Are there fees or permits required for Monkeyface Falls?

No, there are no fees required to visit Monkeyface Falls.

Is swimming allowed at Monkeyface Falls?

No, swimming is not allowed at Monkeyface Falls.

LiDAR bare-earth terrain around Monkeyface Falls near Oak Glen, California, showing about 492 feet of drop, a steep tiered drop, facing south

LiDAR terrain view · USGS 3DEP

Nearby gauge (Santa Ana River) · 0 ft³/s · About average

Monkeyface Falls

Q: Are dogs allowed at Monkeyface Falls?

No, dogs are not allowed at Monkeyface Falls.

California

By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026

LiDAR & 3D terrain

Before you go

There is no hiking trail to Monkeyface Falls. View it from Highway 38; reaching the falls is a technical canyoneering trip with multiple rappels.

Difficulty

Drive Up

About Monkeyface Falls

Monkeyface Falls is a series of waterfalls on Monkeyface Creek, which pours over the cliffs above the junction of Highway 38 and Valley of the Falls Drive in the San Bernardino Mountains. The creek is named for a rock profile that resembles an ape's face. There is no hiking trail: the falls are seen from the highway, and the canyon itself is a technical canyoneering descent with 10 to 12 rappels up to 100 feet.

Nearby Falls Worth Visiting

Big Falls (500 ft) lies 3.6 miles to the east.

Big Falls

Trail & Hike Details

The Approach

No hiking required. Monkeyface Falls is accessible by vehicle with a roadside viewing area.

Trail Description

No maintained trail reaches the falls. Canyoneers reach the lower canyon by a steep, loose climb of roughly 1,000 feet up a gully or ridge, then descend the creek on rappels; the full trip is about 2.5 miles and 4 to 8 hours. This requires ropes, helmets and canyoneering experience.

What to Expect

From the road you can see parts of the cascades on the cliffs above. The creek is spring fed and usually has some flow all year, with the most water in winter and spring.

Accessibility

This waterfall is viewable from a vehicle-accessible area. No hiking is required.

Frequently Asked Questions

🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Monkeyface Falls?

❌ Dogs are not allowed

Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?

🆖 No fees required

🏊 Is There Swimming at Monkeyface Falls?

❌ Swimming is not allowed

When to Visit

spring summer fall

Winter and spring, when flow is highest; the creek usually runs year-round.

Seasonal Access

The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Access roads and trails may close during winter due to snow.

Safety Information

The approach is steep and loose with serious rockfall danger, and the narrow lower canyon can be extremely dangerous at high flow. The 2018 Valley Fire left the old gully entry choked with downed trees and loose scree. Watch for rattlesnakes and poison oak.

Current Water Conditions

Updated about 1 hour ago Barely Flowing

These readings come from the USGS gauge on Santa Ana River, 8.3 miles away, not on Monkeyface Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.

0 ft³/s

Current discharge — how much water is flowing

About average for this time of year

Very Low Low Normal High Very High

Based on 32 years of record

5.87 ft

Water depth at gauge

7-Day Discharge Trend

What does this mean for your visit?

Flow is about average for this time of year.

About This Gauge

This gauge is on a nearby waterway and may not reflect exact conditions at the falls.

SANTA ANA R NR MENTONE (RIVER ONLY) CA

USGS 11051499

8.3 miles from waterfall

Drainage: 210 sq mi

Altitude: 1,956 ft

7-Day Flow Outlook

Based on the USGS gauge SANTA ANA R NR MENTONE (RIVER ONLY) CA (13 km away).

Moderate confidence

Moderate right now

0 cfs

↑ Rising

Today

Moderate

0 cfs

9/10

Tomorrow

Strong

0 cfs

8/10

Sat

Strong

0 cfs

8/10

Sun

Strong

0 cfs

10/10

Mon

Strong

0 cfs

8/10

Tue

Strong

0 cfs

8/10

Wed

Strong

0 cfs

8/10

Best window: Sun — strong flow, sunny (trip score 10/10).

Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from late February to late May, peaking in April.

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 Oak Glen hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.

Is Monkeyface Falls Frozen?

Updated about 23 hours ago

Not frozen highs above freezing lately

Monkeyface Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 65°F to 51°F.

Days below freezing: 0 of the last 14
Current cold streak: 0 days
Freezing days ahead: 0 of the next 7
Flow: 0 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.

The ground through the falls loses about 492 feet in steep steps rather than one leap. The ground at the falls is roughly 5,088 feet above sea level.

Steep ground runs through the entire stretch: about 280 feet of descent in the 500 feet above the pin and 434 feet in the 500 feet below it. Facing south, the falls sit in full sun for most of the day, best photographed early or late.

Aerial photo of the same ground around Monkeyface Falls near Oak Glen, California, for comparison with the lidar view

Aerial LiDAR bare earth

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

Ground elevation: 5,088 feet; Measured by 1-meter lidar
Drop at the falls: About 492 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

Drive Highway 38 to its junction with Valley of the Falls Drive, the road to Forest Falls. Parts of the falls are visible from the highway near a roadside signpost.

Get Directions on Google Maps

Elevation

5,125 feet above sea level

Coordinates

34.098623° N, -116.956418° W

Visitor Tips & Gear

Enjoy the falls from the road unless you are an experienced canyoneer with technical 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

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Nearby Campground

COUNCIL

6.6 miles away · 1 sites

Reservable

Overview The Council Group Campground is a great place to enjoy a large outdoor gathering with just about everything the San Bernardino National Forest has to offer. Its location provides a great place for visitors to relax, take in the fresh mountain air and enjoy the beautiful scenery. In addition to a nearby lake and river access, a variety hiking, biking and horseback riding trails can be accessed from the campground. Recreation The campground provides access to the famed Santa Ana River Trai

Book on Recreation.gov