Cedar Creek Falls: you need a permit, and here's why rangers check
Cedar Creek Falls, east of Ramona, requires a $6 permit from Recreation.gov for up to five people. It's a hot 5-6 mile round trip with a steep climb out. Cliff jumping and alcohol are banned, and summer heat closures are common.
- Permit
- $6
- Round trip
- 5-6 mi
- Banned
- Jumping, alcohol
- Best season
- Winter-spring
Up to 5 people, Recreation.gov
Steep climb back out
Cliffs are closed
Falls often dry by late summer
The short version
- A permit is required: $6 on Recreation.gov, covering the permit holder and up to four others. Permits for the next year are released December 1.
- The hike is a 5-6 mile out-and-back in the Cleveland National Forest; the hard part is the uphill return.
- All cliff areas above and around the falls are closed: no climbing, jumping or diving, and no alcohol.
- Violations can bring up to six months in jail or a $5,000 fine, and everyone needs a government photo ID.
- Summer can hit 115 degrees; the Forest Service cancels permits during heat closures, with a full refund.
Cedar Creek Falls drops about 80 feet into a deep swimming hole in the San Diego River gorge, and for years it was a party spot with a body count. Injuries and deaths from cliff jumps and heat, plus frequent rescues, led the Forest Service to require permits and send rangers to check them. It's still one of the best waterfalls in the county. Go prepared.
Trailheads
Falls
Pins are approximate. The Saddleback trailhead on the Julian side is off Eagle Peak Road. Sources: Recreation.gov, Hiking San Diego County and OpenStreetMap, checked October 6, 2026.
See these on the full San Diego mapGetting a permit
- 01
Book on Recreation.gov
Search 'Cedar Creek Falls.' Each permit is $6, non-refundable, and covers you plus up to four people. The next year's permits open December 1.
- 02
Bring ID
Every member of the group needs a government-issued photo ID, and rangers do check.
- 03
Watch for heat closures
The district ranger can close the area during high heat. If that happens, reservations are cancelled and refunded in full.
Two trailheads
| San Diego River Gorge (Ramona) | Saddleback (Julian) | |
|---|---|---|
| Round trip | About 6 miles | About 5.2 miles |
| Climb | Strenuous uphill on the way back | About 1,150 ft of gain |
| Getting there | Ramona Oak Road, Ramona | Pine Hills Rd to Eagle Peak Rd, about 9.4 miles of road from Julian |
- Season: winter and spring. By mid to late summer the falls are usually dry.
- Start early: the climb out is the hard part, in the full afternoon sun.
- Water: carry more than you think, and leave the dog home in warm weather.
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
- PrimaryCedar Creek Falls permit
Recreation.gov (USDA Forest Service) · Checked October 6, 2026
$6 permit, group size, December 1 release, rules, penalties, heat closures
- BackgroundCedar Creek Falls (via Julian)
Hiking San Diego County · Checked October 6, 2026
Saddleback route, gain, directions, heat and dog warnings, history of injuries