Cedar Creek Falls Hiking Guide
Cedar Creek Falls pours roughly 80 feet into a deep green pool that San Diego hikers call the Devil's Punchbowl, and it is one of the most sought-after destinations in the county. It is also permit-controlled, quota-limited, and notorious for the same reason as Three Sisters: you hike down to it and climb back out in the sun. The permit system exists precisely because too many people got into trouble here.
Permit: Advance day-use permit required through the Forest Service reservation system; quotas apply and permits must be printed or shown at the trailhead
The Permit System
A day-use permit is required and must be obtained in advance through the Forest Service reservation system — this is not a self-issue trailhead. Quotas limit daily numbers, and cool-season weekends book out. Permits carry a fee, must be presented at the trailhead, and are checked. Showing up without one means being turned around after a long drive. Read the current requirements carefully when you book, since details of the system have changed over the years.
Trailhead Options and the Profile
The most common approach is from the Ramona side, though other access points exist. Whichever you choose, the structure is the same: a descent to the falls followed by a sustained climb back to your car. The return gains roughly 1,100 feet on an exposed slope with essentially no shade. This is the entire difficulty of the hike, and it is why fit people who breeze down in forty minutes take two hours to get back up on a warm afternoon.
The Falls and the Pool
The waterfall drops into a large pool ringed by rock, and after a wet winter the flow is genuinely impressive. Swimming is popular and is the reason many people make the trip. Cliff jumping is not permitted and has killed and paralyzed people here — the water depth varies dramatically with season and there is submerged rock. Flow declines through spring and by late summer the falls can be reduced to a trickle with a stagnant pool below.
Heat and Rescue History
This canyon has a serious record of heat emergencies and technical rescues. The combination of a downhill approach, a waterless exposed climb out, and inland San Diego County summer temperatures is genuinely dangerous, and the permit system was introduced in part to manage it. Alcohol has featured in a number of the incidents here. Hike it in winter or early spring, start early, and carry far more water than five and a half miles would normally require.
Rules and Logistics
Dogs are not permitted on this trail. Glass containers and alcohol are prohibited, and the rules are enforced. There is no water at the trailhead or on the route, and no reliable cell coverage in the canyon. Pack out everything — this destination has struggled with trash. Group size limits may apply as part of the permit conditions, so check when booking if you are organizing more than a few people.
Hiking tips for Cedar Creek Falls
- Book your permit well in advance through the Forest Service reservation system; cool-season weekends fill and rangers check at the trailhead.
- Treat the 1,100-foot climb out as the real hike and budget two to three times as long for it as for the descent.
- Go in winter or early spring only — this canyon has a long record of heat emergencies and helicopter rescues in warm months.
- Never jump from the rocks into the pool; depth varies seasonally and submerged rock has caused deaths and paralysis here.
- Carry all your water and pack out everything, including food scraps, at a destination that has struggled badly with trash.
Nearby trails to explore
- Three Sisters Falls
- Mount Woodson (Potato Chip Rock)
- Iron Mountain
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Cedar Creek Falls takes planning: a permit, an early start, and enough water. Use TrailMates to coordinate with San Diego hikers who have the permit process down and can share a group reservation. Download the TrailMates app to connect.