Falls Hikes in Southern California

Southern California isn’t exactly known for its wealth of foliage, but come fall you might be surprised how many trees there actually are hidden among the desert landscape. If you’re looking for truly stunning fall colors, check out these gorgeous hikes.

Solstice Canyon Loop

Solstice Canyon Loops offers the benefit of barely leaving the city limits. Located just outside of Los Angeles in Malibu, the 3.4-mile hike features two abandoned houses shrouded in foliage, fountains and a beautiful waterfall. The path is surprisingly steep at points, so come prepared with your best boots and a few layers.

Moro Rock

Moro Rock is a short hike — only 0.4 miles long — but don’t let the distance fool you. The trek up to the top of this granite formation is anything but easy, and features some incredibly steep scrambles if you want to take in the stunning views. Once you’re atop the rock, you’ll be treated with an overlook of Sequoia National Park and the Great Western Divide.

Tokopah Valley Trail

Another magnificent hike in Sequoia National Park, the Tokopah Valley Trail is a 3.7-mile journey to one of California’s most breathtaking waterfalls. The trails winds its way through a series of lush valleys, a raging river, calm streams and a towering forest before releasing you onto the mountainside, where you’ll find Tokopah Falls barreling down the rocky cliffs.

Stoddar Peak

Stoddar Peak is a six-mile path up the side of Mount Baldy, but not nearly as treacherous as it might seem. The path never reaches more than 1,000 feet in elevation, but it provides one of the largest displays of fall colors in all of sunny SoCal. Tackle the trip in the morning just at dawn or the evening before dusk to see all the flowers and trees in full glory.