Right now
Right now as of Oct 28, 2026
- Permit Cedar Creek Falls permit required.
Status note (Oct 28, 2026): Open with a permit. Recreation.gov (record updated September 21, 2026) is booking permits for 2026 and 2027 and still lists the cliff closure and alcohol ban. Forest Service alerts listed three area closures in 2026, most recently an extreme-heat closure October 2-8. The proposed $4 fee can't start before March 2027. What the status labels mean
Cedar Creek Falls plunges 80 feet into a large pool, per the Forest Service, in the San Diego River Gorge in the Cleveland National Forest, near Ramona. You need a permit from Recreation.gov, which lists it at $6 for up to five people. The hike is 6 miles round trip with a long climb out. The Forest Service closes the area in extreme heat, as it did October 2-8, 2026.
About Cedar Creek Falls
Cedar Creek drops into a pool in the San Diego River Gorge, on the Palomar Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest. The Forest Service describes the falls plunging 80 feet into a large pool, while the San Diego Reader gave 90 feet in 2015.
Access has been controlled since a Forest Service decision signed on December 18, 2012. The permit area covers National Forest land within a quarter mile of the falls, plus corridors along the San Diego River Gorge Trail and Eagle Peak Road.
The Devil's Punchbowl pool
The pool below the falls is sometimes called the Devil's Punchbowl. Recreation.gov says the falls typically stop flowing in summer, when the pool turns stagnant and fills with algae. A Cleveland National Forest caution in September 2025 warned that harmful algae may be present in the pool.
Proposed fee
Costs may change. A September 8, 2026 Federal Register notice proposed a $4 per person per day fee for the San Diego River Gorge Trail and Eagle Peak Road area. Nature World News reported that none of the fees take effect now, and that the six-month notice rule means March 2027 at the earliest.
The proposal also needs a review by a recreation advisory committee. The $6 is a reservation charge from the booking platform, not a Forest Service fee, Nature World News reported.
Getting there and parking
Get your permit before you leave home. Recreation.gov lists a $6 non-refundable reservation fee per permit, covering the holder and up to four others. No permits are sold at the trailhead.
Ramona trailhead (San Diego River Gorge Trail)
Most hikers start on the Ramona side. Recreation.gov gives the trailhead address as 15519 Thornbush Road, Ramona, CA 92065. It notes that the Palomar Ranger Station on Black Canyon Road is not the trailhead.
Julian trailhead (Saddleback Trail)
The Saddleback Trail starts on the Julian side. Recreation.gov names it but gives no address. The Federal Register notice names Eagle Peak Road as part of the area, and that road is the Julian-side approach.
Permit price and ID
The Forest Service's San Diego River Gorge Trail page, updated March 24, 2026, also lists $6 for up to 5 people. Another Forest Service page gives $10 per permit, and a 2017 Forest Service post announced an increase from $6 to $10. Pay whatever Recreation.gov shows at checkout.
Everyone in your group must be named on the permit and carry government photo ID, except dependent minors with their parents. Download the permit in advance, because there's no cell signal near the falls.
We found no official trailhead parking fee, hours or restroom details.
Map and nearby falls
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OpenPartly open / seasonalUnconfirmedClosedLarger map
The 6-mile hike and the climb out
Recreation.gov describes a 6-mile out-and-back hike. The way in is downhill. The way out includes more than 2 miles of climbing at an average grade of 8%.
Recreation.gov calls the trail moderate to strenuous. The Forest Service adds that it is not recommended for beginners, with 1,800 feet of gain on the return and a hike of up to 6 hours.
Carry at least 1 gallon of water per person, Recreation.gov advises. It strongly discourages hiking when the temperature is above 90°F.
Recreation.gov advises against bringing dogs, because of the risk of heat stroke and paws burned by hot ground. The trail isn't wheelchair accessible.
When to visit
Recreation.gov recommends visiting Cedar Creek Falls in fall, winter or spring, since the falls usually stop in summer and the Forest Service closes the area in high heat.
Heat closures and the best months
Forest Service alerts listed three 2026 closures of the San Diego River Gorge and Cedar Creek Falls area. They ran March 16 to 20, August 4 to 31, and October 2 to 8, the last for extreme heat. Recreation.gov says high-heat closures follow a National Weather Service red flag or high heat warning, and reservations are fully refunded.
Permits for the next calendar year are released on December 1, so 2027 permits are already open. In 2017 the Cleveland National Forest said permits sell out in the busy summer season, often days in advance, so book early.
