As with many trails, time of year and time of day can greatly change the trail and the experience but as far as local trails go, this one is solid year around... and right in my backyard. There are several options for shortening or lengthening it. Because of this I use it for relaxing hikes, trail runs, mountain biking and early pack training for the opening of backpacking season.
Wildlife is abundant especially outside the heat of the day. I’ve experienced dozens of different birds including hawks, vultures and owls, snakes, coyotes, deer, skunks, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, and even a small flock of abandoned chickens.
The 2018 Woolsey Fire ripped through much of this area but that only left the soil ripe for new growth which is affluent in all directions. Scars are still evident but the downpours following the fires have accelerated recovery.
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Great Hike! 11.25 miles, wild flowers still in bloom. Very little shade though, pack enough water and stay on look out for those on mountain bikes. Snakes are abundant and ticks so wear long pants.
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This hike has a little of everything. Foliage cover on a narrow trail at the bottom. Huge uphill on an open fire road. Stunning vistas. Lots of flowers at the right time of year. And lots of wildlife if you’re paying attention.
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Love this area. Grew up around here, going to university in Boulder, and i still think this is one of the most beautiful places. Gotta go early in the morning though. Watching the fog burn off the valley floors from a mountain is so nice
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1st half hour is really tough. Easy winding after that. So fun! Great workout.
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January of 2019, a few months after the Woolsey Fire.
I've always thought the China Flat area was so beautiful, this micro-climate of oak forest among the grass and dry brush and the area was so devastated. But there was some green on a few of the oaks so I hope most will survive. I came up the King James Court entrance. There is a gate there but it is unlocked and there is a sign saying there are hazards. Most of the hazards, as it were, are right at the beginning where there are some temporary berms preventing erosion. Since the trail up is mostly rock I don't see a lot of slippage otherwise. I did see a large boulder in the trail at one point that came off a rock wall. There were many people on the trail and it was raining lightly and also some mountain bikers.
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Enjoyed it more before they restricted access around the waterfall area. There are good ocean views from the loop at the top and some other places if the weather is clear, which in the year 2018 hasn't been often.
On the Rising Sun part of the trail I was bit by a dog (owner had it on a leash). I don't know if this is informative or just a random event, I've never been bitten on a trail before. If anything it is an indication that a) it's a busy park, and b) people bring dogs on single track trails.
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Nice Out and Back. No flowers this time of year. Temperatures in the 70's make this a nice hike since it is mostly exposed. A few bikers but not particularly busy during the week.
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It had been 6 months since I did this last. I went on Sunday. No water at lower/upper Falls. I didn't take the rope this time, tried the other way. Got a little lost on way up, but able to backtrack & find the way. Just remember when climbing up, head to the left. Way down was a lot easier (since we knew where we were going).
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I've done this hike many times. I went on Sunday. Water trickles from the waterfall. A fellow hiker saw a bobcat by the creek. We took the high ground & could hear it hissing down below, not sure at what. It's mostly dry, but nice trail to get outdoors on.
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