Third Stream Falls

This is quickly becoming my favorite local spot… If you come midweek, you’ll be hard pressed to find any other people out here. This wilderness area is majestic, wild, and provides a great workout. If you don’t have a 4×4, just park at the beginning of the road (you’ll see a turnout) and run or hike in. I saw a lot of downed trees on the trail and one piece of trash the entire way, so this place is doing well. On another note, while this is a well established trail, this area is one of the wilder areas of the san Gabriels. Mountain lions, Nelson bighorn, and bears roam these parts so plan accordingly. Also, you are on your own back here. The forest falls under the jurisdiction of the usfs and Lytle Creek is patrolled by sb County Sheriff’s, but you more than likely won’t see any law enforcement personnel, so just be aware that the unsavory types are privy to this as well, so don’t leave anything of value in your vehicle. Finally, if you don’t have a 4×4, do not attempt to take the fire road. Supposedly they periodically regrade the road but every time I’ve been there, it’s horribly rutted and strewn with rocks. Anyways, if you’re motivated like me, park at the turnout, run in, hit the trail head hard, and then run downhill all the way back, should take you a little over 2 hrs max!

Take nothing less than a 4×4 truck. Beware of the thieves who will break into your car. This is no b.s.; i actually saw and reported a wrecked Honda accord and a TRASHED Dodge ram on my exit of the trail to the SBSD and CHP. As a matter of fact, I literally picked up the couple whose Dodge Ram had been broken into and took them to the Forest Service office (those poor people had called 911 and waited 1 hour before hiking it out with ZERO response from the county/​local EMS)… No way would i let someone hiking a three mile road in 100°+ heat continue on without help. My truck was the only one which hadn’t been vandalised (probably because of the massive Browning Rifle windshield shade I had). Long story short, I’m never coming back here again. Regardless of the beauty or the available animals etc… Hike/​hunt at your own risk. You might end up with no way home.

We took my friend’s trusty minivan out to Third Stream Falls this morning. We followed Greg A. and Jon K.‘s driving and hiking directions, but got a little lost at the step where you’re supposed to look for a canyon which forks to the left. The left canyon opening is quite narrow, so we ventured up the right side thinking it was the main path. Going up further, this canyon eventually divides in to two MORE canyons, so we went up THIS left path following the streambeds (thinking this was the split mentioned in previous Unilocal reviews) until there was no more water left: p Upon giving up, we headed back towards the parking lot, but ultimately found the correct path due to my supersonic hearing and navigation skillz. I guess it’s important to keep in mind that it’s the end of summer and we’re in the midst of a severe drought, so certain features may not look the same.
Things to keep in mind:
HOT HOT HEAT: Try to get an early start to avoid the heat. We arrived around 7:30 am before the cloud layer had burned off, but even so, it was a scorcher today. The first two miles or so, you’re climbing steadily uphill and there is little to no shade. Bring more water than you think you need! Also, I feel like the bigger animals are more active earlier in the day before it gets too hot– we saw ~10 bighorn sheep and 4 deer earlier on during our hike.
INSECT REPELLENT: Those mosquitos and gnats are relentless! My friend and I must have looked like a pair of maniacs flailing our arms about while hiking, but it was all we could do. They literally bite you through your clothes, lodge themselves into your eyeballs and swarm around you as you try to outrun them. Good luck.
I recommend going in the winter, especially after recent rainfall. Third Stream Falls was more of a trickle than a waterfall (which I suppose is expected), but it was beautiful regardless.

⁴⁄₅ hike and I would rate the difficulty as 2 out of 5 difficulty. At the entrance, the sign says 2.3 miles to the falls, but I think this if off. You will come across a San B sign about 2 miles in, I think this is the indicator for the 2.3 miles because the falls are MUCH further up and I would say that the hike to the falls is between 2.5 to 3 miles, with a RT of probably 6 miles.
Let’s start off with the directions:
I would not advise taking a car that is NOT 4 wheel drive up to the sand parking lot as indicated in the previous reviews. There is another sand parking lot probably 0.5 miles after you cross the small bridge mentioned in Jon K’s post. It’s roughly 3 miles from here to the entrance with the sign and the other parking lot.
Keep in mind, Third Stream Falls is NOT clearly marked, you have to go off trail to get to it. Also, the actually trail follows the riverbed most of the way. If you think you are about 3 miles in and still on the trail but don’t hear the water anymore, you might have passed it.
Jon K below probably has the best directions so I advise you follow his. The problem is, this is the mountains so his directions aren’t perfect. The main thing you have to keep in mind is once you cross the riverbed mentioned in Jon K’s post (which is dry of course), stay to your left of it and continue hiking up. Keep an eye out on your left side. You should soon notice that the left side gets taller and taller and eventually looks like 100ft cliffs when you look up. THIS IS YOUR BEST INDICATOR that you are almost at the entrance to the falls. The left side will start to open up and once it does, follow it up and you will be at the falls. You will have to climb up lots of rocks but it’s not big or dangerous. As long as you stay to the left of the riverbed you can’t miss this 100ft wall of rocks entrance. There’s are only 2 directions, one is going left and following it to the falls and the other is continuing up the riverbed.
The actual hike:
This hike is a GREAT workout for your calves! Went with a group of 7 people. We started at the very bottom parking lot so the RT ended up being probably 12 miles or so (3 miles up the bottom parking lot to the actual entrance, roughly 3 miles from the entrance to the falls since we actually passed it, and the 6 miles back down all the way). Keep in mind you will be hiking up hill pretty much the whole way there, but it’s a gradual incline to say the least. Bring lots of water because you will be in the sun most of way up. The trail is clearly marked up until you cross the riverbed to find the falls. The scenery is mediocre, but a hike is a hike, so it’s still great nonetheless. There are a lot of bugs, most gnats, but there will probably eventually be mosquito so maybe bring some bug spray. You can definitely bring a water filter if you want, there is plenty of water you can grab that come off the rocks and what not (not the stagnant water of course). The actually falls isn’t huge, but it’s nice sight and the pool of water is about thigh deep (I’m 5’4) and it the water is REALLY cold. If you wish to stick around and enjoy the water, I advise to start the hike before 11am so you can enjoy the warm weather and the cold water.
The hike RT totaled to be about 6 including the time we spent hanging out at the falls. Would I do this again? Yes, start early though! We started at around noon and didnt get back to our car till about 6pm or so. Good for groups? Yes.

