Daylight savings time

I love that day light savings time is here, that mean when I get off work, its not dark! This creates an opportunity to get outside during the week, and one of my favorite outdoor activities is hiking. I found this awesome lookout spot above the Rancho Santa Margarita bridge, just above The Bridge Church and Mission Hills. This spot would be an incredible place to take pictures at sunset, I might have to revisit it with a good camera soon.

Trip: 1.5 miles 
Elevation Gain: 500 ft
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Time 45 min taking breaks to enjoy the scenery 
Stars: 2 out of 5
Required: Nothing
Dogs: Yes
Other: Bring a camera, watch the decent its steep with loose rock in some areas. A slip and you could hit cactus.

Serrano Creek Trail

Serrano Creek is a little trail in Lake Forest if you are looking for a get away from it all trail, this is not it. However if you work or live in the area its great for a lunch or after work quickie. Stretching from Rancho Parkway to Trabuco Rd its an easy hike/walk/bike, but sometimes that all you have time for. This trail is well maintained and family friendly.

Trip: 4.5 miles from Rancho to Trabuco or 9 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 44 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Time 3.0 hours round trip med pace
Stars: 2 out of 5
Required: Nothing
Dogs: Yes
Other: This trail is used by horses, mountain bikers, and walkers

Holy Jim Water Falls

Holy Jim Falls located in the Cleveland National Forest is well maintained family friendly day hike. Last weekend I took a couple of my kids, and one of their friends on this gem. The key to this one is to go early, it is a popular hike and on the way down we encountered a lot of people. I even think there was a bus tour from Japan, although we never saw the bus. Take your time on this one, stop look around, explore. Salamanders, birds and other wild animals are all around if you go too fast you might just miss something awesome! Do stay on the marked trail, every year someone who was not prepared wanders off the trail and gets lost. Make sure to bring the essentials and a camera, there are a lot of great photo ops. 

Getting there:

The road journey is half the adventure. The road to the falls parking lot has potholes and is tight in some areas, you may have to pull over for another vehicle coming up or down. From Interstate 5, get off at El Toro Road. Head north on El Toro to the point where the road forks at Cook's Corner. Take the right fork (Live Oak Canyon Road) past O'Neill Park. A quarter mile past Trabuco School, you will pass over Trabuco Creek. Turn left onto the dirt road. Some people park here and hike in: this adds 4.45 miles and 840 feet to your hike. Most continue on the road for another 4.45 miles and park in the Holy Jim lot. Though washboarded in parts, the road is usually passable for most passenger cars, although a high clearance vehicle is recommended. The trail ascends the canyon on the left side of the parking lot.


Trip: 2.8 from trail head
Elevation Gain: 625 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Time 1.5 round trip
Stars: 5 out of 5
Required: Adventure pass or pay $5 at unmanned pay station
Dogs: Yes
(Lat:33.677 Lon:-117.5162)

Dana Point Cave Hike

Great time today hiking to the sea cave in Dana Point. Easy hike that does require walking over loose rocks and gravel and some maneuvering around large rocks. The entrance shown below is covered during high tide, so check the tide schedules and give yourself plenty of time to hike in, explore, and hike out. If not, you will be swimming.

This is a great hike for families with lots to see.

Distance: 1.5 miles round trip

Time: 40 min round trip not including explore time
Difficulty: Easy

The cave is a through cave 

Cave entrance

This guy was neon

Opening at the other end

Big Starfish

Great time at the tide pools