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Fish Canyon Falls is a roughly 80-foot, multi-tier waterfall above Duarte in the San Gabriel Mountains, fed by upstream springs that keep a fairly reliable flow. The trail was severely damaged by the 2016 San Gabriel Complex Fire and has faced extended closures; check current status before visiting.

Height
80 ft
Type
Tiered
Access
Moderate Hike
Trail
4.8 mi out-and-back
Elevation gain
650 ft
Best season
Winter to spring
Land manager
Angeles National Forest (USFS)
Watercourse
Fish Creek

Before you go

Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Angeles National Forest (USFS) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fish Canyon Falls drops about 80 feet. That makes it the 277th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 62% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.

The Fish Canyon Falls Trail reaches it about 4.8 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 650 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. The nearest town is Duarte. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Angeles National Forest (USFS) for closures and current conditions.

Winter to spring. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.

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