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 Reporter |
Summary: If you leave out the beautiful falls at the end of Holy Jim Canyon, I'd favor this trail. Canopies of the tallest oaks, sycamores and pines that I have seen in OC vault from the forest floor. If you seek solitude, a respite from civilization, and cool green woods filled with songbirds, reptiles, and wildflowers, Trabuco Canyon offers you everything you could desire. You will pass through dense woods and open chaparral. As you make the gentle ascent, you will see relics of human occupation including an abandoned car and a gold mine, flooded and crawling with salamanders. On hot days, you can rest in the cool tunnel. A landslide precedes the cave entrance. You weave in and out of the bottomland forest until you reach the last stretch before the junction with the West Horsethief Trail. Enjoy Los Pinos Peak and the huge trees in the canyon below before turning back. Trailhead: You begin at the Holy Jim parking area and that's the biggest challenge. The road to the falls parking lot has potholes that eat trail bikes and washboarding that will make you sing like a jaw harp. Please go no faster than 20 mph: flying rocks from your tires can seriously harm others. 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. The trail continues directly after the parking lot. (Lat:33.677 Lon:-117.5162) Trail Guides for Trabuco Canyon Trail, Cleveland NF: Best Easy Day Hikes Orange County by Randy Vogel (Falcon Publishing Company) Afoot & Afield in Orange County by Jerry Schad (Wilderness Press) Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Winter, User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Bikes, Horses, Ranger Contact: Trabuco Ranger District, Cleveland NF 909-736-1811 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Joel Sax, who has posted 51 other hikes on this site. To visit this reporters web site, click here. Trail Reviews Page 1 of 2 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by mark7 on 3/8/2008 Very nice hiking area. Now people with normal passenger cars with 2wd dont go too far. I drove my Toyota Camry and it didnt do to well. I went about 1.5 miles in and pulled over at Lat 33.40.18.44N, Long 117.33.21.91W. Too bumby and rocky for a passenger 2wd family car. Its still great though, but bring a backpack, water, and some snacks so you can walk up the canyon trail and enjoy the stream and views. Some of the truckers get out of hand and drive too fast thinking they are in a 4x4 contest so keep to the side or by the stream where it is too rocky for them. I hiked with my dog about 2 mile up to Falls Canyon point (Google Earth). Great place to get some exercise and enjoy nearby outdoors.
Reviewed by Christina on 7/18/2007 One more thing. Mounatin Bikers come from behind and they are very fast. You'll hear a roar. Just yell, "Hikers!", they'll then tell their pals & slow down as not to kill you.
Reviewed by Christina on 7/10/2007 Took this hike on 7/7/07. We parked @ Holy Jim and walked up. We did get tired and only made it to the split. Next time we are definately driving up the road. Great views! Took a lot of pictures. Bring a flashlight if you are daring enough to see what's in the cave, of course be careful!
Reviewed by AJA on 6/3/2007 I would hike this one again, because I didn't make it all the way the first time. I went at noon with my dog. I thought it was going to be an overcast day, but I was wrong. This trail is way to hot. I got to the split, made it a little more on the West Horsethief Canyon to the first switchback on the trial and called it quits. However, next time I go, I'm not parking at Holy Jims. When you cross the bridge and Holy Jims, you can continue going straight, and there is another SMALL parking lot. Its only big enough for about 8 cars or so, but will be worth the drive up. That way you won't be over-heated or exhausted and will be able to do the trail. 
Reviewed by Team Compinche on 4/8/2007 We did this hike as a loop, from the Trabuco Canyon trailhead up the West Horsethief Canyon trail, across Main Divide Road, then back down the Trabuco Canyon trail from the Los Pinos Saddle. The loop was a total of about 11 miles with 2700' of total elevation gain. This is a gorgeous, scenic hike, and one of my personal favorites. The only drawback is the rough 5.7 mile drive on Trabuco Creek Road out to the trailhead. P.S. Jimmy Rules!
Reviewed by jeff on 3/9/2007 If you are going to do this trail, don't waste your time just going to the horsethief junction,go all the way to the main divide road and then come back, this will be more scenic, and a great workout.
Reviewed by Epic on 12/27/2006 The road out was pretty bumpy, but if you take it slow you can make it in any type of car. The weather was perfect... a nice brisk cool day with beams of warm sun. There is plenty of shade along the hike. The water level was real low and the couple points where you cross the stream were just dry rocks. The scenery and remote-ness is really pretty amazing considering you are just a few miles from suburbia. Great hike!
Reviewed by Michele on 5/30/2006 This is a beautiful hike. I ran into about 10 people the whole time I was there (about 5 hrs).It is shady at the start & end, but pretty sunny in the middle (bring sunscreen). Also there is a fork in the path at one pt - go to the left. I'm not sure where this path ends and honestly seem much further than 5 miles (it just kept going - possibly it stopped and I was on some other trail, but who knows). I found a very steep peak after a while - went up & left it at that. This was a beautiful and very peaceful hike. There was some water.. but not much. The drive down the path is well worth the beauty that you see. However, I have a 1981 non-4WD pickup with standard clearance and it was fine (wouldn't take my car) its pretty bumpy. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: California Hiking, California Trails, California Hikes, Orange County Hiking, Orange County Trails, Orange County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||