If there were an award for «best hike in LA you’ve never heard of,» Third Stream Falls would definitely be one of the frontrunners.
One of the reasons you probably haven’t heard of this hike is that it’s off the beaten path… literally. Although the trail was an adventure in itself, getting to the trailhead was an adventure in its own right… probably because we made the rather ill-​informed decision of taking my wife’s 2012 Corolla up the unpaved, dirt, ditch, and rock-​laden path up to where the trail began.
Eventually, we made it up to the trailhead and back safely, but I definitely would not take a compact car up that way again (even though in the moment it was both funny and terrifying).
As for getting to the trail, just read up on either Greg A’s or John A’s directions. I recommend taking screenshots of their reviews just in case you lose reception in the mountains. Roundtrip, the hike is about 6 miles and can be done in 3 – 4 hours comfortably.
If you want my take/​the cliff’s notes version, here it is:
Take the 10 East. Merge onto 15 North. Exit Sierra Ave. Turn left on Sierra and go 6 miles (check your odometer to make sure you don’t miss the next turn). Turn left on Middle Fork Road (a couple streets after South Fork). Cross the small bridge that runs over the stream and follow the road to the left. Drive for 3 miles on the unpaved road. At the end, you’ll find a small dirt parking lot and restroom. Park your car and head up toward the canyon. The trail is clearly marked. The first two miles are a healthy climb uphill (you’ll be going up the right side of the canyon). It may seem like you’re zigging and zagging at times but as long as you stay with the trail, you should be fine. The general goal is to move up the right side of the canyon (with the river running below you on your left). Whereas the first part of the hike will take you through desert-​like mountain terrain, the second part of the hike will lead you into a wooded area. You should pass a wooden sign that reads «Cucamonga Wilderness.» Keep going for about half a mile. You’ll start to hear the stream get louder than it was before. At some point, you’re going to have to cross this stream to get to the left side of the canyon, so when you find an easy point of access, go for it. As you walk up the riverbed, look for where the canyon comes to a fork. There should be another canyon opening up on your left. If you’re looking for it, you can’t miss it. You’ll see a series of small cascading streams and 100 foot rock cliffs. This is how you know you’re going the right way. Go into the canyon on the left and keep climbing the rocks. You’ll start to see slightly deeper pools of water (look for the baby trout in the shaded rocks but don’t bother them). Within half a mile, you will have reached the falls. Congrats!
A few tips:
— bring a light, easy-​to-​carry windbreaker as the temp change in the valley can be significant (even on a hot day)
— be sure to stop by the ranger station and get an adventure day pass (not needed on national holidays)
— bring at least a small bottle of water
— bring a walking stick if you have one
— DON’T DRIVE UP TO THE TRAILHEAD IN A COROLLA
— take screenshots of several people’s reviews in case you don’t get reception
— tell someone where you’re going
— HAVE FUN!

Greg A.‘s directions are very clear and got us right where we wanted to go, from the driving to the hiking.
Following the reviews of people saying their Accord and Camry had made it, I made the (foolish) decision to come in our Pontiac. Maybe the road has washed out since their reviews, but it is not good for a car. We made it to the parking lot with minor difficulty, but must have loosened some rocks. On the way back a large rock spun under our front tire and ended up rolling under the car and cracking our transmission pan. We had to get towed home.
So other than the end of the day, it was a great hike and very enjoyable. Make sure to bring plenty of water, snacks and the SUV.

