My favorite "hike"! I prefer to do more of the "rock climbing" and going along the water but there is a trail that goes around. Lots of people on the weekend but never too busy. Best time is the spring, late winter. read more

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5/6/2023 Went on a Saturday at 11:30am. Parking on both sides on Ortega Hwy. It was our first time so we asked some passerby's which way to go. There are 3 trails, we took the one on the far right. Nice easy walk. We listened for the sounds of the water fall and walked towards it. We ended up at the bottom of the waterfall and worked our way up. Luckily the water was flowing nicely after the rain on Thursday. Sad to see so much graffiti was it was still worth going. read more

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The waterfalls were nice, but not the crowds and graffiti on the nature trail and boulders. Trail is pretty narrow and get ready to climb up and down on rocks. Plus, you have to have the patience of a saint while waiting for others to get a move on. Lol. Been there and done that and no need to go back. read more

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Visited the falls on 1/31/21 after hiking the more family-friendly San Juan Loop Trail. There are several informal trails squirreling their steep way down into the canyon. Scrambling up and down boulders got our hearts pumping! Distance: 0.2 mi Duration: 20 mins (out and back) Terrain: Extremely steep and rocky, some bouldering Parking: roadside on Ortega Hwy Was the waterfall running!? : unfortunately, no. Just a little pond despite "2 years' worth of rain" that past week. Worth it? short and fun but would not go again unless in the area after heavy rains. Notes: Graffiti somewhat marred the bare rocks but gave the area an interesting urban nature feeling. If you're lucky, you'll arrive not long after the Warriors Society, a volunteer group of cyclists, runners and hikers, has cleaned off the markings. First time seeing the bamboo-like "giant reed", or the invasive pest Arundo donax, choking the creek bed. Lots of wide flat rocks perfect for a quiet, contemplative sit. You need an Adventure Pass to park! Purchase a daily pass at the Ortega Candy Store or online at https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74407?q=Cleveland%20National%20Forest%20Digital%20Pass read more

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Just completed this hike this past weekend. It was a great workout, but sadly there was no waterfall at the end. I wouldn't recommend this hike to beginners as there isn't a clear path, so it's easy to get lost. The path is mostly sandy and rocks and there's also a lot of steep climbing, so it helps to have shoes with good traction. I had a lot of fun on the hike. The views were incredible. I just wish the waterfall was there still because it really would've looked epic. There's also some cool graffiti/artwork there. Please don't litter. I don't think the hike/area is really maintained. To get to the hike, just take the Ortega Highway 74 and you'll see a small parking lot along the way. The entrance is on the Northwest side. There are no marked signs. Have fun! read more

Ortega Falls - Hiking Near Me - Lake Elsinore, California

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With no flowing water, Ortega Falls is nothing more than a nice family friendly hike where you can see some interesting graffiti. Even after a large rain storm this waterfall was bone dry. Tip - Look for the Graffiti Finger pointing to the secret area on top of the Waterfall. Up there you'll find some small pools of water with more exploring opportunities. - Plenty of parking on both sides of Ortega - I wouldn't let small kids on top of the waterfall. - Apparently a popular place for "canoodling". Best to stay on-trail.. read more

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The waterfall is beautiful! The best time to go is January through April! Otherwise the waterfall is dried out!

If you visit this location, please bring your own trash bags. Please do NOT litter. Do not ruin it for other visitors. Be aware of poison oak all along the trails and the stream. The rocks disguise some of the clusters. I was so surprised there is still running water in the stream and the waterfall is still flowing. I came today (June 24, 2019) for an easy after work excursion. Picked up my Adventure Pass (daily parking pass) at Big 5 on my way to Ortega Hwy. if you're coming from the OC side, you can grab a pass if the Ortega candy store is open I believe. An annual Adventure Pass is $30. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r5/passes-permits/recreation?cid=stelprdb5282717&width=full Many people do not know this, but a parking pass is enforced. They do random inspections. The first time I didn't know about this and I was issued a citation to log online and get a daily pass, even after the day was ended. If parking pass citations are not paid, they do accumulate. Fines start at $100. We accomplished the hike and waterfall excursion in two hours. The hike involves rocks and sandy trails. Be careful. It's steep at a few points, but nothing too difficult in my opinion. Once at the water though, I found it easier to follow the stream. We even went splashing and swimming a bit at one of the smaller waterfalls. We began our hike around 2 pm. We were one of three cars. Drove from the Lake Elsinore side. Hiked from the Ortega Hwy Turnout just past Hells Kitchen, and I didn't realize it, but the far left trails led us towards the bottom of the waterfalls. Wear good hiking shoes that you don't mind getting wet. I found the hike easier if I followed the stream. That entails getting into some puddles here and there. So glad I left earlier because by the time we got back to our car around 4 to leave, there was no parking available. There had to have been at least 15 cars between both sides of the road. Most without passes visible. If they're not needed during the weekday, please let me know. BIG 5 said I needed it. Overall, a fun and easy afternoon hike. To avoid the crowds, I suggest weekday before noon. The main waterfall is definitely a quarter of its volume from my March visit, but it was the perfect temperature to swim and cool off. Enjoyed the visit very much. If you'd like to watch my video of the excursion, you're welcomed to check it out via YouTube~ https://youtu.be/meJWuMWtK8k read more