If you'd rather skip a permit and a long climb, Paradise Falls in Thousand Oaks has free parking and short hikes. Black Star Canyon Falls in Orange County is reached by a public road through private and county land.
| Height | 80 ftNote: plunging into a large pool, per the Forest Service; San Diego Reader gives 90 ft |
|---|---|
| Trail | 6 mi out and back (Recreation.gov); downhill on the way in, with more than 2 mi of climbing at an average 8% grade on the return |
| Difficulty | Moderate to strenuous (Recreation.gov); the Forest Service says not recommended for beginners |
| Time needed | Up to 6 hours (Forest Service) |
| Entry fee | $6 non-refundable Recreation.gov reservation fee per permit, covering the holder and up to 4 others; a Forest Service page lists $10 |
| Permit / reservation | Required year-round; book on Recreation.gov, none sold at the trailhead |
| Parking | Ramona or Julian trailhead; permit first |
| Dogs | Not advised because of heat stroke and paw burns (Recreation.gov) |
| Swimming | No official ban; cliffs closed, pool stagnant in summer (Recreation.gov); harmful-algae caution posted Sept 2025 (Forest Service) |
| Wheelchair / stroller | No |
| Walk behind the falls | No |
| Best time to visit | Fall, winter and spring (Recreation.gov) |
| Crowds | Permits sell out in the busy summer season, often days in advance (Cleveland National Forest, 2017) |
| Managed by | USDA Forest Service, Cleveland National Forest (Palomar Ranger District) |
Safety and swimming
Recreation.gov states that all cliff areas above and around the falls are closed. Alcohol is banned in the area, including on trails and at trailheads. Violations can bring up to six months in jail or a fine of up to $5,000.
We found no official swimming ban. Recreation.gov refers to a natural swimming hole, but it warns that the pool goes stagnant and fills with algae in summer. The Forest Service also posted a harmful-algae caution for the pool in September 2025. Do not jump or dive from the rocks.
Recreation.gov names heat exhaustion and heat stroke as the most common injuries here. Start early, turn back if your water runs low, and save your energy for the climb out.
The cliff closure and alcohol ban appear on the Recreation.gov permit page, updated in September 2026, which is the current list of rules. Check Recreation.gov and Cleveland National Forest alerts for the rules on your date.
For general tips, see our waterfall safety page.
Where to stay near Cedar Creek Falls
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Ramona.
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Cedar Creek Falls FAQ
Do you need a permit for Cedar Creek Falls?
Yes. Book in advance on Recreation.gov, which lists $6 per permit for the holder plus up to four others. No permits are sold at the trailhead, and everyone must carry photo ID.
Is the Cedar Creek Falls permit $6 or $10?
Recreation.gov shows $6. A Forest Service page lists $10, and a 2017 Forest Service post announced a rise to $10. A separate $4 per person fee was proposed in September 2026, but it can't start before March 2027.
Where is the Cedar Creek Falls trailhead?
The usual start is the San Diego River Gorge Trail at 15519 Thornbush Road, Ramona, per Recreation.gov. The Saddleback Trail starts on the Julian side, off Eagle Peak Road. Either way, book the permit first.
Can you swim at Cedar Creek Falls?
We found no official swimming ban, but all cliff areas are closed, so no jumping or diving. In summer the falls usually stop and the pool turns stagnant, and the Forest Service posted a harmful-algae caution in September 2025.
When are Cedar Creek Falls permits released?
Permits for the next calendar year are released on December 1. As listed in October 2026, Recreation.gov offers permits for both 2026 and 2027.
Is Cedar Creek Falls closed in summer?
Sometimes. The Forest Service closes the area for high heat, as it did October 2 to 8, 2026, and its alerts also listed an August 4 to 31 closure. Reservations are refunded during heat closures.
How long is the Cedar Creek Falls hike?
About 6 miles round trip. The return is the hard part, with more than 2 miles of climbing at about an 8% grade.
Can I bring my dog to Cedar Creek Falls?
Not recommended. Recreation.gov advises against it because of heat stroke risk and hot ground that can burn paws.
Nearby waterfalls
No other waterfalls within 75 miles are on the site yet.
More waterfalls to explore
Sources
Some facts credited to the Forest Service and San Diego Reader come from search-result excerpts of their official pages. Confirm fees and rules on the official site.
- Recreation.gov: Cedar Creek Falls permit (record updated Sept 21, 2026; read Oct 28, 2026)
- USFS: Upper San Diego River Watershed
- USFS: SD River Gorge/Cedar Creek Falls closure area
- USFS: Extreme heat closure Oct 2-8, 2026
- USFS: Cedar Creek Falls Visitor Use Management
- Nature World News: proposed fees (Sept 8, 2026)
- USGS GNIS (National Map geonames)
- USFS Cleveland NF: San Diego River Gorge Trail (updated Mar 24, 2026; archived Apr 13, 2026)
- San Diego Reader: Splash in the Devil's Punchbowl (Feb 4, 2015)
- Cleveland National Forest social post on permits (Apr 27, 2017), on Wikimedia Commons
- Federal Register: Proposed Recreation Fee Sites (Sept 8, 2026, doc 2026-18244)
- USFS Cleveland NF: alerts, including the Sept 2025 harmful-algae caution
Last verified Oct 28, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with USDA Forest Service, Cleveland National Forest (Palomar Ranger District) before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.