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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 2 of 3 Submit your own review 
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. 
Reviewed by JL on 2/25/2006 I havent hiked in about 6 years and I just started again with this one. I have a '04 Tacoma (2wd) and it wasnt too horrible on the way up the bumpy road. Only saw one car (honda accord) trying to go up. Try to go 15 MPH or slower and let bikers pass since they will be going faster than you.
Reviewed by Nathalie on 10/31/2005 We did this hike as the Trabuco Loop and back down West Horsethief Canyon for a total of about 10+ miles. The hike up to the split was nice with water running in the stream and the Trabuco loop was all uphill out and across the Main Divide Truck Trail. West Horsethief Canyon was all downhill and steep; lots of slippery spots and the sun was going down fast, so be careful on this one; it would be a great workout coming up. Only saw a couple mtn bikers the entire day with the exception of being on the MDTT. This was a very remote and beautiful hike.
Reviewed by OCBrian on 9/26/2005 The drive in was rough and dusty (I have a 4WD vehicle) and I would not recommend it if you didn't have clearance... The hike was nice, and when you are further up the canyon and looking up at the ridges lined with Pine Trees, it's hard to believe you're in the "OC".... However, the little black flies were ATROCIOUS and although like I said, the hike was nice, but these little buggers detracted from it... :( (maybe they're a seasonal thing--I would recommend some type of bug repellant or you'll be constantly swatting!)
Reviewed by Bruno on 9/10/2005 Hiked it today as a break from the high country. It is a nice walk. You can actually continue driving up the road till it ends and start the trail from there; I'm not sure if you are allowed to park there though? The drive to the Holy Jim parking lot is really rough; I would never attempt this with a car. I did see 2 honda civics though?! No idea how they made it over the rocks. A truck or SUV with good clearance is the only way to go if you still love your vehicle ;-). 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||