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This is a pretty cool hike. It was a little challenge because you go uphill and have to climb down narrow rock walkways along a cliff. It definitely got me winded but it was all worth it. At the end, the view is amazing and the water was flowing which made it better. You can walk down the rocks to get closer to the falls which makes for a good means of cooling down and wading in the water. It's sad that people tag all over the rocks especially because this is nature. Shame on you! read more

Ortega Falls - Hiking Near Me - Lake Elsinore, California

Feb 17, 2020 - ended up here almost exactly a year later. A lot less rainfall made for some pros and cons, no recent reviews so I wasn't sure what to expect. Just like my last update, It's nature, it doesn't always stay the same, don't blame the reviewers lol. Cons: obviously a lot less water We went down the dirt trail slightly to the right on the parked cars: 2 adults, 3 kids 15, 13, 9 On our way down we crossed paths with three adults that had 3 or 4 Littles with them that started around 3 years to maybe 5 or 6 years. The said there was water but they were going back up to try and get higher. We decided to keep going and found some mini pools and mini falls as reported then chose to follow the boulders upstream until we finally hit the larger fall. Last year there was so much water running we weren't able to make it all the way upstream. Since the bed was drier there were plenty of spots to cross. Lots of new colorful graffiti tagged 2019... nature respect fail. Good cardio, medium challenge bouldering. My kids were fine although I had to overthink a few spots bc I gotta pay the bills. Aim for the farthest right to get closer to the trail head although the most worn trails will land you further downstream. read more

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I absolutely loved this water fall! the hike was not bad, only about 10 minutes. It was an easy hike for my kids (6 and 11). Both turnouts were completely packed with vehicles and people waiting on the highway for a space to park... the rains brought alot of water and it was very busy (it is definitely a good time to visit Ortega falls). I saw many families with dogs and small children and noticed that the toddlers seem to be fine with the parents help, small dogs had to be carried and large dogs were fine on their own. But, the babies...if they can't walk I probably wouldn't take a baby; I did see alot of parents having trouble with this and honestly it was nerve wracking to see. You do have to hike up rocks and boulders, also the trail gets steep. read more

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A very surprised hike to find waterfalls in our own backyard. The water was welcoming and so cool on this warm day. The way down was a bit rough but very doable for those in good health. We had to leave a man behind because he just had surgery and you would need the use of 2 hands to keep yourself balanced. Heard from other hikers that they heard a rattle snake. Fortunately, only saw lizards. We did give a family with few young kids a long stick, just in case. Just follow the sound of water and keep to the right. We still didn't pay attention and took a wrong turn. No matter the direction, can't get lost following the sound of water. On our first attempt, reached the bottom of the falls and the finger drawn into the rock indicated "wrong way". Come with change of shoes and clothing because it's hard to resist jumping to the water after the hot hike. read more

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WARNING! Our car was broken into within minutes from parking in the dirt parking turn out to enter the Ortega falls. Thieves prey on newer model cars that use electronic "clickers" to lock their car, they have a device to collect your clickers info/transmission and then use their device (clicker) to UNLOCK your car. I chose to take a backpack of waters and sunscreen and food but left my purse under the back seat. My car was virtually untouched but scumbags had unlocked the car, and stollen cash and 5 debit/credit cards from my wallet. Took off and racked up over $1000 at a Rite Aid in 5 separate ~$240 transactions over 5 different cards. Beware of your surrounding cars/people who might be casing your car/property. A wonderful day spent with family turned into hours of reporting fraud and canceling credit cards, and filing a police report. I've heard from several people it's happened to others in the same location. Otherwise the falls were pretty. But I did end up filling a trash bag with (2) poopy diapers discarded in the rocks and too many drinking bottles to count. It's sad and such a disgrace to nature. The tagging on the rocks wasn't too serene either. Needless to say we won't be back. read more

