Right now
Right now as of Oct 28, 2026
- Status Closed for rain. On October 21, 2026, COSCA closed all its trails and open spaces to protect resources and said it will post again when conditions are dry enough to reopen.
Status note (Oct 28, 2026): Closed for rain. On October 21, 2026, COSCA closed all its trails and open spaces to protect resources and said it will post again when conditions are dry enough to reopen. We found no reopening post as of October 28, 2026. Check COSCA's trail-closures page before you go. What the status labels mean
Paradise Falls is a waterfall of about 40 feet on the Arroyo Conejo in Wildwood Park, Thousand Oaks, managed by the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA). COSCA closed all its trails for rain on October 21, 2026, and will post when they reopen. Outside closures, parking is free, trails are open sunrise to sunset, and dogs must stay on a 6-foot leash.
About Paradise Falls
Paradise Falls, also called Wildwood Falls, is on the Arroyo Conejo in Wildwood Canyon. COSCA says Wildwood Park covers 1,731 acres, the largest contiguous open space unit in Thousand Oaks, and that it owns smaller portions. The Conejo Recreation and Park District owns most of it.
The Conejo Open Space Foundation, COSCA's nonprofit partner, describes the falls as about 40 feet high. Paradise Falls isn't in the USGS place-name database, so the map pin on this page is approximate.
COSCA lists deer, bobcat, coyote, gray fox and mountain lion among the wildlife in Wildwood Park. Give any animal you meet plenty of room, and keep your dog close.
Why Paradise Falls closed in 2020
The falls have a history of overuse. In 2020 COSCA closed Paradise Falls until further notice after crowds left multiple truckloads of trash and human waste, CBS News reported.
Getting there and parking
COSCA lists the main access at the western end of Avenida de los Arboles in Thousand Oaks. The Conejo Open Space Foundation adds two smaller lots on the same street and free parking at the Wildflower Playfield off Canna Street.
Parking is free, according to the foundation. A 2017 survey by Ventura County Trails found the main lot full, at 93 cars, before 10am on a Saturday. That survey also noted that neighbors object to street parking.
If the lots are full, try the Canna Street option or come back later instead of parking on residential streets. The foundation lists restrooms at the Wildflower Playfield.
Map and nearby falls
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Hiking to Paradise Falls in Wildwood Park
Paradise Falls is about 2.15 miles out and back from the main Avenida de los Arboles lot, per Hikespeak, or 3.2 miles as a loop from Canna Street.
From Avenida de los Arboles (shortest)
We found no official distance from the main lot. Hikespeak puts the out-and-back at about 2.15 miles, or 2.55 miles as a loop, with about 260 feet of descent to the falls. From the main lot, the climbing comes on the way back.
The 3.2-mile loop from Canna Street
The Conejo Open Space Foundation maps a 3.2-mile loop from Canna Street. It follows Two Springs Trail to the falls and returns by the Wildwood Canyon and Fort trails, with about 550 feet of total climbing.
Two Springs Trail has stairs and is closed to bikes and horses, per the foundation. Expect steps rather than a smooth grade on that part of the loop.
A 2022 foundation trail sheet also describes an easy 2.9-mile loop from the Wildflower Playfield tennis courts via the Moonridge Trail, with about 500 feet of climbing. It uses a tunnel under Avenida de los Arboles.
We found no official wheelchair access details for these routes.
When to visit
Rain closes the trails. COSCA closes its trails and open spaces after rain to protect them. It did so on October 21, 2026 and said it will post again when conditions are dry enough to reopen. Check its trail-closures page after any storm.
Outside closures, Conejo Open Space trails open at sunrise and close at sunset, and they can close during bad weather or emergencies.
The foundation says the falls are very popular and can be crowded on weekends. The 2017 Ventura County Trails survey found the main lot full before 10am on a Saturday, so plan an early start.
