared. nor did we get to catch the glimps Of the waterfall that the Ranger advised us of before we headed back down the mountain. Definitely one of my top places to visit again when I'm back in southern Cal. For now I will enjoy my mountains in Northern California. Convenient, friendly, beautiful and a must! read more

See all

I love this place. This used to be where I'd go by myself in high school and early college to get away from people. No reception, just you and the cooling waterfall. The hike is easy and starts off with a trail. It's a bit bumpy, so expect to climb rocks if you want to go up higher. Take your shoes off and dip your feet, but PLEASE DO NOT LITTER. How will you or others be able to return to this beauty if you don't take care of it? Throw away your trash! Why choose this place to leave diapers, beer cans, and water bottles??? Be responsible, man! read more

See all

Four stars only because I think that the parking lot could be bigger for the weekend crowd. There are plenty of bbq grills in the shaded area for family and friends to enjoy. There was a sheriff overlooking the area. A $5 parking/day pass is usually needed, but it wasn't enforced yesterday (June 28, 2020). I'm not sure if it's covid or weekend related. I went yesterday with my family and friends. By 9am, the parking was already full. We tried to wait to see if some cars would leave, but we had no luck. We learned that you gotta be there extra early to reserve parking, otherwise you have to find a parking elsewhere, which on our case, 2-miles down the road past the store. Yes, we had to hike up more than 30 minutes to and from the parking lot. We planned to bbq at the site, but since we parked so far we had to go to Thurman Flats Picnic Area which is only about 10 mins from Big Falls. The hike is as long/challenging as you want it to be. There's a path that you can take to hike to the top of the falls. We only went to the base of the falls which only took about 5-10 minutes. Water is freezing yet clear. I recommend wearing water shoes when going to the falls. The rocks hurt! Also, there were only a few trashes that I saw and picked up some. Please be courteous by picking up your own trash! I love this place. It was crowded during the weekend, but we made sure we still practiced social distancing. I will be going again and next time, I'll be hiking all the way to the top! read more

See all

Beautiful place, beautiful waterfalls but I hate how people come here to hang out and blast their crappy music. If people want to hang out and listen to music they should stay home and do that, or maybe they don't know that "head phones" exist?Believe me people out in nature don't want or don't care about your music so keep it turned off or in your ears only. Don't ruin nature by blasting music at this beautiful place or any hiking trail. I love nature and it's peacefulness but here is none of that thanks to some people who do not appreciate nature at all. read more

Big Falls - Hiking Near Me - Forest Falls, California

Beautiful area to go enjoy for a day hike. A short walk over rocks to get to the pools and see the waterfalls, anybody can do it kids, pets and even grandma. After that it you go over rocks, be careful. As of June 2019 there is plenty of water flowing. At the end of the road coming into the small town there is free parking on the gravel area or get a permit and park in the parking lot. There is public pit toilets. read more

See all

A short 35 minute drive from me and a little gem waiting to be explored. Before heading in, stop at the local shop and pick up a Adventure pass for $5. This pass is required to park around the area, rather be safe then sorry. We BBQ and hung out around the picnic area before hiking. Last time we were here was in September and there was mini stream leading up the waterfall. Almost a year later and all that rain there is a nice stream of water now. The hike is not too bad, just take your time and watch your steps. It can be challenging to due the varies rocks being wet or smooth. Once you get to the waterfall it gets a little chilly, but worth the trip up there. I'm sad to see there are people littering this time on my visit. I picked up a couple of cans and bottles while hiking. If you see any trash, please pick up trash even though it might be yours. I notice a couple more graffiti on my second visit here. Overall a great spot to hike and see the waterfall. Spend the day and you'll enjoy it here. read more

See all

*Visited business before COVID-19; appreciation post* I am a fan of Forest Falls, I have been there a handful of times...but this place is also a traumatic place for me as on my last visit, one of my friends fell and had to be airlifted to Loma Linda. But I didn't come on here to be a debbie-downer, I just wanted to caution people who do decide to hike to the falls. This is a really cool, and local site. It's not really a hike unless you decide to go all the way up to the falls, which it's technically trespassing. It's about 20 minutes from Mentone; it's a gorgeous drive especially on a nice day. Once you park in the lot you'll have to walk about 5 minutes up to a little lookout point, which is where everyone should stop, but they don't. Hiking up to the falls it would be very tricky to hike straight to the falls. You have to hike off to the side, which is the safest way up and down due to the fact that there is not a path up (that will make sense if you decide to visit). This is what makes it very dangerous. My friends and I were on our way back down and we didn't go back down that side way and one of my friends basically broke her face falling down the mountain. She thankfully survived but she had to have all 4 of her front teeth implanted. The doctors said that she was lucky to have survived and that year alone they had over 30 people fall from that same site. If you do go, please pay attention to where you came up and how to go back down. If it looks scary or unsafe, please find another way. read more

