Swim At The Bottom Of A Three-Tiered Waterfall After The 2-Mile Hike To Three Sisters Falls In Southern California
By Natasha Kayes|Published March 09, 2023
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Natasha Kayes
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I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
Hiking is such a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors and a variety of natural landscapes. Southern California certainly has a huge variety of trails – from mountains, valleys, forests, deserts, sand dunes, seaside cliffs, waterfalls, and beaches. Many hikers have their favorite trails or aspect of nature, but who doesn’t love a gorgeous waterfall? In San Diego County, there is one particular waterfall hike near Julian that has rocks, mountains, and a three-tiered waterfall and swimming hole.
The Three Sisters Falls Trail in the Cleveland National Forest mountains is open all year and is always a beautiful hike. The trail is just over four miles total, in and back.
Visiting in the spring and early summer generally means an extra dose of color throughout the scenic hike, with the appearance of a variety of wildflowers.
Three Sisters is a large, dramatic three-tiered waterfall tucked down between rocky mountains. It is seasonal and is most stunning after there has been a good rainy winter. Each tier of the Three Sisters flows into its own lovely pool.
It is a two-mile hike down to the falls. It is moderately challenging, but the real challenge comes with the two miles back and an elevation gain of 1000 feet.
The stunning middle tier is the longest section and flows through a steep and narrow rock formation. This section is almost a two-tier fall in its own right, and of course, ends in a lovely swimming hole.
Even when there is little to no water coming over the rocks, especially in summer months, for instance, the pools generally still have water (though stagnant and not good for swimming), and the geology of this area is still gorgeous.
Three Sisters is a must-see waterfall where you can swim, rock climb, and more. Are you a serious hiker? Have you been to Three Sisters, or have it on your bucket list? Check out some other incredible SoCal hiking trails!
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