San Ysidro Falls

Dogs Unknown

Features River/Creek · Swimming · Waterfall

Hiking up the dramatic San Ysidro Canyon to reach the spectacular San Ysidro Falls makes for an enjoyable and memorable time in the mountains above Montecito.

From the trailhead, the San Ysidro Trail parallels a residential driveway for a while before becoming a dirt road. 4/10 of a mile into your hike, you'll come across a junction for the Old Pueblo Trail and the McMenemy Trail 1/10 of a mile later. Avoid taking either of these diverging trails and continue straight to follow the San Ysidro Trail. 1.4 miles into the trail, you'll reach San Ysidro Creek, which features a small waterfall and a large pool here.

The trail then continues to climb and after 2 miles of being on trail, you'll cross San Ysidro Creek. Shortly after the creek crossing, there will be a path curving to the right and one that goes straight. Stay on the straight path to continue following the San Ysidro Trail and you'll quickly reach San Ysidro Falls, which are the highlight of the hike. At 60 feet tall, the San Ysidro Falls make for a stunning sight.

At this point, you can turn around and follow the same route along the San Ysidro Trail until you reach the original trailhead off of Mountain Dr.

Thanks to John McKinney, The Trailmaster, for sharing this trail description. To learn more about trails in California, check out his guides at The Trailmaster Store.

Bougainvillea, sea fig, and numerous other exotic plants can be found near the trailhead.