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 Reporter |
Summary: Nojoqui Falls is one of those roadsigns you see from the 101 freeway as you are zipping up or down the coast. Chances are, if you've driven by it, you've said, "How the heck do you pronounce that?" or something more colorful along similar lines. Not many people stop, and that can be a really good thing, becasue this wonderful place is hardly ever crowded. It is definitely a local secret. A short walk takes you to a spectacular set of falls that drop nearly 100 feet over a sandstone wall. Calcium constantly bulds and the falls grow outward and do not erode like normal waterfalls. Maidenhair ferns line the travertine, and it looks and feels like elves could dart out at any moment. The falls are best viewed after rains, but the area is lovely at any time, and all ages will appreciate the walk. Trailhead: Take the 101 north from Santa Barbara past Gaviota and turn right onto Old Coast Highway. There is a sign for Nojoqui County Park. The road from the 101 was closed for a while in 2005 due to heavy rains and washouts. Turn onto Alisal Road (you can only go left) and then right into the county park. The park is nearly 2 miles from the freeway From Solvang, take Alisal Road and follow it to the left hand turn for the park. This drive is more scenic and very lovely. (Lat:34.53069 Lon:-120.17635) Trail Guides for Nojoqui Falls County Park: Best Hikes With Dogs - Southern California by Allen Riedel (Mountaineers books) California Hiking by Tom Sinestra and Ann Marie Brown (Avalon Travel) Best Seasons: Year-Round User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Ranger Contact: Nojoqui Fall County Park (805) 934-6123 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Allen Riedel, who has posted 123 other hikes on this site. To visit this reporters web site, click here. Trail Reviews Page 2 of 2 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by AJ on 4/27/2007 Nice hike and rarely used. If you have children this is a great trail to use. At the entrance, there is a sizeable park that can be used to accommodate large groups so you may run up against that if you're looking for solitude. The trail is an incline with a meandering creek and several park benches for those who may want to just sit and enjoy nature along the way. Large trees line the trail so that it is well shaded. Watch for embedded rocks along the trail. This hike is not good for people who need assistance. More than not, the fall is just more than a trickle although torrent after a heavy rainfall. Please note the bulletin board near the park area. There is wildlife in the area and warnings are posted here.
Reviewed by BL on 4/20/2007 Hiked it last weekend. Very nice scenery but kind of disappointing because as KLC said, there really isn't much of a waterfall there. There was also a lot of people there... kids running around and small families taking pictures. 
Reviewed by KLC on 1/18/2007 I may have picked the wrong time of year for this hike. I hiked the trail in mid-January and there was hardly a trickle of a creek. The "waterfall" was almost an inch across. Although a beautiful area, I felt that the waterfall wasn't nearly worth the hype. Although I was able to hike the trail with only some effort, an older gentleman with a cane had an extremely difficult time. The trail is at an incline the entire way and the pathway has large rocks along it and also a few stairs. I would not suggest this trail to someone using a walker, oxygen or a wheelchair.
Reviewed by dvm on 6/5/2006 nice
Reviewed by Cheryl on 5/12/2006 This trail was NOT as well maintained as I had hoped. I am in a wheelchair(I move it with my feet) and my brother uses a heavy duty walker(we have the same genetic handicap-Cerebellar Ataxia). The trail was pretty bumpy at times-uneven path and in one place a tree's roots obstructed it so much that we almost stopped there. We had to end our hike when we saw steps (20 or so). That was such a major obstruction with not enough room to walk around it-and it possibly involved a major fall. My golden retriever did love the walk, though. She tried to pull me up the hill. It was disapointing that we could not get to the falls-we were really looking forward to it. There were nice streams and a bridge to see, though. 
Reviewed by jackie on 4/10/2006 We have been going to this park for many years. Our parents took us as teens, now we are taking our children and grandchildren. It is very beautiful and much like a fairytale.
Reviewed by Pete on 3/27/2006 This ia a delightful walk along a singing creek to a fairyland fall out of Lord of the rings. Easy trip and the kids loved it! 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, Santa Barbara County Hiking, Santa Barbara County Trails, Santa Barbara County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||