Hike the Chiquito Falls Trail

9.6 miles - Hard Effort
4-5 Hours (Total)
1,800 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 2,340 feet
Leashed Dogs Allowed

Nestled deep in Cleveland National Forest, the Chiquito Trail takes you away from the crowds visiting the popular San Juan Falls to a waterfall hidden in a secluded canyon up in hills, Chiquito Falls. To get there you have to hike up a moderate climb, but as with most climbs, you're rewarded with great views. The hike to Chiquito Falls is great for the hiker who's done the popular trails and now wants something a little different without the bigger crowds (like nearby Sitton Peak).

In this Guide:

Video and Turn by Turn Directions for the Chiquito Falls Trail
Where is the Chiquito Falls Trail?
Insider Hike Tips and Recommendations

Quick Links: Parks Pass - Cleveland National Forest - NOAA Weather Report - Top Gear Picks (Sep 2023)

When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

Spoiler alert: "chiquito" means small or tiny in Spanish, so don't expect a Niagara Falls experience. Regardless, Chiquito Falls is a lovely spot.

How to Get to Chiquito Falls

The hike to Chiquito Falls starts at the big trail parking area off Rt-74 (Ortega Highway), which is also the parking area for Sitton Peak and the San Juan Loop Trail. Use this trailhead address:
34950 Ortega Hwy, Lake Elsinore, CA, 92530

You need to display a National Parks Pass or Adventure Pass to park here. I highly recommend investing in the National Parks Pass, which allows you free entry at all federal lands and attractions, of which this is one.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 3 — The parking lot is big but does fill up as it's used for a few different hikes.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 2 — There's a water pump in the parking lot.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 4 — And primitive toilets are available.

Gear for the Hike

This is a proper backcountry hike and you should prepare accordingly.

You'll need good hiking footwear for the trail, which is rocky in places. When there's water flowing, you have a couple of small streams to hop across and you might get wet feet.
In the summer or warmer days this hike can be brutally hot and buggy. Try to do it when it's cooler out and bring insect repellant just in case.
Generally 2L of water is good, but if it's hot, I'd bring more.
Trekking poles will help on the climb, descent, and potential stream crossings.

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Chiquito Falls Trail Maps

Overall, for such a remote trail, the Chiquito Trail is maintained and in good shape. The trail is also used by mountain bikers, and probably gets more traffic than you'd imagine.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 1 — Some sections of the trail are very rocky, but there's nothing this rocky for any extended distance.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 17 — Although the trail is fairly remote, you'll might see evidence of active trail work along the route.

Explore Map on CalTopo View a Printable PDF Hike Map Download the Hike GPX File

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Elevation Profile

Hike The Chiquito Falls Trail Elevation — Here's the one-way elevation profile to the falls. After dipping down on the San Juan Loop, you have a short flat section on the Chiquito Trail, and then it heads uphill. Toward the end it's rolling. The ups and downs tend to sap my strength a little quicker than the straight uphill and downhill.

3d Map

Chiquito Falls Hike Directions

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Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 5 — Look for the San Juan Loop Trail board in the corner of the parking lot and start the hike from there.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 6 — Right away you're treated to a nice single-track trail. The no dog poop sign is because of the crowds of non-hikers that often do the short hike to San Juan Falls.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 7 — A gentle climb brings you out of the brush and you get nice views up Decker Canyon.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 8 — Soon you'll approach San Juan (or Ortega) Falls. Avoid the side trail down to the falls unless you want to explore. If it's a busy time, expect lots of crowds up to this point.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 9 — After the side trail there's a nice viewing area for the falls, which are below.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 10 — When there's water around, these falls flow nicely. When not, you see something like this.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 11 — Keep hiking on the San Juan Loop. After a short while you'll get a nice downhill as you head down towards San Juan Creek.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 12 — You'll see nice markers like this one on the San Juan Loop Trail, which is popular with non-hikers. Here the trail reaches the creek. Keep to the left.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 13 — When the trail meets San Juan Creek, keep to the left. When there's water flowing, this move is obvious. When the creek is dry, it can be mistaken for a trail.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 14 — When you get to this junction for the Chiquito Trail, make the right.

Chiquito Falls is named after Kenneth Munhall's horse. Munhall was a ranger here in the early days of the forest, and used to man the fire tower on Santiago Peak in the 1920s. Yup, there used to be a fire tower on Santiago Peak.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 15 — Here's the sign at that last junction.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 16 — Right away you'll have to pop over San Juan Creek. There's no water in it on this day, but it does flow at other times.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 18 — There's some rolling and flat terrain as you hike along a tributary of the creek.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 19 — The trail crosses the tributary to the left. There can be water flowing here too.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 20 — From here on out, you'll be mostly climbing. Although there are exposed sections that get very hot, there are stretches of shade.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 21 — As you climb you'll start to get some nice views into the canyon you were just in and towards the hills in Cleveland NF.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 22 — There are some shady spots like this. There's even moss growing on the rock!

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 23 — As you hike uphill, don't forget to turn around and take in the views. On a crisp, clear day you can even see to the western peaks of the San Bernardino National Forest. I think this is San Bernardino Peak and Anderson Peak in the distance, covered in snow.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 24 — And ahead of you Sitton Peak comes into view.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 25 — There are some really rocky sections on this section, but no technical scrambling.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 26 — Keep your eyes open for this sweet viewpoint as you climb.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 27 — When you get up to around 2600 feet the trail levels off with intermittent uphills and wraps around the hillside toward Lion Canyon.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 28 — Once you wind around the hill and head up Lion Canyon, keep your eyes open for Santiago Peak peaking out above the ridge.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 29 — There's a sweet dispersed camping area here on the left. I haven't camped there (yet...).

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 30 — Keep your eyes open down to the left in the canyon as you hike. The trail starts to head downhill and you'll catch a glimpse of the falls.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 31 — At the bottom of the downhill, make this hard left. If you go right and keep going, it'll be a long, long day for you.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 32 — Here you are, the tiny Chiquito Falls! Hopefully when you visit there will be some water. Even without water, it's still a nice place to visit.

Here's what the falls look like when they're flowing.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 33 — You can take the use trail down to the bottom of the falls to check it all out.

Chiquito Falls Trail Directions 34 — Snow! Two days before I did this hike it had snowed in Cleveland NF, but I didn't realize it was down at this low elevation.

When you're done at the falls, just go back the way you came. I generally take the right when I get back to the San Juan Loop Trail and hike the other half of the loop back to the start. It's not as rocky, a little more shady, and something different to see.

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!).

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