Borrego Trail to the Red Rock Trail in Whiting Ranch

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Borrego Trail Whiting Ranch

Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park has gained a bit of notoriety lately due to the high number of Mountain Lion sightings in the area. It’s been two weeks since someone last spotted a mountain lion in the park. I know this because the information was posted on a signpost at the Borrego trail-head.  Despite all of the hoopla in the press, mountain lions almost never attack humans. To my knowledge, there have only been 20 confirmed deaths in North America by mountain lions since people began keeping records in 1890.  If my math is correct, your odds of being killed in a mountain lion attack are approximately 1 in 160 million.  By contrast, there were 10 people last year in the US who were killed in “Frisbee related deaths.” Yes, more people have been killed by a Frisbee in the past two years than killed by a mountain lion the past 100.  But I digress.

The Borrego Trail starts at a Ralph’s grocery store parking lot in Foothill Ranch California just off Portolla Parkway. You have to pay the 3$ fee at the automated pay station and put the parking pass in your window.  Today was a sunny 70 degree Sunday, so there were a ton of hikers and mountain bikers in the parking lot.  The Borrego Trail is mostly shaded and flat. Mountain bikers use it as a launching point for several other trails in the area, but biking is restricted on the Borrego Trail to uphill riding only, so you won’t have anyone flying past you on the way down. The Borrego trail is an easy trail with almost no elevation gain, so it’s suitable for pretty much everyone. There is a little creek that runs parallel with the creek, so you’ll see and hear a ton of little animals scurrying around. We saw a lot families toting little kids along the Borrego trail. You hike through the shaded section trail for about a mile and half before you come to the intersection for the steep Mustard Road trail that leads to the top of the bluffs. There is a trail map and a bench at the intersection in case you want to take a little break. We decided not to hike up the hill because of the high number of mountain bikers in the park today. From this point, we continued forward on the easier trail to the Red Rock Canyon Trailhead. We passed several other trails that lead uphill in other directions. Just follow the signs for Red Rock.

The Red Rock Trail is approximately half a mile long. It has a very slight elevation gain, but little shade, so you will be exposed to the sun. The canyon narrows slightly and the trail becomes a bit more rough and washed out. The final 200 yards of the trail dead-ends at Red Rock Canyon. You can scramble up the gap and take a few photos. There are several signs warning you not to go any further because you could damage the fragile ecosystem. From this point, you just turn around and go back the way you came, or you can try your mettle on the steep side trails that lead to the top of the canyon. Look out for mountain bikers flying down these side trails. 

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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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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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