Paradise Falls Hike

We’re off to see the wizard! If you’re looking to step outside of suburbia and fall into a sea of gorgeous flowers and winding rivers, then head just slightly outside of Thousand Oaks, CA  to Paradise Falls Trail. There’s copious amounts of shining sun, gorgeous blue skies, and blossoming plants if you head out on the trail on the right day.

If you are located in the Los Angeles area and are looking for a beautiful hike that figuratively transports you to another planet, look no further than Paradise Falls Hike. Located in Thousand Oaks, CA, this hike is 2.7 miles long, so it’s a little more difficult than a morning stroll, but it’s still relatively moderate as far as hiking difficulty goes.

Depending on the weather patterns and time of year that you experience this trek, you could feel as if you have been transported to the land of Oz. After a rainy season, the flowers and vegetation here paint a gorgeous, yellow landscape. You can find flowers blooming all around you. Even in the warmer, dry months, however, it’s still a pretty trail filled with mountains, hills, and water.

The part of this hike that I appreciate the most is the parking. There is a very large parking lot at the start of the trial, which makes life so much easier. Many great hikes don’t have enough parking or have parking lots that charge a lot of money. This one has plenty of easy, free parking. As you begin your hike on a dusty trail, you immediately feel as if you are nowhere near Los Angeles. There are beautiful plains with rolling hills and flowers. As you continue on the trail for a bit, a giant tee-pee dome sits at the top of a hill side to serve as a nice, shaded place to rest for families who just re-emerged from the bottom of the hill by the water. It’s a great spot to recharge.

You can follow the trail down from here to find a small, beautiful waterfall with shallow water beneath it. If it’s a nice day, it’s a great opportunity to soak your feet in the water. You can head back up the hill to the tee pee the way you came from or you can loop around, walking by the water and up the other side of the hill. If you’re feeling adventurous, looping around provides beautiful new scenery and a few more steps into your journey.

Unlike some trails where the way back feels boring, it’s just as beautiful on the way back to your car. The hike can get busy, but it’s definitely not as busy as other LA hikes that I have seen. I’d absolutely give this hike a try if I were you. It is one of my favorites!