Big Falls

May 7, 2016

Big Falls Trail in the Los Padres National forest 

San Luis Obispo Co.

Jim , Myself  and my dog Sierra hiked the big Falls Trail . The weather was cool in the early afternoon making for an easy hike of five miles round trip via the High Mountain road . . We were disappointed in the low water flow on the falls but there was plenty of water in the drainage that supplies the falls and Sierra had a ball playing in and out of all the approximately three miles of pools . Good stuff . As you can see the grasses were very deep with many animal trails . with the increased rain fall this year I am sure the wild life are loving the feed and the water . 

For you first timers at this trail , access can be made from upper Lopez canyon road via Arroyo Grande , making  the hike to the falls a short half mile hike , but you miss all the beautiful views . the better hike is from High Mountain road via Pozo Ca. . This makes for a 2 1/2 mile hike down to the falls and of course a 2 aned 1/2 mile back up with a 900 ft . elevation gain , well worth the extra effort . For those of you needing a longer more challenging hike , start at the park area of the Rinconada trail up to High Mountain Road and then n/w 2 miles to the end of same where you will find the Falls trail head on the right side of the road  ( not marked until you travel 1/8 mile down the road .   Note worthy is the sign in book indicates only 6  or 8 hikers visited this trail since the first of the year , the last entry was 24 th of April .

below a celamander under water .

Lake Lopez below 

Rinconada Trail Area

1-22-13

 

i=I have hiked the Pozo area for years and this is the largest hiking group I have ever seen here . They were a Sierra Club group from San Luis Obispo Ca.When they started there hike from the Rinconada trail head they were 20 strong . I met them in three groups . Most of them went to Big Falls and back ( a 14 mile trek ) good job !!My dog Sierra enjoyed meeting them as much as Jim and I did .

 



 

 

 

 

 

Big Falls

 

 

 

 pools along the Big Falls trail

 

 

 

Big Falls up date

A few more shots of Big Falls
canyon , all are in the canyon except the rocky slope which is the
rinconada trail head at High Mt
rd. The lady is a lost runner , Jim is helping her read her map. He loves lady rescue work !!

Be sure to enjoy the short video of the falls at the bottom of the page.

The Big Falls located off High mountain e/o Santa Margarita Ca in the Los Padres National forest . Jim and I hiked from the park lot of the Rinconada trail head to High Mt Rd. and down the Big Falls Trail and then returned -- Approximately 16 miles . This is the first time I video recorded the falls . For more still photos see earlier postings .

Big Falls Trail

( Big Falls trail located in the Los Padres National forest east of Santa Margarita Ca. Ca. )

Big Falls

This is one of my favorite hikes because of the diverse beauty in landscape and geometric composition in the rock formations .

The hike is 6 miles in and out , however , I like doing a loop Big Falls and Little Falls ( 8 miles ) or both falls starting at Rinconada trail total of 14 miles . any of these combinations is a Strenuous !

The long loop is better access near Pozo Ca. and the single falls trail is best reached via Arroyo Grande Ca. access.These shots were made in late October after some rain .