This is a classic walk in the
woods like those described often in books written in the 1920s. Watch out
for Alice and a rabbit in a top hat with a pocket watch. This is fairytale
land.
Distance: 2-3 miles Difficulty: Easy up-and-back hike When to go: October-June Location: Trabuco Canyon Elevation Gain: 450 ft. Phone: Cleveland National Forest Trabuco District at (909) 736-1811 Dogs: Yes Directions: From Interstate 5, take El Toro Road and turn right on
Live Oak Canyon Road (which turns into Trabuco Canyon Road). Soon after
passing O'Neill Regional Park, just after crossing over Trabuco Creek, turn
left on to the dirt road. A parking area arises in about 4.7 miles. The dirt
road is rough and a high-clearance vehicle is best. The road crosses the
creek a half dozen times and can quickly flood in a downpour. Be alert to
allow passage of on-coming vehicles on narrow stretches. An Adventure Pass
is required, which can be purchased at most ranger stations and many
sporting goods stores.
Trail Information
Remarks: Wandering up the path, at points it narrows tight with
underbrush seemingly cut like a rabbit's tunnel, twisting around corners and
repeatedly jumping the creek. At least six times I felt as though inside a
high canopy of trees like walking through several giant rooms within the
forest, each with its own feeling of light, scent and temperature. One was
the size of a football field with no trees in the middle, only a meadow of
green ferns and a delicate ground cover called periwinkle. Alice in
Wonderland easily comes to mind.
The trail is pretty evident from the parking area. You begin on an access
road that forks left behind a big wooden sign. About 1/2 mile up this road,
past so of the most beautiful little mountain cabins, you'll find the actual
trailhead at a large metal gate. A brown mailbox offers brochures.
Romance, Fairies and Prince Charming?
Now you will discover lush underbrush on a romantic, whimsical trail along a
babbling brook, not unlike a fairy tale book. You will cross the creek eight
times. (Count them, it could be important.) There is a fork immediately
before the eighth — bear left to cross the eighth time. Then climb up a few
large stones along the bank to reach the final fork.
Taking to the right leads to the falls. Staying left heads up to the Main
Divide trail. If you soon rise above the canyon's canopy and break out into
the sunlight, you've missed the right to the falls. Finding the fork to the
falls is pretty evident, but that last creek crossing can be a little
confusing.
Who Was Holy Jim?
This is a well cared for trail; you will likely not see garbage or litter.
(If you pack in, pack it out.) But there are no signs to guide you. The
neighbors here are quite proud of the heritage in these hills dating back to
its bee keeping days over a century ago. Holy Jim was actually named Cussin'
Jim Smith, an eccentric beekeeper who lived here over 100 years ago. Holy
Jim, it seems, was the invention of map makers. One of the county's most
prestigious and respected writers (sorry no name — he craves privacy) lives
in this canyon with good reason.
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