Name: Upper Arroyo Seco to Switzer Falls
Start: 2024-11-22T11:00:00-08:00
End: 2024-11-22T15:00:00-08:00

**MUST SECURE RSVP:** CALL 714-639-8480 or EMAIL [jrobinson@naturalist-for-you.org](http://mailto:jrobinson@naturalist-for-you.org) with # in party to confirm participation.

Meet Barefoot Joel at the trailhead where the wooden bridge goes over the creek at Switzer Picnic Site. Wander the Arroyo Seco (Dry Creek) through a shady corridor of oaks, maple and alder. Stop frequently to observe, appreciate and identify plants and wildlife. See ruins of Switzer's Camp, a rustic resort named for Commodore Perry Switzer, a carpenter and farmer who built a road to the falls in the 1880s. Descend into a rocky gorge with dramatic views of the waterfall (just a trickle in the fall) and the ocean. Switzer Falls is a series of at least three main waterfalls, the middle being the tallest at roughly 50-70ft. The trail offers access to the lower falls, a pair of sloping drops with a total height of some 30-40ft combined. Carry a picnic lunch to enjoy at the falls.

**DIFFICULTY:** Easy to moderate, depending on hiking experience. Downhill to the falls and uphill to get back. Roughly 4.5 miles round-trip and close to 700 feet of elevation gain. Mix of shade and full sun exposure, uneven terrain, multiple creek crossings, poison oak. Road narrows to a precarious single track along a steep slope. Not appropriate for those with medical or mobility issues or a fear of heights.

**PARKING FEE:** Day use - [Adventure Pass ($5)](https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/angeles/passes-permits/recreation) or [America the Beautiful Pass](https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm#america-the-beautiful-passes) required.

**DONATIONS OPTIONAL:** [https://www.naturalist-for-you.org/donate](https://www.naturalist-for-you.org/donate)

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Upper Arroyo Seco to Switzer Falls

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