Tag Archives: Creek

Escondido Canyon Waterfall

24 Wednesday Aug 2011

Posted by in Easy Hikes, Outdoors, Waterfalls

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     Escondido Falls is a great trail to hike anytime of year. This trail is located in the Santa Monica Mountains of Malbu. The proximity to the coast provides relief from the heat of the SoCal Summer. The temperature here usually lingers in the mid to upper 60’s. The only drawback to hiking this close to the exclusive sands of Baywatch Beach would be the very limited parking. You will definitely want to arrive early.The tiny parking lot is located at Winding Way and PCH.There are no parking fees.
     The trailhead is about 1/2 a mile north on Winding Way from the parking lot. Winding Way is basically a private road leading to some pretty swanky homes. The entire hike ends up being about 4.2 miles roundtrip. I would say that it is a pretty family friendly trail as long as your children are at least 6 years of age. Poison oak is abundant here. You will want to keep everyone on the trail. There is some bouldering involved and there is a pretty steep portion of trail where you may choose to use a rope that someone has setup to aid you in your climb.
    There are a couple of small waterfalls along the first portion of the trail, but it is the last waterfall that you will really want to see. The last waterfall is a multi-tiered beauty with a total height of roughly 150 feet. It isn’t your typical California waterfall. This one is covered in moss and grass and is definitely this most tropical looking waterfall that we have experienced (YouTube Link).

-FPMiv

HARDING CANYON WATERFALL

20 Saturday Aug 2011

Posted by in Outdoors, Strenuous Hikes, Waterfalls

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In March of 2011 our sense of adventure led us to Modjeska Canyon, Ca for an attempt to reach Harding Canyon Waterfall.

We geared up and headed towards the Santa Ana Mountains to reach the trailhead before sunrise. Parking for Harding Canyon Falls is located at the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary Parking here is free but limited, so arrive early for a spot.

The trail begins to the right of the sanctuary on Harding Truck Trail. After a .25 mile walk at a slight incline you reach a fork in the road. From here go left and you will soon reach the creek bed. Head to your right until you reach the creek. Now here is where the fun part begins.

By no means is this an easy hike so be prepared for a long and wet hike.

Head up creek for 3 1/2 hours… Yes that’s right 3 1/2 hours. On this adventure you will hike along the creek, in the creek and across the creek. Staying dry is not an option. You will see some of the best creek pools around! (Great for the summer months) The trail is very shaded and sprawling with plant life including the infamous Poison Oak, so be aware of your surroundings. Newts lizards frogs and snakes are also common along the trail so keep an eye out.

After several creek crossings the canyon begins to narrow and the boulders begin to appear. Continue on up creek for the waterfall is just around the way. (that’s what I kept telling myself)

After a long, challenging, wet hike you should now be embracing the sight of Harding Canyons hidden beauty. A beautiful 40 ft waterfall with a waist deep pool at its base.

Although very difficult it is still very doable. As always be prepared and use common sense.

Click here for directions

•waterfall
•creek
•pools
•8 miles r/t
•3 1/2 hrs one way
•free but limited parking

FISH CANYON WATERFALL

19 Friday Aug 2011

Posted by in Moderate Hikes, Outdoors, Waterfalls

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Darlin' Donna waterall

Fish Canyon Falls is one of those sights that leaves you in awe. Truly one the best waterfalls that the San Gabriel Mountains has to offer. The adventure begins juat beyond the Parking Lot From here you begin your 2.2 mile adventure. Along the trail you will see ruins of old cabins,  wild berries, and posted signs with history of the canyon. With only 2 creek crossings this is one of the more easier and drier waterfall hikes around.

Once you’ve reached the waterfall getting to it can be a bit tough… between you and pool at the base lies a small but steep slope. With careful navigation make your way down and grab a seat.

This place gets bit crowded because on the weekends, so start your hike early for preferred seating. Trailhead opens at 7am. This is a well shaded trail along Fish Creek which is perfect for the hot months.

On your way back from the falls take the time to visit a hidden waterfall. I saw so many people walk right pass the trail and didn’t even realize it.  The trail is easy to find if you know what you are looking for. On your way back  look for the natural staircase that is formed from the roots of a tree. Shortly after passing that you will come across a bend in the trail with what appears to be a runoff  to your right.. follow that trail for 1 minute and there you will see Darlin’ Donna Waterfall, Fish Canyons Hidden beauty.

Enjoy !

