Are there fees or permits required for Hidden Heart Falls?

No, there are no fees required to visit Hidden Heart Falls.

Is swimming allowed at Hidden Heart Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Hidden Heart Falls.

Nearby gauge (San Jacinto River) · 1 ft³/s · Higher than usual

Hidden Heart Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Hidden Heart Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Hidden Heart Falls.

California • 33 ft

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

San Bernardino National Forest NF · US Forest Service

Photo Credits (5)

John William Hammond CC BY-SA 2.0 · Flickr

ww_whist CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 · Flickr

Art4TheGlryOfGod by Sharon CC BY-ND 2.0 · Flickr

Harold Litwiler, Poppy CC BY-ND 2.0 · Flickr

M 3311610 sw 11 060 20220506.tif Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

About Hidden Heart Falls

Hidden Heart Falls is a 33-foot waterfall on Indian Creek in the San Bernardino National Forest, in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains northeast of Valle Vista and Hemet. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved the name in December 2024; it refers to a heart-shaped pile of rocks at the top of the falls. We found no published trail or route to it.

The Setting

Hidden Heart Falls sits at 2,267 feet within San Bernardino National Forest, in the hills of California. The falls drop 33 feet.

Height: 33 feet

Trail & Hike Details

What to Expect

The falls drop 33 feet.

Accessibility

The trail is not wheelchair accessible and may be challenging for individuals with limited mobility due to uneven terrain and elevation gain.

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Hidden Heart Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Hidden Heart Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

Spring and early summer are the best times to visit, as the waterfall flow is typically strongest during these seasons due to snowmelt and rainfall.

Seasonal Access

The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited. Check with San Bernardino National Forest for seasonal road closures.

Safety Information

Visitors should be cautious of slippery rocks near the waterfall and along the trail, especially after rain. Carry a map or GPS device, as cell service may be limited in the area.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 3 hours ago Moderate

These readings come from the USGS gauge on San Jacinto River, 3.2 miles away, not on Hidden Heart Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

1 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

Higher than usual for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

Based on 101 years of record

2.76 ft

Water depth at gauge

7-Day Discharge Trend

What does this mean for your visit?

The water is flowing higher than usual for this time of year.

About This Gauge

SAN JACINTO R NR SAN JACINTO

USGS 11069500

3.2 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 142 sq mi

Altitude: 1,925 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge SAN JACINTO R NR SAN JACINTO (5 km away).

High confidence

Moderate right now

1 cfs

→ Holding steady

Today

Moderate

1 cfs

9/10

Tomorrow

Moderate

2 cfs

9/10

Fri

Strong

1 cfs

8/10

Sat

Strong

2 cfs

8/10

Sun

Moderate

2 cfs

9/10

Mon

Strong

3 cfs

8/10

Tue

Strong

3 cfs

8/10

Best window: Today — moderate flow, sunny (trip score 9/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from early March to mid April, peaking in March.

How we calculate this

This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.

Know when to go.

Get a free email alert when waterfalls near Valle Vista hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Is Hidden Heart Falls Frozen?

Updated about 5 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately

Hidden Heart Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 80°F to 59°F.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: 1 ft³/s

Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.

Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail.

Weather Forecast

The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR

Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.

1-meter lidar shows Hidden Heart Falls dropping about 326 feet in a single sheer step. That is more than the listed 33 feet because the gorge keeps dropping below the falls themselves. The brink sits at about 2,269 feet above sea level.

The whole reach is steep: about 242 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the falls and another 97 feet in the 500 feet below. The falls face south and sit in full sun for most of the day, best photographed early or late.

Aerial photo of the same ground around Hidden Heart Falls near Valle Vista, California, for comparison with the lidar view

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Hidden Heart Falls near Valle Vista, California, showing about 326 feet of drop, a single sheer drop, facing south

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.

Ground elevation: 2,269 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 326 feet; Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
Faces: South; Sunlit most of the day. Go early or late for softer light.

Ground profile through the falls

A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading south).

Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.

Location & Access

Getting There

The falls are on Indian Creek about 3 miles west of Indian Mountain and 1.6 miles southeast of Angelus Hill. Forest Service road data show East Indian Creek Road (4S10), a high-clearance OHV route, passing about a third of a mile away, but no trail to the falls is mapped.

Get Directions on Google Maps

Elevation

2,267 feet above sea level

Coordinates

33.784426° N, -116.840627° W

Land Management

San Bernardino National Forest NF

Managed by USFS

Visitor Tips & Gear

Where to Stay

Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby

Glamping Hipcamp

Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses

RV Rentals Outdoorsy

Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip

Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Nearby Campground

BOULDER BASIN

5.8 miles away · 37 sites

Reservable

Overview Black Mountain Road is is poor condition at this time. A four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle is recommended with a minimum ground clearance of 6 inches. Drive at your own risk. The San Bernardino National Forest is submitting a proposal to increase fees at various sites across the Forest and is seeking public input. Please visit the https://www.fs.usda.gov/sbnf for more information and to submit comments regarding this proposal.Boulder Basin Campground offers solitude and primitive camping in

Book on Recreation.gov