A visitor use permit is required to visit the Cedar Creek Falls Visitor Use Permit Area. Hiking is strongly discouraged in temperatures over 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32C) Permits for the next calendar year are released on December 1 of the previous year. The hike to Cedar Creek Falls along either the San Diego River Gorge Trail or along the Saddleback Trail can be arduous. Heat-related illness is common during the summer, particularly for those who do not bring enough water and supplies. Please consider your fitness ability before starting. Anyone with previous health conditions that can be aggravated by heat or intense physical activity should consider other trails. The hike to Cedar Creek Falls from the San Diego River Gorge trailhead or Saddleback Trailhead, is a challenging six mile out-and-back trail, leading hikers through the beautiful backcountry hills of eastern San Diego with black oak, cedar, and cottonwood trees providing a great habitat for bird watching. It offers wonderful scenery and great exercise with a spectacular plunging waterfall and natural swimming hole at the end. The falls typically do not flow during the summer months and the pool at the base of the falls becomes stagnant and filled with algae. While the hike in is all downhill, the strenuous hike back out requires more than two miles of consistent, challenging uphill hiking with an eight percent average grade. Those who are new to hiking, or are hiking the trail for the first time, should attempt to complete this in the fall, winter, or spring months when temperatures are low and the risk of suffering a heat-related illness decreases.