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Cedar Creek Falls (San Diego River Gorge Trail)

Part of Hiking Trails, our guide to hiking trails across San Diego County, from city peaks to desert canyons.

Cedar Creek Falls needs a permit reserved in advance on Recreation.gov: $6.00 covers up to 5 people, and none are sold on site. The Forest Service lists 5.5 miles round trip, 1,800 feet of gain on the return, moderate to strenuous, not recommended for beginners.Checked October 23, 2026.

$6.00permit, up to 5 people
5.5 miround trip
1,800 ftgain on return
3 to 4 Lwater per person
TrailSan Diego River Gorge Trail, Trail Number 2E04
TrailheadOff Thornbush Road, Ramona (no street address on the page)
SeasonSpring, fall and winter. “Commonly closed during High Temperatures and the month of August.”
Permit$6.00 per permit, up to 5 people, reserved in advance on Recreation.gov; no permits sold on site
DifficultyModerate to strenuous; not recommended for beginners; up to 6 hours
DogsYes, on cooler days with proper supplies (Forest Service wording)
FacilitiesPaved parking, vault restrooms, potable water at the site; trailers not recommended
Who it suitsAdults and strong hikers; not for beginners
Office (not the trailhead)Palomar Ranger District, 1634 Black Canyon Rd., Ramona, CA 92065, 760-788-0250
Official pageCleveland National Forest page (updated October 9, 2026)

Permit and Rules

“Anyone entering the Cedar Creek Falls Permitted Area must possess a valid Visitor Permit.” Permits must be reserved in advance via Recreation.gov. The Forest Service lists these restrictions: alcohol possession and use in the area, including the falls, is prohibited; the cliffs around the falls are closed to climbing, jumping and diving.

Water, Heat and Climb Back

The Forest Service says hikers must bring a minimum of 3 to 4 liters of water per person and pet. A fuller reading of the page says that after the second safety stop, 0.7 miles in, the trail becomes steep and exposed. The 1,800 feet of gain is on the return, so the climb out comes at the end.

Closures

The page itself lists no current closure. We state none either; closure orders change, so check the forest alerts page on the day. Fire danger on Cleveland National Forest pages read 2026-10-23 was “High.”

Cedar Creek Falls (San Diego River Gorge Trail) Open the map. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What We Could Not Verify

  • Current closure orders are not confirmed: two alert pages found in a search did not open on 2026-10-23. The Palomar Ranger District, 760-788-0250, can confirm.
  • The 0.7-mile “steep and exposed” detail came from a second reading of the page, not the standard summary. The Forest Service can confirm.

More in Hiking Trails

FAQ

Do I need a permit?

Yes. $6.00 for up to 5 people, reserved on Recreation.gov in advance. None are sold on site.

Is it open in summer?

The page says the area is commonly closed during high temperatures and the month of August.

Sources

  1. Cleveland National Forest: San Diego River Gorge Trail

Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.