Holy Jim Falls. Trabuco Creek Road

Holy Jim Falls Trail. Trabuco Creek Road

Holy Jim Falls is one of the most popular hikes in Orange County.  It’s probably the only waterfall in Orange County that flows consistently the whole year.  In truth, it’s not the best hike you’ll ever do, but I think it merits at least one visit if you’re an Orange County hiker.

If you want a good chuckle, read the negative reviews of this hike on Yelp.  A lot of people show up thinking this is an easy  1-mile hike. And it is, if your car can manage the punishing 3 mile drive down Trabuco Creek Road over streams, boulders, blind curves and the occasional mountain bike jump. They’ve actually fixed up Trabuco Creek Road.  It was washed out a few years ago during a rainy season and had to be re-routed in several areas.  It feels like a 7 lane freeway now compared to how bad it used to be, but people are probably still going to complain.

There are a few good fishing spots along Trabuco Creek road. I’ve seen the locals pull a few decent size fish out of Trabuco Creek.  

If you decide not to drive down Trabuco Creek Road, consider mountain biking to the trailhead instead, but make sure the trail is dry because the mud can get insane after a rainstorm. Also, bring a lock for your bike so you can chain it up at the trailhead. I usually chain my bike to a tree behind the fire station. Walking down this road can really suck with all the cars speeding past and kicking up dirt in your face.

Once you make past the fire station building to the actual Holy Jim trailhead, the hike is approximately 1.5 miles each way to the falls.  This is a popular hike, so you’ll probably see other people hiking on the trail.  I won’t bother with instructions, because you’re in a canyon, so you can’t really get lost.  Holy Jim Falls is probably between 20-25 feet tall, but the forest here is verdant and lush, which is atypical of the rest of Orange County.  The moisture in this canyon makes it a good place for bugs and salamanders.  A lot of people complain about mosquitoes in Trabuco Canyon, another uncharacteristic feature for Orange County.  As with all waterfalls, this hike is better after a few days of good rain if you really want to see Holy Jim in  it's full subtle grandeur.

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Silverado Canyon to Modjeska Peak

Silverado Canyon. Modjeska Peak

It’s been a few years since I tackled this hike, but I’m posting it for the sake of being thorough.  Silverado Canyon is a tough uphill hike in Orange County. This is the most remote and secluded area of the county and  you might not see another person on this trail. 

This hike starts at a locked gate on Silverado Canyon Road. You hike into the canyon on a packed gravel road for the first mile following the creek. Eventually, the trail turns to dirt and you begin the steady ascent up the mountain. This trail has a steep grade. If you bring your mountain bike, you should plan on walking it up a lot of the trail unless you're a beast. There are several gates at the top of the mountain, and sometimes they’re locked. Make sure to remember where they're at if you plan on bombing down the hill on your return trip. You can make a left at the first trail intersection of the Main Divide and continue a few miles further North up the mountain to Bedford Peak, or you can turn right and head South to Modjeska Peak, Santiago Peak and Trabuco Peak. I've only ever finished the hike to Modjeska. You could hike and camp for several days up there and not see it all. I recommend doing this hike in the spring or fall because the trail is completely exposed in the summer and relatively steep.

A word of caution: This is the only trail in California that I’ve ever gotten “lost” on. I tried to find a shortcut down the mountain on what I thought was a fire road. It wasn’t. The sun went down and my girlfriend and I had to bushwhack through a mile of underbrush in the dark until we were back on the trail. She lost her camera when she was sliding on her butt on a 80 percent grade in a dry creek bed. I haven’t been able to get her to go back to Silverado Canyon since then.

Directions: From the 55 in Costa Mesa, exit onto E Chapman and head East. After about 4 miles, E Chapman turns into E Santiago canyon Road. Continue past Irvine Lake on E Santiago Canyon Road. You will cross the Toll Road, but make sure to stay on Santiago Canyon Road. Finally, turn left onto Silverado Canyon Road.  Continue for another 3 miles to the locked gate at the end of Silverado Canyon Road.

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Falls Canyon Falls

Falls Canyon Falls, Trabuco Creek Road

Falls Canyon Falls is a little known waterfall located less than a mile from Trabuco Creek Road in Mission Viejo. Its so secluded and secret that I almost feel bad for listing it on Yelp. The waterfall is a single tier which plummets over 40 feet off the cliff face at the end of the canyon. The waterfall can very impressive when its flowing after a good rainstorm. The falls are primarily spring fed and should flow for most of the year. The hike to the falls is extremely easy and takes less than 15 minutes from Trabuco Creek Road. The trailhead to the falls is located a little over three miles from the intersection of Trabuco Canyon Rd and Trabuco Creek Rd. The trail is a little difficult to locate because it is not marked by any marker or sign. The best way to get to the falls trail is to drive down Trabuco Creek road until you see a the sign for the San Bernadino Forest. Trabuco Creek Rd can be a bit rough, but any front wheeled vehicle should easily be able to handle the ruts and bumps. After you enter the San Bernadino Forest, you will have to keep an eye out for a small tributary which flows into Trabuco Creek from a narrow canyon on the left side of the road. Park your car in the nearest turnout and follow the tributary upstream into the canyon for approximately one mile to reach the falls. The canyon is very narrow and it requires several stream crossings. You wont be able to get lost on trail because the canyon walls are very steep. The Falls are located at the end of the canyon so you wont be able to miss them from the trail. Watch out for poison ivy and poison oak on the trail. After you see Falls Canyon Falls, you can return to your car and drive a bit further down Trabuco Creek Rd and you will eventually come to the Holy Jim Trail which features another waterfall, although a bit smaller and less impressive than Falls Canyon Falls. ATTENTION: Always stay on the trail. Several hikers have gotten lost this year in Trabuco Canyon.

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