If you’re wanting to visit our local waterfalls, now may be the best time as recent rains have helped enlivened our creeks and watersheds in what is looking to be a dry year. And with so many of the creeks currently flowing in the local Santa Ynez Mountains there are number of great waterfalls to choose from.
The easiest to get to in terms of hiking is Nojoqui Falls, less than three-quarters of a mile round trip along a well established trail. From the trailhead, the trail follows Nojoqui Creek and makes for a pleasant walk through the Laurel, Sycamore, Oak and Maple trees that line the canyon. The trail then crosses the creek by footbridge before arriving at the base of the falls. Nojoqui Falls
Nojoqui Creek flows more of less year round, but the falls can often appear as no more than a trickle and so the best time to see Nojoqui Falls is shortly after a rain. Nojoqui Falls, pronounced naw-ho-wee, takes its name from the Chumash village of Naxuwi which was located nearby, along Nojoqui Creek, probably in the flat open area before the park as the word naxuwi translates as meadow. Full View of Nojoqui Falls
The next easiest waterfall to get to in terms of hiking is San Ysidro Falls; the hike is roughly 4 miles round trip along the San Ysidro Trail. The trail follows San Ysidro Creek, first through a residential area, where it meets the Old Pueblo Trail and then continues upstream along a dirt road. At about the one mile mark the trail branches with the Edison access road heading to the left and immediately crossing San Ysidro Creek, while the San Ysidro Trail continue upstream to the right. Along the way there are a number of other smaller cascades and pools that one can find and enjoy. San Ysidro Falls
To get to the trail head for San Ysidro Falls find your way to East Valley Road and Park Lane and from Park Lane turn left on to East Mountain Drive, this little section of East Mountain Drive is not connected with the rest of Mountain Drive nor can it be reached from San Ysidro Lane as one might think. Parking is found along the side the road.
Although there is no single spectacular waterfall to be found at Seven Falls, the creek probably has more little cascades and pools per mile than any other front country creek. The hike to Seven Falls is roughly 3 miles round trip and does involve some scrambling over rocks. Lower Pools and Cascades at Seven Falls
Seven Falls is actually a series of pools and cascades along the upper reaches of Mission Creek and the main site has 4 falls of varying sizes depending on how you count them. If you’re game for more rock scrambling there are 3 more pools to be found further up Mission Creek. Seven Falls is also easily the most popular front country trail and so if you’re wanting peace and quiet along with your scenery you may want to consider going on a week day. One of the Upper Pools at Seven Falls
The last on this list, and in some ways the most impressive of our front country waterfalls is Tangerine Falls, it is also more challenging to get to as it involves scrambling over rocks and following a trail that is easy to miss. The hike to Tangerine Falls is roughly 3 miles round trip.
The route to Tangerine Falls starts along the Cold Springs Trail, which at the quarter mile mark from the trailhead branches, with the Cold Springs Trail continuing to the right and ultimately arriving at Camino Cielo and the West Fork Cold Springs Trail continuing to the left. At this trail juncture, cross the creek and continue along the West Fork Cold Springs Trail.
About a half mile later, on the right, is the turnoff for Tangerine Falls. The trail is not marked and is easy to miss, the trick is to notice that thus far the West Fork Cold Springs Trail has been following Cold Springs Creek. Just past the turnoff the West Fork Cold Springs Trail continues up a side canyon, which generally has little or no water flowing in it, while the trail to Tangerine Falls drops down towards the creek and then continues up Cold Springs Creek. Cold Springs Creek when flowing has noticeably more water in it than the side creek.
From here the trail to Tangerine Falls is more of a well used social trail and continues upstream, and does involve some rock scrambling, including a short traverse to get to the base of the falls. Tangerine Falls are over 100 feet high, and when flowing make for an impressive sight, from the base of the falls one also treated to some great views down the canyon and out towards the coast. The falls take their name from the mineral deposits on the rocks that give some of them a pale orange color. Folks enjoying the scenery at Tangerine Falls
There are also smaller and lesser known waterfalls, as well as numerous cascades and pools waiting to be discovered in our local mountains.
This article originally appeared in section A of the April 22nd, 2012 edition of the Santa Barbara News-Press.
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