About this spot
Three Sisters Falls sits in Cleveland National Forest near Descanso/Alpine, reached by a brutal roughly 4-mile round-trip with steep, rope-assisted scrambles and no shade -- heat exhaustion and falls have caused serious injuries and at least two deaths here, including a 2023 fatality. The three tiers include a middle pool around 50 feet across with jump ledges up to roughly 10 feet, and a smaller upper tier around 25-30 feet; both depend heavily on recent rainfall and can run too shallow to jump safely, especially in drought years or late summer. Always check current water levels before jumping since depth here is unpredictable and can hide submerged rock. Parking is limited and there is no official trailhead facility, so go early and bring far more water than you think you need.