We found no official guidance on the best months for flow. For a different Southern California outing, MRCA describes Escondido Falls in Malibu as a multi-tiered falls of about 150 feet. Sturtevant Falls is in the Angeles National Forest above Arcadia.
| Height | 40 ftNote: about 40 ft, per a Conejo Open Space Foundation trail sheet; no COSCA figure found |
|---|---|
| Trail | About 2 mi round trip from the Avenida de los Arboles lot per trail guides. The Conejo Open Space Foundation lists a 3.2 mi loop from Canna Street via Two Springs Trail with about 550 ft of climbing |
| Difficulty | Easy, per the Conejo Open Space Foundation; the climb comes on the way back |
| Entry fee | No fee; parking is free (Conejo Open Space Foundation) |
| Permit / reservation | None needed |
| Parking | Avenida de los Arboles lots or Canna Street |
| Hours / season | Sunrise to sunset, except in bad weather or emergencies (Conejo Open Space rules) |
| Dogs | On a leash no longer than 6 ft and under control (Conejo Open Space rules) |
| Swimming | No. The Conejo Open Space Foundation says the stream is urban runoff and tells visitors to stay out of the waterfall and the pool |
| Walk behind the falls | No |
| Restrooms | Restrooms at the Wildflower Playfield off Canna Street (Conejo Open Space Foundation) |
| Crowds | Busy on weekends (Conejo Open Space Foundation); the 93-car main lot was full before 10am on a surveyed Saturday in 2017 (Ventura County Trails) |
| Managed by | Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA); most of Wildwood Park is owned by the Conejo Recreation and Park District |
Safety and swimming
Stay out of the water. The Conejo Open Space Foundation warns that the stream is urban runoff and not clean. It tells visitors to stay out of the waterfall and the pool below it.
The foundation also warns that climbing on the rocks can lead to serious injuries and even death. Keep to the marked trails, especially on the stairs of Two Springs Trail.
Pack out everything you bring. Trash and human waste left by crowds are what led COSCA to close the falls in 2020.
For general tips, see our waterfall safety page.
Where to stay near Paradise Falls
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Thousand Oaks.
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Paradise Falls FAQ
Is Paradise Falls open?
Not as of October 28, 2026. COSCA closed all its trails and open spaces for rain on October 21, 2026 and will post when they reopen. Outside rain closures, Wildwood Park is open sunrise to sunset.
Why was Paradise Falls closed?
In 2020, COSCA closed the falls after crowds left multiple truckloads of trash and human waste, CBS News reported. The agency also closes all its trails after rain, as it did on October 21, 2026.
How long is the hike to Paradise Falls?
About 2.15 miles out and back from the main Avenida de los Arboles lot, per Hikespeak. The Conejo Open Space Foundation's loop from Canna Street is 3.2 miles with about 550 feet of climbing.
Is Paradise Falls a hard hike?
The Conejo Open Space Foundation calls its loops easy, with about 500 to 550 feet of total climbing and stairs on Two Springs Trail. From the main lot, the trail drops about 260 feet to the falls (Hikespeak), so the climb is on the way back.
Where do I park for Paradise Falls?
The main lot is at the west end of Avenida de los Arboles in Thousand Oaks. There are two smaller lots on the same street and free parking at the Wildflower Playfield off Canna Street, which has restrooms. All of them are free.
Can you swim at Paradise Falls?
No. The Conejo Open Space Foundation says the stream is urban runoff and not clean, and tells visitors to stay out of the waterfall and the pool. It also warns that climbing on the rocks can be deadly.
Are dogs allowed at Paradise Falls?
Yes, on a leash no longer than six feet and under control, per Conejo Open Space rules.
What are the hours for Wildwood Park?
Conejo Open Space trails are open from sunrise to sunset, except during bad weather, emergencies and rain closures.
Nearby waterfalls
Escondido Falls14 mi straight-lineOpen150FT
Switzer Falls43 mi straight-lineOpen50FT
Eaton Canyon Falls46 mi straight-lineClosed50FT
Sturtevant Falls51 mi straight-lineOpen55FT
City guides: Waterfalls near Los Angeles, CA
Sources
- COSCA: Wildwood Park
- COSCA: Trail closures (rain closure posted Oct 21, 2026; read Oct 28, 2026)
- Conejo Open Space Foundation: Wildwood map (2023)
- Conejo Open Space Foundation: trail rules
- CBS News: Paradise Falls closed (2020)
- Ventura County Trails: Wildwood parking (2017)
- Conejo Open Space Foundation: Moonridge Trail, Paradise Falls and Two Springs loop trail sheet (map updated Jul 31, 2022)
- Hikespeak: Paradise Falls in Wildwood Park
Last verified Oct 28, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA); most of Wildwood Park is owned by the Conejo Recreation and Park District before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.