This hike is actually pretty fun but rough with all of the rocks and a lot of the dirt trail was washed away because of the recent rain, so wear good shoes. Views are beautiful... read more

Big Falls - Hiking Near Me - Forest Falls, California

See all

Exciting and beautiful short hike to this fall. However, I did go pass the "danger" sign and hiked to the base of the waterfall and what a stunning treat. This is a dangerous hike which involves, maneuvering across boulders and crossing a flowing creek. I highly recommend hiking shoes or boots for this hike and experienced hikers only. The boulders are slippers and some unstable. Also, please do not take kids or pets beyond the warning sign. *WARNING* Do your research on parking before arriving. There were plenty of citations being issued. Enjoy the hike and always be smart, while exploring in nature. Thanks read more

See all

It's the best I fell in love with this place It just brought me back to life! And want to thank Cindy and misty! Now I'll take my whole family, and thank you god for all your beauty read more

See all

This forest is outstanding!!!!! It's a wonderful place to hike, picnic, relax, and enjoy the scenery. There are trees galore, and beautiful streams all around. There are even gorgeous waterfalls!!! Be careful because we did see a bear and a snake while hiking. read more

See all

Who knew this waterfall was a short drive away? I came here on a weekday morning and it wasn't busy at all. Bought an adventure pass at the town store but probably didn't need it. We could've parked for free at the gravel lot next to the paid parking area since no one else was here on a Thursday morning. The falls are just a short hike from the parking lot. It was so peaceful up there! There are other hiking trails around the area too. I'll have to come back again! read more

Big Falls - Hiking Near Me - Forest Falls, California

See all

A very fun easy 5 -10 min walk from the parking lot. You don't necessarily get wet unless you decide to hike up to the highest points of the waterfall. Very easy trail even for small children. Just be careful as always, rocks can be very slippery. read more

See all

I fell in love with this little trail. I plan to come back when I'm not 8 months pregnant. The drive from LA is about 2 hours & not difficult. The drive is flat land so no major incline up into the mountains or windy roads which was great for once. Especially to an epic waterfall. The actual trail is about 30 minutes from Redlands, Ca. As you leave Redlands & head into the Forest Falls community it's just absolutely beautiful. The drive is quite amazing through their little town. I felt completely out of place so we didn't really stop anywhere, but next time we come back we plan to explore a lot more & try to educate ourselves on the surroundings, maybe pick up some fruit at all the fruit stands/stores & inquire about the campgrounds. Once you pass the town, you can't miss the parking because the road ends. The bathroom facility is located right in front of the parking lot. Signs are displayed everywhere informing you that you need an adventure pass to park, then there is a separate gravel parking lot where a fee is not required. I'm sure when it's busy it can fill up very quick. If you need an adventure pass, there is a general store that sells them & a ranger station as well. The hike itself is along a lot of boulders but beautiful from start to end. I didn't make it to the base of the falls because I'm almost 9 months pregnant & the flies were unforgiving but if I was physically able it really wouldn't be any big deal. There is an incline going upwards which I wasn't aware of so just make sure you have some good hiking shoes & water to stay hydrated. It's a very short hike from what I researched & the surroundings are absolutely beautiful. I really cannot wait to come back here. I know it's one of the shortest hikes in the area but the landscape & general area of this makes this 5 stars plus for me. From videos & pictures I've seen, it doesn't appear to get too crowded. Although it is beautiful, it is a far drive for people from LA or coastal areas & I am sure people from around San Bernardino go to other epic hikes but for me coming here for the first time was pretty magical. It even rained on us when we left & that was the highlight of it all since it was over 100 degrees back in LA. read more

See all

I love this hike, very doable with kids!. We went twice, the 1st time around was in Nov and it was cold but half thru our hike it started snowing it was very beautiful. 2nd time around we just went recently and loved it, it wasn't as cold so we crossed over creeks to get to the falls! The only thing I hated was alot of trash around the hike! read more

The hike itself isn't very long, it was about a mile. It's kind of steep if you want to be directly next to the waterfall. You have to do some rock climbing and there were quite a bit of people despite it being a weekday. read more

See all

Go EARLY get a adventure pass, water was super cold felt like I was getting poked by millions of sewing needles lol. Nice short hike.