Alex G

For directions click here

  • waterfall
  • creek
  • 4 miles r/t
  • free parking

Blackstar Canyon Waterfall

18 Thursday Aug 2011

Posted by in Cave, Outdoors, Strenuous Hikes, Waterfalls

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     If you have grown up in OC, chances are that you have heard the stories surrounding Blackstar Canyon. These stories range from hauntings to cult sacrifices to murderous  squatters. While I’m not willing to confirm or deny the validity of any of these tales, I can tell you that there is indeed a pretty spectacular waterfall hidden here.
     Most hikers that venture into Blackstar Canyon never make it quite far enough into the canyon to find the waterfall trail. Those that do make it in are likely to pass right by the shrub covered creek entrance. From the parking area the creek entrance is 2.5 miles along a relatively flat fire road, and you can find it as long as you know what to look for. You will easily spot a couple of large concrete tubes at the point where the trail begins to climb. Directly to the right of these cylinders you will spot a small clearance in the brush that is bordering the trail. This is the entrance down into the creek.
     The creek  portion of the hike provides some pretty challenging boulder climbing which is obviously most difficult in the winter and spring months due to the rain. The trek through the creek is an additional 2.5 miles, but plan on it feeling more like 4 miles when you factor in all of the climbing. Be sure to pack plenty of water and some light snacks. A first aid kit would also be a wise choice. This trail is covered in poison oak and I have witnessed a pretty nasty cut resulting in 14 stitches as well as someone taking a tumble from the cave that is alongside the waterfall.
     This is one of the more challenging trails that I have experienced in OC, but I would say that the payoff is well worth it. The Blackstar Canyon Waterfall is a spectacular site especially in the rainy season, and it is still very impressive in the dry season when the water is but a trickle. When you first lay eyes upon it I’m sure you’ll be just as surprised as I was that such a thing exists right in our own backyard.

-FPMiv
    

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WATERFALLS OF TRABUCO CANYON

17 Wednesday Aug 2011

Posted by in Moderate Hikes, Outdoors, Waterfalls

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Holy Jim Waterfall

Holy Jim Waterfall

Falls Canyon Waterfall

Falls Canyon Waterfall

Looking for a quick getaway? Have I got the spot for you. Located just a few minutes from both the city of Orange and Rancho Santa Margarita is a place called Trabuco Canyon . This natural wonderland is home to two of my favorite local waterfalls.

The first of the two is Holy Jim Waterfall which is around 4.25 miles round trip from the parking lot and back. (If you continue left on Holy Jim Rd, which is the road that’s directly behind the information board, you can drive about 3/4 of a mile further in and park at the Trailhead) This a short but rewarding hike. Lined with Oak, Sycamore, Maple and Fig Trees, this trail is very shady, great for hiking in the summer months. The trail begins after a slow and bumpy 4.5 mile drive up Trabuco Creek Rd which brings you to the Holy Jim Parking lot. From here go up the steps that lead to the trail and continue left. (Between here an the waterfall you will cross the creek about 6 times) You will soon find yourself walking along a trail lined with rustic cabins. When u reach the Holy Jim Trailhead follow this trail until you reach the Main Divide/ Holy Jim junction, continue right for a short distance until you reach the waterfall. Once here you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the 20ft wonder hidden in the canyon.

The 2nd and more impressive waterfall measuring at about 40ft is Falls Canyon Waterfall. This trail is a bit tricky to find because it is tucked away in a small canyon on the opposite side of the creek. To reach this trail one must start at the beginning of Trabuco Creek road and drive for approx 3.4 miles, (set your odometer). There is a small turnout on the right hand side that fits about 3 cars, park here, hike down to the creek and look for the smaller creek that feeds into Trabuco Creek. That is where the trail begins. After .4 miles you will reach Trabuco Canyons hidden gem!

I strongly recommended wearing pants and a long sleeve shirt for the falls canyon waterfall hike.

Here are the coordinates for Falls Canyon Waterfall 33.6790,-117.53446

  • high clearance vehicle required
  • waterfall
  • Creek
  • Poison oak
  • Adventure pass required
  • bug spray

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Malibu Creek Hike (M*A*S*H Site)

15 Monday Aug 2011

Posted by in Moderate Hikes, Outdoors

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     We ventured away from Orange County this weekend and headed for the cooler weather of Malibu Creek State Park. As it turned out, it ended up being quite warm in Malibu on this particular day.
      This is a state park so there is a $12 fee to use the parking lot. Most people, including us, were parking on the road just outside of the park to avoid the fee.
     I would definitely categorize this as a family friendly park. You have several trails to choose from and all of them have minimal elevation gain. The trails are wide and well maintained for the most part, and there are several port ‘o potties around that, according to their service logs, are cleaned pretty regularly.
     The Rock Pool trail is roughly 3.5 miles roundtrip  with an elevation gain of 150 feet. The payoff is a beautiful rock pool and picnic area. Being that it is pretty easy to get to, the rock pool is usually swarming with families. It was a bit disheartening to see the large amounts of trash and discarded clothing strewn about. If I were to visit the rock pool again I would definitely try to be the first person there in the morning.
     The Century Lake trail is 4.5 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 200 feet. I wouldn’t really call this a lake. It is closer to a pond complete with lilypads. The water here is due to a dam. I witnessed a couple of young kids swimming out in the water. I wouldn’t recommend swimming here though.
     My favorite trail of the day was definitely the M*A*S*H Site trail. This trail ends up being 6.5 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 300 feet. When you reach the M*A*S*H Site you will find a couple of rusted out vehicles as well as a few posts with information about the television show filming that took place in the area. I was pleasantly surprised at how few people actually made it out to this area of the park.
     We began our hike at 8 a.m. and there weren’t too many people around, but on our way back out it was really starting to get packed. Get there early to avoid the crowds and you’ll also have a chance to see the deer that travel the creek bed in the early morning hours.

-FPMiv

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