Very nice relaxing place to hike, the start of the hike could be intense for some, take your time and it will be enjoyable

So my buddy & I tackled this little monster this morning. I followed John A’s amazingly clear driving directions in his Unilocal review & sure enough I found this place as Described. The portion of unpaved road to the parking lot was killer on my 12 yr old Accord but Old Faithful made it. Atta boy…
The hike to the water fall is about 6 miles (RT) but be advised the walk in is mostly uphill, in full sun, for a good 2 miles or so. You will get a damn good calf workout. Probably a good idea to pack enough water & food 2 snack on.
The trail does not have any posted signage along the way (except for a general map at the trailhead) so ppl can easily get lost. Hell, we got lost making our way to the waterfall. Lucky for us we ran into 2 forest rangers doing their rounds so they showed us the way. Thanks, Team Ed! Ed suggests all hikers should check in at the ranger station for the free parking pass & a map of the trails. REI also sells a detailed map of the Cucamonga Wilderness area too. Or, like us, hope to run into 1 of the friendly rangers for a personalized guided tour…
What I like best about this trail is that it is not well known so it’s well preserved &… wait 4 it… no bloody graffiti! Yes! It’s a terrible shame what the hooligans have done to beautiful Sapphire Falls. So, let’s respect Mother Nature. Enjoy her majestic beauty by not ruining it.

I am hoping and praying that the canyon remains closed forever! I am so tired of the appalling lack of civility displayed by the mostly out of town «hikers.» The canyon is now a reflection of urban decay filled with graffiti and trash. We owe it to the remaining wildlife in the area to protect their home. Residents should ban together to figure out away to restore the canyon and keep it that way. Please respect the residents and the wildlife and STAY AWAY.

I stumbled upon the review for this hike and was immediately ready to hit the trails. It took about 3 weeks to finally get here. Three days before, I checked the weather — 50 and sunny — «Perfect». That morning it’s sprinkling when we wake up. I checked the weather again, ok well it’s lightly sprinkling and is supposed to be snowing later that evening. Arrive at trail, it’s SNOWING at 12 pm. We decided to trek forwarded, possibly under-​prepared but trekking forward nonetheless.
This is technically a short trail, attached to the much longer Middle Fork trail. We took the upper trail, and even with the gaining elevation it wasn’t steep or tiring. And though it was snowing it was absolutely beautiful. Can’t wait to come back in the spring. Happy Trails!

Third Stream Falls is an eighty foot waterfall located in a remote canyon in the Cucamonga Wilderness just above Rancho Cucamonga California. Unlike many of the waterfalls in Southern California, Third Stream Falls flows steadily for most of the year. I first heard about the waterfall from an excellent book called The Definitive Guide to the Waterfalls of Southern and Central California written by Chris Shaffer. I’ve been using his book for 2 years and I’ve visited nearly every waterfall in Riverside, Orange, and Las Angeles County. Third Stream Falls is, without a doubt, my favorite waterfall in Southern California. We didn’t see a single other person on the trail, and the noise from the outside world is literally non-​existent.
My girlfriend and I had been saving this waterfall for a day when the temperatures in the mountain were at least in the fifties. We’ve learned the hard way that temperatures at higher elevations in southern California often vary by as much as 40 degrees. We both bring a jacket and a fleece sweatshirt on every mountain hike we attempt.
From route 15, take the Sierra exit just north of the city of Fontana. Turn left on Sierra road and drive 6 miles. Turn left onto Middle Fork Road and drive for another 3 miles until the end. The trail to the waterfall starts in a parking lot at the end of Middle Fork Road. I was extremely surprised to see that the parking lot had its own bathroom because Middle Fork road was in poor condition. We did fine in a Toyota Camry, but I wouldn’t take my Lamborghini down that road. From the parking lot, you climb steadily up the right side of the canyon for 2 miles. You get fantastic views of the cascading river below you. At about two miles in, you come into a giant grove of redwoods, many of which were severely burned in a fire several years ago. We crossed several dry streambeds which were tributaries of Lytle Creek as well as a few very primitive looking campsites which I’ve heard the boyscouts use and a large wooden sign for the Cucamonga Wilderness. After hiking through the redwood grove for about half a mile, the narrow canyon opens up into a giant bowl. This is where you cross Lytle Creek and head for the canyon on the left side of the river with the cascading water flowing out of it. The mouth of this side canyon is at least 30 feet wide with walls over a hundred feet tall. If you are looking for it, you won’t be able to miss it. The side canyon is very steep and you will have to do some minor rock scrambling to get to the waterfall. The path is visible, but you will probably end up stepping in the water a few times. After a quarter mile, the waterfall will come into view. It’s a two tiered waterfall totaling about a hundred feet tall with a decent swimming hole at its base. The water at the base was so cold that I could barely stick my toe into it, but it was crystal clear and very tempting to take a dip. If I do this hike again in the summer, I’m definitely going swimming. We ate lunch at the waterfall, took a few a pictures and then headed back to the parking lot the same way we came in. Coming out took us half the time it took us coming in. Although it’s only a 6 mile roundtrip hike, it took us almost 3 hours to do the whole thing because of the steep elevation gain on the way in. You can check out more hikes at my blog