There is something mystical about waterfalls. As they spill over the brink of cliffs or breakthrough cracks, they create a natural oasis below. Yes, sometimes getting there requires shedding blood (from a grazed knee), sweat (from the California sun), and tears (additional water supply). However, the effort is well worth it as you hear the roar of the waterfall in the distance, and the anticipation of cooling off in the pool is almost as satisfying as a result. Read on for a list of the best spots to see these flowing wonders, and remember to trek carefully and responsibly! Always be careful, treat the paths with respect, and avoid leaving any traces of your passage.

Falls of Santa Ynez

The trip to Santa Ynez Falls is a delightful 2.4-mile out-and-back through shady oak and sycamore woodland. Wear waterproof footwear or be prepared to get your feet wet at the numerous stream crossings along this trail and keep an eye out for the poison oak that grows abundantly in this area. It's a great adventure if you're willing to get a little wet and do some creative scrambling and rock hopping to obtain a frontal view of the falls.

Switzer Falls.

This safe and entertaining multi-tiered Switzer fall is a great first taste of the San Gabriel Mountains' interior. To get to the Arroyo Seco, which has been important to Anglo, Hispanic, and Native American communities for generations prior to our own, you'll have to battle for a parking spot at the Switzer picnic zone.If your strength holds up, go farther down the canyon to find additional ponds and a trail camp. A nice swimming hole and a smaller, jacuzzi-like pool in the space between the two waterfalls are at the base of the falls.

Escondido waterfalls

Beautiful scenery may be seen at the Santa Monica Mountains' highest waterfall. This waterfall, dry when not inundated by rain, nonetheless falls slowly down a stretch of rock like melted candle wax covered in ferns. When there is water in the area, however, it transforms into a veil of pure white that cascades into a stunning pool. It's relatively easy to complete the 4-mile out-and-back but be prepared for some muck if it's recently rained. A more challenging ascent may also reach the Upper Falls, but this is an unauthorized and poorly maintained path that is best left to those with climbing or scrambling expertise and should be avoided in sandals or tennis shoes.

Paradise waterfalls

We do the best we can under the circumstances. Although it is not recommended that you swim in the pool at the base of Paradise Falls, the area is beautiful, nonetheless. The runoff has regenerated a magnificent riparian corridor along a tributary of the Arroyo Conejo, making the canyon a calm and shady place to spend time. The region's most intriguing and varied scenery can be seen just beyond Wildwood Park, from towering mesas to broad meadows, cacti and coastal scrub woods, and underground caverns.

Canyon Falls on the Trail

When it's pumping, Trail Canyon Falls is a strong contender for the title of the most magnificent waterfall in the Los Angeles area. This gem is tucked away in a side canyon of Big Tujunga, and the 4.3-mile hike will quickly give you a sense of isolation. This magnificent waterfall is reached after a strenuous ascent up narrow canyon ledges and via a tiny cabin hamlet. If you keep walking, you'll eventually reach the waterfall's tippy-top, and if you want to get closer to the bottom, you may take a risky detour down an unmaintained track. Trail Canyon was obscure for a long time, but it has recently gained popularity; thus, finding a parking place at the trailhead may be a minor to significant hassle.

Millard Canyon

The 1.2-mile round-trip climb to Millard Canyon Falls may be the finest value of any of Los Angeles's waterfalls. Even though the trail was closed for a long time because of the Station Fire, it has recently received a lot of maintenance from volunteer and Forest Service employees, and the shaded path through Millard Canyon is currently in great form. This short trek follows a creek, requiring ducking, jumping, and squeezing over boulders before terminating at the base of a stunning waterfall. It's perfect for families, and those who want to spend more time in the San Gabriels can extend their trip by hiking to the Dawn Mine (and a chance to spot another cascade in the Saucer Branch).