Ortega Falls - Hiking Near Me - Lake Elsinore, California

I went for the first time yesterday and had an amazing time! I originally did a lot of research for waterfalls that didn't have very long hikes. My research showed that this would be a short 0.3 mile hike, however I am pretty sure that the walk from the parking lot to at least any decent areas with pools or anywhere to wade in the water is 1 to 2 miles! If you're just going to the base, it is a short hike, but I would be careful bringing kids because there are quite a lot of boulders and things that can scratch you. I am an amateur at hiking and this was my first hike, so I'm sure that this is beginner friendly!!! I would just recommend being careful of slippery and rocky terrain but I had an amazing time and anyone that's complaining about the graffiti is just being pretentious and trying to keep people from having a good time. Yes there is a bit of graffiti but honestly if you are truly there to look at nature and have a good time and play in some clean, pretty, water then it's not going to bother you. The higher you go, the prettier and deeper the water will be. 12/10 recommend!!!! read more

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Cool hike with many ways down and up. Cool crisp water and falls await. Yes some dummies are littering please clean up after yourselves. Hike is cool and most people are polite out there and helpful. read more

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Challenging hike, the going down and climbing up the mountain is definitely a work out, but worth it. Multiple falls/streams, theirs not only one fyi. Wear comfortable shoes thats you can get wet and dirty. Plenty of shades to rest, i saw people bring small dogs and also having picnics. Bring water its a must! read more

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Waste of time, this place should be taken off from all of the map of "places to hikes". No signs or directions what so ever. Coming from Santa Ana with my hiking crew on a Saturday 01/13/18. I took my lady friend to her very first hike in years. Followed all the directions in the reviews, pass the candy store, park where all the cars are at in the left side, went on the left path to make this much more of a hike. Went through a bunch of rocks, boulders and small pool of waters. We end up at the two signs that said San Juan loop and chiquito. Asking other hikers if they ever heard of this so call water fall and not one person knew. Realizing at this point we're probably lost and going the wrong way the whole time. Had to back track and got to the candy store place. From there walk all the way back to our car from the highway. When we got back to the car, took a glance and seen all the graffiti on the rocks, no water fall what's so ever. Disappointed and a total bust. Go to black star canyon if you feel the need of an adventure. The only reason why this even has a 2 Star, I broke a sweat and internet still works. read more

I had this trail bookmarked for quite sometime... I've heard that it's been dry since there hasn't been too much rain. So , I waited until we finally got some enough so I'd at least hike to capture the beauty of this trail & waterfalls (2). I wanted to catch the sunrise & these waterfalls. Location was pretty easy to find, the trail was average to intermediate level hiking . Just make sure you pack light & bring enough water and do wear shoes that have some grip on them. I do highly suggest in wearing hiking boots versus just tennis shoes that don't have the grip especially when you are hiking over loose dirt, gravel & sand , rocks and climbing over a slippery creek or huge bolder. The hike had tons of shade to get to the First waterfalls. It was absolutely beautiful only negative thing I'd have to say is for everyone to respect Mother Nature for all those liter pigs pick your CRAP up especially the empty beer cans and water bottles .. and trash and the graffiti was such an eye sore. Anyhow, on the water falls (2) keep climbing a few more holders and cross the creek you will reach the other amazing waterfalls. Definitely, was worth getting up early to catch the sunrise & this great trail . I'm pretty glad I had the opportunity to finally explore this trail . The hike back up wasn't too challenging it's a great hike for most . I wouldn't suggest small children . read more

Ortega Falls - Ortega Falls first water fall - Hiking Near Me - Lake Elsinore, California

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We were looking for a hike with a waterfall and decided to try out Ortega Falls. We live in South Orange County, so we were able to take the scenic 74 the entire way there. Right after you pass the candy store there is a turnout where you can park your car. We traveled down to the rocks where there is a small waterfall and several small pools of water for wading. The hike is really short, but very steep in some areas. We brought our two small dogs and they had a difficult time; I ended up having to carry one of them the majority of the way back up. Once you get to the water all of the rocks are extremely slippery, so be very careful. Once we found a spot to sit down, we relaxed and enjoyed our surroundings for about an hour. We definitely want to go back and try hiking up to the big waterfall. Next time we will bring our swimsuits and leave our fur babies at home. read more

