TOPANGA DOUBLEHEADER: Cathedral Rocks, and CREEK swimming holes, waterfalls

TWO HIKES : DO ONE OR DO BOTH!!

11:15AM HIKE #1: THE USUAL TOPANGA STATE PARK HIKE ALONG THE WIDE DIRT ROAD STARTING AT TRIPPET RANCH

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We will hike 3 miles uphill to Cathedral Rocks, located next to Hub Junction,and have lunch and do the usual silly and semi-dangerous-looking climbing and posing on the rocks and in the caves.

Return is via the upper Eagle Rock fireroad loop. So total length is around 6 miles

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HIKE #2...STARTING AT 3:00PM

WHERE TO MEET:

meet in front of Jalan Jalan Imports, located at 525 South Topanga Canyon Blvd., which is 3.5 miles north of Pacific Coast Highway. Park north of the store on Topanga Canyon Blvd.

FREE PARKING ALONG TOPANGA CANYON ROAD--STAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WHITE LINE SO YOU DON'T GET TICKETED OR LOSE YOUR MIRROR

PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO NO-PARKING SIGNS!!!

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THE HIKE FEATURES:

SEVERAL SWIMMING HOLES, SEVERAL WATERFALLS, A GROTTO, AND OH, D'OH!, A FEW ROPE SWINGS... ALL IN NEARBY TOPANGA CANYON WITH NO LONG DRIVE ON REALLY TWISTY ROADS

AND......MINT PLANTS EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!! (probably not native, but I don't care.....freakin' smells great!)

OPTIONS (not required!!):

BRING SWIMMING CLOTHES IF YOU WANNA JUMP IN!

according to the Topanga State park general plan, the lower 3.7 miles of Topanga creek has 56 springs and seeps, which explains why the gorge is full of water in the summer while upstream a mile in the developed area, the creek is dry.

BRING A LARGE PLASTIC TRASH CAN LID IF WANT TO TUBE-SLED

TOPANGA CREEK DIRECTIONS: in case you arrive late, the address on Google for the trail entrance which leads to the "tube" is 1636 S. Topanga Canyon Road on the west side, and
GPS N 34.07854 W 118.59491 . At the bottom of the tube, walk downstream and you will see us soon. The first stop is the play area with the two rope swings and the hanging "rope" chair. Next stop is the deep swimming hole. After that we get to the grotto with the waterfall inside. After that, we may go a bit more downstream to another 4 foot deep swimming hole.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10207328051706546.1073741889.1443226944&type=1&l=0b3dcf0896

BELOW: THE TUBE

AN AWESOME VIDEO BY WILLIE: https://youtu.be/EJDFBApKbNc

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BELOW: THE DEEP SWIMMING HOLE, AND YOUR HIKE LEADER SWIMMING "VOLUNTARILY"

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I did some research and found out the locals call the Tube down to the creek the Time Tunnel. Here's some links about it:

http://www.enjoygram.com/location/279629423

http://www.sebastianwschmid.com/blog/2015/4/14/time-tunnel-1

http://www.topangamessenger.com/story_detail.php?SectionID=&ArticleID=1673

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Topanga-Canyon-time-Tunnels/291610550955220

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BELOW: THE GROTTO

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DISTANCE for hike #2: I DUNNO, 2 to 3 MILES, BUT AT A REALLY SLOW PACE

ELEVATION GAIN AND LOSS: A FEW HUNDRED FEET AT THE MOST

--------BRING SHOES WITH GOOD GRIP THAT YOU CAN GET WET----

and......NO DOGS: 'cause this is a State Park

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AND: there are scattered patches of POISON OAK on the second hike: learn to recognize it so you don't get a skin rash by touching it.

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THE USUAL STUFF:

BRING ALL THE USUAL STUFF, I'M NOT YOUR MOM....

Bring LUNCH!!!, clothing (sorry, nude hikes are a different Meetup group), lots of water, hat, comfy shoes, snacks, all your troubles..., guitar, camera, etc

LEGAL STUFF: by going on this hike, you agree to assume all risks of this hike, and that no one at Meetup including the organizer is responsible for your safety. See the Meetup terms of service especially paragraph 6.2:

https://www.meetup.com/terms/

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You can see my blog at http://rare-earth-news.blogspot.com (http://rare-earth-news.blogspot.com/) for stories on new parkland purchases.

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