It's a beautiful magical lil hidden gem of a mountain. Not far from the City, but far enough to feel like you are in a different world. A wonderful get away from the "busy" read more

This is my favorite place to come now. Soooo beautiful and peaceful. It's very clean. Has a nice area to picnic. Parking is free. And they have clean restrooms. read more

Big Falls - Hiking Near Me - Forest Falls, California

This hike is incredibly easy yet very rewarding! Doesn't require hiking boots, trail runners worked fine. Great for kids.. as long as they listen. Directions: Take the 10 E from LA, Exit Orange and make a left. Make a right on Hwy 38 and follow the long road into the San Bernadino Mountains and make a Right at Valley of the Falls drive. You'll be winding your way up a steep 2 lane mountain road, so be sure to drive slow. The road ends at the parking lot and booth for the campsite. There are some porta potties but I would not recommend using them. After you park your car, take a left at the trailhead and follow the stream downhill, making a right when you see the falls come cascading into a wide bend. Trails were not too clear, but the terrain was easy and everyone seemed to be able to make their own path. There are plenty of places to cross safely, but you might have to backtrack to avoid having to walk downhill steeply. You might end up having to scramble depending on where you end up. You will most likely get wet. I saw a bunch of people in bathing suits here, but no one swimming. Why? The water is freezing cold this time of year (about 35 deg with air temperature of 70), and you can get all kinds of diseases from it if you are stupid enough to drink it without boiling/filtering it. The temperatures drop incredibly fast in the afternoon, bring a jacket. Warning: flash flood signs up, as well as a "many people have died climbing the falls" sign, so stay on the dry trails, and use common sense. read more

Don't get me wrong the falls are GORGEOUS! The reason I only gave 3 stars is because I expecting there to be more of a hike to get to these beautiful falls, but there is no hike at all just a short walk FROM THE PARKING LOT to the bottom of the falls. Another reason I have taken off stars is because of the amount of people that were there. I can see this turning into something like Sapphire Falls in Rancho where people just abuse this beautiful area with trash and graffiti. If you are looking to visit beautiful falls this is a good place but there's not much of a hike PLEASE ENJOY DON'T DESTROY read more

Big Falls - Hiking Near Me - Forest Falls, California

See all

WARNING: Disappointment and regret is all your gonna feel if you come this way! How can you come see one of the biggest water fall that is closed to the public, and make it a theme attraction? Yeah stand 200 feet away and try to zoom in from your camera phone or camera. If your brave to take the risk and go beyond the caution sign be careful not to get caught cause $5,000 or $10,000 penalty fine or jail is awaiting for you from the cops down below. Honestly not worth the risk at all. Well if you decide to make the drive anyways, it is a 2 hour drive coming from the LA or OC area, make sure you use gps prior because you will lose signal. If not follow the road all the way until you hit a bend that either you go left or right, keep to the right all the way till the end and it'll lead you there. You will have to give $5 to the main entrance for a pass or try a store around the area. There will be two trail path when you get to the destination, look to your left when you get out your vehicle. To the small water falls should be a 10 to 15 min hike only. All in all until restricted signs are down, this place is a miss in my book. read more

Big Falls - Small water falls.. - Hiking Near Me - Forest Falls, California

See all

A gorgeous short hike just a short drive from Redlands. There is plenty of parking, and you can get a day or yearly pass for a good price. This would be a good hike for kids because it is easy and has a beautiful waterfall at the end! The hike was not even a mile and has plenty of spots to set up hammocks. It gets cold even in the summer, and snowed today before we got there. When we went it wasn't too crowded and it was quiet and serene. I recommend wearing sneakers or boots because you rock over walks for a bit before you get to the beginning of the trail. I enjoyed the hike and will definitely do it again! read more

Big Falls - Hiking Near Me - Forest Falls, California

This place is so beautiful! I can't believe this hike isn't more known? Or maybe it is? The scenery was amazingly beautiful. The hike is a bit rocky and you will be climbing through rocks. We did trespass and go beyond the closed area sign and went all the way to the top. It was worth it! Just be careful. Apparently the rocks are wet, and people fell and died. Just take your time. The hike starts all the way at the end of the road and there plenty of parking if you are there around 8am. There's even a sign that says waterfall trail. An adventure pass is needed. There is a store that sells it on the way. Make sure you check what the weather is. It was 40 degrees the day I went. I also just started to step in the water and my feet were purple at the end! Bring some extra shoes and socks and dress for the weather. read more