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When you're coming up the 74 highway, you can't miss the parking lot. There are some marked spots and the other side has a wide stretch for cars to park safely. Once you see the lot, you'll see two small, unmarked trailheads - one on the left (longer trailhead) and one on the right (shorter trailhead). We were on a time crunch, so we took the shortest trail to the waterfall. It was less than a 0.5 mile trek downwards, across some boulders, towards the tiered waterfall. We brought our dog and he had a good time. Some of the boulders are pretty big so if you're taking kids or a dog, be sure to have them nearby at all times to ensure their safety. Due to the recent rains, the water was pumping and it was very clean. There were families enjoying the small pools- some folks even brought floaties! Beautiful little spot and very accessible for all ages. Enjoy! read more

Ortega Falls - Hiking Near Me - Lake Elsinore, California

Had so much fun Waterfall a bit low but nice I'd recommend just checking for road closures before going so you don't have to travel out of your way read more

I've hiked a lot of local la trails leading to waterfalls and while enjoyable they were kind of lackluster this one was a really short distance, for a pretty high reward. There's been a lot of perception this year so the falls here is in full swing. I will provide a little advice though, you're hiking downwards, narrow paths, no clear dominant path, when we got down there we thought maybe we were at the destination we were not. The bigger falls was on the third tier, so you had to keep climbing upwards, again no clear path, just scrambling. There also wasn't a clear sign that you were there, it's just like a lookout vista parking area. read more

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Friggin Kool!!! We went after all the big rains. Apple maps had us pull over at a large turnout. We saw trail near the edge and followed it down. Easy hike, a few large rocks to climb. And a cute little arcs to walk through. Just follow the sounds to the waterfall. read more

Ortega Falls - Falls from the left - Hiking Near Me - Lake Elsinore, California

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Hate me if you want, but this waterfall is too awesome to keep secret! It's hard to find but well-worth it. From the 74 east it's about 2 to 3 miles past the old candy store, look for a pull-out and large sign that says 'Parked Vehicles Must Display Forest Adventure Pass'. Then scramble down the trail for about 15 minutes until you see the falls, they are HUGE, you can't miss it. This is the biggest waterfall in the area, believe me! and because there are no guardrails you can even play under the falls, it's a really exclusive and amazing experience. The only reason I left out one star is because idiot dummies have almost ruined this place with their graffitti. The more nature lovers that go to the falls the less riff raff, so please enjoy the nature! read more

Ortega Falls - Upper Ortega Falls - Hiking Near Me - Lake Elsinore, California

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Amazing place and so close to my house! I went with my family. I hope I can came back many time. Quickly and easy hiking. read more

Awesome place to take a break from the heat. Lots of shade and room for exploration available. The water is starting to dry up now that it's June and 100+ degrees. When I went back in March there was a raging waterfall and lots of water pools to enjoy. Great place for a picnic just make sure you take lots of pictures and leave NOTHING behind.... Have fun read more

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Easy Hike to the falls. This is the perfect time to go with all the rain that we had there is actually a waterfall. Follow the directions on yelp it leads you right where to park . Be careful if you park across the street. Lots of cars are speeding up and down the mountain. After parking Go to the RIGHT When headed to the falls. ****The water is FREEZZZIINGGGG!! **** people were actually playing in the water and going through the falls when i was there. Burrrrr.. The waterfall was just so beautiful, peaceful & relaxing. I highly recommend coming here , my fiancé and I stayed for about two hours We were leaving around 12pm that's when it started to get busy. read more

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I will never come here again. I decided to check it out about 2 weeks ago and it was horrible. Let me start by saying that parking is very limited and off to the side of the road. This is a .35 mile (one way) super steep hike down to the fall and back up. Be aware... there's a lot of mini trails leading to the same place. My biggest issue with this place is the TRASH and POOP. You will see a lot of it. It's actually very sad to see. The fall was super small and not worth it. This place has a lot of families and children visiting. If you do go, please take your trash/cans back out so others can enjoy the fall. read more

Was a beauty til everyone trashed it and all our hard graffiti removal work is for nothing people disgust me how hard is it to pack out your own trash i mean it weighs less when your beer can is empty we have tried garbage cans but they keep getting stolen..... read more

Very pretty hike. I took my daughter with me. I wasn't sure exactly where we were going, but we love to be outdoors so we decided to give this place a try. After we went to the candy shop across the street to treat ourselves. The owner was very sweet and helpful. read more

