But on our second visit, we went during a wet Winter, and the falls put on a pretty satisfactory display. Of course, this falls won't knock your socks off as it's really a series of small 10ft or 15ft cascades beneath a footbridge. And there are plenty of alternate trails as well as the continuation of the waterfall trail that takes you further up to the tops of the coastal foothills affording gorgeous ocean views when the air is neither foggy nor hazy. Unfortunately, on neither of our trips were we successful getting nice photos of the ocean views.

Since this hike is so close to civilization (it's not very far from the Santa Monica Pier and Sunset Blvd cuts right across the entrance to the Temescal Gateway State Park), you can expect lots of people here, especially on the weekends. Visitors range from toddlers and families to trail runners to collegiates (probably from relatively nearby UCLA) as well as locals.

Quiet hike this is not, and you'll probably want to get an early start if the thought of crowds bother you. There's even a retreat here, which seems to be some kind of program for kids where participants can stay in cabins near the trailhead.

Once you've paid and displayed your ticket in your car (see directions below to get to the car park), hike towards Stewart Hall (road loops towards the hall going around some dorms or cabins so either way you go is fine). And the trail itself begins just past the Stewart Hall Retreat Center.

From there, it's another 1.2 miles of uphill hiking with one stretch that's potentially slippery and narrow due to the pebbles and rocks gathered there in the ruts and gullies formed from rain runoff on the sloping trail. Once you're at the footbridge, Temescal Canyon Falls is below, and you can scramble to try to get a closer look at the falls.