About this spot
Hermit Falls lies in Big Santa Anita Canyon in Angeles National Forest, just downstream of Sturtevant Falls, and has been one of the LA area's best-known cliff-jumping swimming holes for decades. The historic access trail from Chantry Flat was decommissioned after the 2020 Bobcat Fire and its ropes were removed, so the route is now unofficial, steep, and often overgrown with unstable footing -- hikers still reach it, at their own risk. The 30-foot falls drop into a deep granite pool with smooth ledges people jump from at various heights; water levels and rock exposure shift with rainfall and season. Slick, algae-covered rock is the biggest hazard, along with the fire-damaged, eroded trail itself.
Safety first. Cliff jumping is inherently dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. Conditions — water depth, submerged hazards, and access — change constantly. CliffScout is community-sourced reference information, not a guarantee a spot is safe. Always assess the conditions yourself before jumping, and never jump where you're unsure. You assume all risk.