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Went here with a few friends a couple weeks ago. No water, but I wasn't anticipating any since we are obviously in a drought. It was right off Ortega hwy which was really convenient. Free parking with many spaces. Some people were just parked off the rode. Easy trails, maybe less than a mile to get to the actual water fall. The trails were accessible and not overgrown. The only thing I would have to say to look out for is that because there is no water, there is a lot of access to the big rocks where the water would have flowed through. Be cautious because these are much smoother and more slick and one small trip could lead to a terrible fall or injury. It's also nice because we drove through from Lake Elsinore. It was hard to believe only 20 minutes away is a city full of thousands of people. A nice, family friendly getaway. read more

Ortega Falls - Sitting at the top of the water fall. I probably should have taken a photo of the view but this was all I got from that day. - Hiking Near Me - Lake Elsinore, California

Ortega falls is a easy hike. Plenty of rocks to climb if you like that. Parking sucks because you have to park on the side of the road and is super sketchy. Also the road you park on has so many holes and if your car is low you are screwed. read more

I'm sure this place deserves a 5 for being an IE waterfall staple to visit but man oh man it's a little difficult to find. I'm sure it's a great view when there is tons of water so I would def. come back after it rains. At this moment the waterfall only had a trickle of water so wasn't that worth it. However when you get there's do park, there seems to be a few ways down but when you park make sure you take the far right slope down and keep going. At first you don't think you are going down the right path but the further you start to go down you will eventually run into a huge rocks with will arrows. So whoever put those arrows there "thank you" The trail is pretty treacherous but you can do it. You will have To climb over some rocks and get hit by bushes but hey that's the greatness of a hike to find the hidden waterfall. I would be careful to go when it's hot because there are snakes I assume and the bushes are close on the trail so you never know. Just be careful. I don't recommend bringing a baby (worse mistake) but I was still able to make the hike with one. It def. for older kids, teens adults and maybe bigger adults not for the elderly or toddlers. The waterfall leads you down to a tuning creek which is a nice walk down. I say check it out if you are in Ortega hwy. it's worth a waterfall to see even if it's little water. Oh btw it's not huge but worth it Make sure you have a adventure pass in case like what other says, parking may suck on weekends since it's off on the side it the road, there is poison ivy and little reception on your phone. I think I covered it. read more

It was fun, but no water this time. The hike was relatively easy, as long as your legs are desent. read more

Ortega Falls - Ortega Falls, unfortunately only a trickle. - Hiking Near Me - Lake Elsinore, California

So awesome to see this waterfall that has been dry for a few years. Definitely not a big hike at all. If I did it you could too. I recommend some good shoes with traction because a lot of the rocks are smooth and you could slip. There are a few trails you could take that will take you to the bottom, middle, or top. read more

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Easy and quick hike. I loved coming here and seeing the water fall. But when I went yesterday (2/6/18) the water was completely dried up. Very sad to see. I can't wait for it to start flowing again! read more

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We originally started out at the Ortega candy shop, figured we'd want to go see a waterfall. We google mapped Ortega falls, and it took us about 1.8 miles east on 74 from the candy shop to a turnout. There are about 4 different openings to start your hike. I had a great time, for a beginner hiker. It's fairly easy, and a quick hike. Unfortunately no waterfall, but a great little hike still. The only reason I give it 4 stars was because of mother nature's drought. read more

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Very fun short hike with great payoff at the end. It's not your typical flat surface trail. You've got to climb rocks, figure out foot placement, and think two steps ahead. It's a exciting tiny challenge for the average Joe. Someone mentioned not taking larger dogs but I decided to risk it and take my (on-leash) 115lb Great Dane. He did great. His longer legs probably helped with the hopping and climbing over rocks so I wouldn't totallyyy count the larger dogs out but I do understand why they say to leave them home. read more

Ortega Falls - Hiking Near Me - Lake Elsinore, California

Ah, where to start? My husband and I planned this day trip and were excited to go see the falls. We knew 2020 was an awful year and CA was in a drought and late November we likely wouldn't find lush greenery - and it was very dry. We parked and headed out to find the trail, following other reviewers' suggestions to keep to the trail to the right. We could not find any marked trail, no signage, no path markers, nothing. There were definitely signs of others' having beaten a way thru the scratchy, thorny bushes and we did our best. The surface was dry rock covered with loose rubble and it was challenging even though we both had hiking gear on and used hiking poles. To make a long story short, we never did find a reasonable trail but we bush-whacked our way up the canyon and stood on boulders to see that it appeared the canyon was completely dry, no waterfall at all. Making our way back to the car park was also challenging and often we were scrambling over the surface by sitting down and scooting so as not to fall on the gravely surface. read more

Mother nature gave us rain! Now Ortega falls has wonderful views. ..lots of running water lot of greenery! read more

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