Tucked away in a quiet residental neighborhood in Thousand Oaks is the Paradise Falls trail--a great local day hike for LA residents looking for a quick escape. Parking is free and the trails are well-maintained. From the small parking lot, take the marked trail and follow the signs to Paradise Falls about (1.5 miles). The evevation gain isn't too bad, making this a relatively moderate hike. Even in the early summer heat, this 50-ft waterfall still has a nice flow.
The pool of water is fairly deep. We went for a refreshing swim and climbed up into the small cave. The cold water was a welcome change from the blazing summer heat.
There's plenty of rock hopping if you want to venture further down the creek. I tried to traverse climb toward the mouth of the waterfall, but the rock was crumbly toward the base--best to just jump in and go for a swim.
Exploring Indian Cave..a little further down the trail... It looks man-made, and is rather small, but interesting enough for a quick view. If you take the steep unmarked trail from the cave's exit, you can loop back up to the main trail.
The wooden tepee structure is located at the halfway point to paradise falls. It's a good stop for a water break, and the shaded seating area makes it an ideal spot for a picnic.
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