Bonita Falls, Waterfall in San Bernardino National Forest, California.

Bonita Falls is a three-tiered waterfall in the San Bernardino National Forest of Southern California, dropping into the lower canyon of Bonita Creek. Each tier falls over steep rock faces, with the lowest tier ending in a natural pool at the base.

The area around Bonita Falls was incorporated into the San Bernardino National Forest in the early 1900s, opening it up for recreation. Since then, the falls have grown into a regular destination for people from the Los Angeles metro area and the Inland Empire.

The name Bonita comes from the Spanish word for beautiful. The upper tier of the falls can be seen from Bonita Ranch Campground just past the trailhead parking area, but that viewpoint sits on private property. The canyon walls along the route carry graffiti and litter in many places.

A National Forest Adventure Pass is required to park at the trailhead, so it is worth sorting that out before you arrive. Getting there early on weekends is a good idea, as parking fills quickly and reaching the upper tier involves a steep scramble that takes extra time.

The upper tier is a 195-foot cascade, not a single plunge, and it sits above a 45-foot slide and the 160-foot Lower Bonita Falls. Counting two more drops in the canyon above, a 60-foot segmented fall and a 25-foot cascade, the whole system reaches 495 feet, while the three tiers alone total 400 feet.