Locally these waterfalls, which are part of Cleveland National Forest, are the most popular attraction to Trabuco Canyon. Take the 5 freeway to the El Toro off ramp. Proceed east, or towards the mountains, approximately 7 miles on El Toro road. Next, you'll make a right turn on Live Oak Canyon Road. There is no stop sign at this intersection so look for the Cook's Corner (local bar) sign to make your right turn. Travel Live Oak Canyon Road a little over four miles, past the O'Neill Park entrance, and Trabuco Canyon General store. The road will pass over Trabuco Creek, pull your vehicle over to the large dirt clearing on the left.
NOTE: You now have to pay before you enter Cleveland National Forest (909) 736-1811. For $5 you can obtain a day pass at Trabuco Canyon General Store (714) 858-1711 located 1 mile past O'Neill Regional Park.
Holy Jim Falls Starting from the dirt clearing by the paved road, take the dirt road just a little over 4 miles. You'll pass the old Holy Jim Volunteer Fire Department, which is still in operation today. Warning, the road is very bumpy. Small pick-ups are okay, but small passenger vehicles are not recommended. While on this journey you'll notice a lot of private property, please respect the residents and stay on the road. After the four mile journey you'll come to a large clearing. The road does go further, but chances are most people will stop and park there vehicles here. You'll find a bulletin board at this large clearing, from there go up the small hill to where you see cabins. Walk the trail past the cabins till you come to a Forest Service gate. The trail starts here and eventually leads up to Santiago Peak, elevation 5600 feet. The hike along the creek is at least an hour and the trail is full of poison oak. From what I've been told, this season, the hike can be a little confusing. Apparently several smaller trails are popping up everywhere and they don't all lead to the falls. Holy Jim Falls is about 18 feet high, and has a strong water flow throughout most of the year.
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Falls Canyon This waterfall, in my opinion is the better of the two. The drop is longer, the hike is shorter, and the trail less traveled. Starting from the dirt clearing by the paved road, take the dirt road just a little over 3 miles. Warning, the road is very bumpy. Small pick-ups are okay, but small passenger vehicles are not recommended. While on this journey you'll notice a lot of private property, please respect the residents and stay on the road. Keep a lookout for a large berm on the right side of the road. It extends some 40 yards and has about a 45 degree angle to it. Park your vehicle up on the berm, out of the way of fellow travelers. To the left of you, down the hill about 30 feet is the main creek. Descending this hill to the creek is where you'll come in contact with the most poison oak, so beware. Follow the creek, back down from where you drove and within a minute you'll come across water feeding in from Falls Canyon. This is the creek and trail you'll want to follow. The hike into the canyon is a brisk 15 minute hike or an easy going 25-30 minute hike. The narrow trail traverses the small creek several times, and has a slight incline to it. The falls itself is 40 feet high with a small pool at the bottom. Enjoy. |
If you are interested in fishing Trabuco Canyon,
Fish & Game has a 24 hour recorded message.
1(310)590-5020
Links of Interest
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