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)