See all

As Of July 3, 2019, The Upper Falls Area is Closed. By virtue of a US Forest Service Order, the Upper Falls Area beyond the observation deck is closed. There are two reasons for the closure. First, there is no approved Forest Service trail up to the upper falls area, and as we all know, one may not hike except on approved trails. Second, the trip to the upper falls involves bushwhacking some very treacherous areas, which only experienced hikers should undertake. The majority of hikers to the upper falls are done by idiots in tennis shoes and sandals. Many slip and fall on slippery rocks and are severely injured, resulting in multiple helicopter rescues each week. This is no casual matter--the Forest Service has imposed fines of up to $10,000 for violating the order and have posted Rangers to alert hikers of the order and danger, in addition to the multiple signs declaring the closure. The Order is in effect until May, 2020, and unless people stop hiking the area, may be extended after then. read more

Pretty easy hike! Paid only 6.78 for an Adventures Pass at a near by General store. Got there around 9:20am. Perfect timing! Had the entire place to ourselves! It's kind of steep but not very difficult. You just have to watch where you're stepping and pay close attention to the trail. Overall, it's worth a hike! *people just need to pick up after themselves* read more

See all

First time here for me and my friends. Day pass is $5.00. The scenery is really nice. My 1st waterfall hike ever..I wasn't feeling well during the walk but the scenery and beauty make up for it. Good for beginners. .intermediate and advanced walkers. PS: try wearing jeans that you don't mind getting torned up...hiking shoes and not running shoes..a jacket because it's hellah cold..the water and the mist..water and snacks if you get hungry or thirsty. I learned my lesson with running shoes...work out yoga pants resulting into bruises and stepping into the cold water. Brrr !! PS: I wouldn't recommend the porta potties :/ but anyways. .check this place out. A get away from reality... read more

See all

The trail above the "lookout" closed. From 10/8/2015 to 10/7/1016 due to "Public Safety" Such a shame. The valley is still a really nice place to hang out with many waterfalls before the restricted area. read more

See all

Great hike, easy to get to and not very challenging! It will make you want more :) bring the norm a can of off wouldn't hurt sun block is a must. Shoes: I would at least wear a pear of rugged shoes, I'm a boot guy so yeah. Pretty cool to take a lunch up and eat it at the falls, it just mite surprise you :) coupled with forest falls is a really cool mountain feel 12 Miles from Redlands :) cheers ! read more

See all

Wow this place is beautiful I would defiantly recommend everyone to come here if you want to see a nice waterfall and find pretty rocks. Great for hiking and bringing your dogs, Dre's comfortable and bring sunscreen cause it gets hot, but once your under the trees and near the water it feels great. read more

Not much of a hike here but the falls is gorgeous!!! I recommend wearing water shoes/hiking shoes with grip because there is a lot of boulders to climb over. For parking there are two lots, there is a limited amount of parking in the free lot, but keep an eye out for it before you decide to pay for parking. From the parking lot, you'll stroll for about 10 minutes or so until you reach the falls. The park is open from 6am-10pm. I definitely want to check it out during the winter time when there's snow! read more

See all

Make sure you get the adventure pass to park there. Short hike to the waterfall, which is awesome! Was my husbands idea to check this place out on our way home from big bear. Totally recommend it. Only thing I didn't like was that some idiot thought it was cool to tag on some trees and a rock. Other than that place is beautiful, when we were there it wasn't too crowded. There was several people there but still nice and quiet enough to enjoy nature. When we were leaving parking lot was getting kind of full, so going early seems to be the time to enjoy this place. Bathrooms, not the best. Make sure you have hand sanitizer, they don't have sinks. read more

Big Falls - This is like half way up. - Hiking Near Me - Forest Falls, California

Big Falls is true to it's name; the waterfalls here are large, and gorgeous to look at! That said, the hiking isn't much; come here only if you want to take an easy walk ending with some relaxing time at the waterfall. Following the trail west, we went downstream. To get to the waterfall requires that you cross the stream; there aren't any bridges, so you'll either need to step across stones or go wading. Tip: The water is clear as crystal! There are several smaller falls and a few pools that you'll encounter as you approach the big falls. read more

Longest waterfall in Southern California! Beautiful surroundings with cool shady areas for picnics and relaxation. If you decide you're in the mood to hike the falls PLEASE STAY ON THE MARKED PATH!!! read more