A Lotta-Waterfalls hike--(one underground) at Circle X Ranch--Canyon View Trail
Details
SEE WHAT A LOT OF RAIN DOES TO OUR LOCAL WATERFALL PARADISE!
WHERE: Circle X ranch, in the western Santa Monica Mountains
PHOTOS annd maps:
http://rexhikes.blogspot.com/2016/01/waterfall-wonderland-below-sandstone.html
https://goo.gl/photos/ShdtRzphp5abLn9ZA
NOTE: BECAUSE THIS HIKE GETS REALLY POPULAR IN WATERFALL SEASON, WE ARE LIMITED BY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RULES TO 50 HIKERS MAXIMUM, AND CAR-POOLING IS MANDATORY--THE RANGERS GET A BIT CRANKY IF WE PACK THEIR PARKING LOT. WE ARE LIMITED TO 12 CARS.
If you are not one of the 50 lucky people who make it onto the attendance list, and you come anyway, i am required to give you a dirty look.
THIS IS A GUITAR HIKE. I WILL BE TAKING REQUESTS...
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Park in the lot with the sign saying "Sandstone Peak trailhead". THERE IS A RESTROOM HERE
DRIVING TIME: Typically it takes an hour and a half from downtown or west L.A to get here (or an hour from the San Fernando valley)
We will first pass a series of cascading mini falls. Then we will connect with the Grotto trail, and cross a much bigger waterfall. Soon, to our left,we will see falls #2 and 3. Then when we hit the canyon bottom and an old campground, we are really close to the grotto.
The Grotto is really cool because this is a 20 foot underground waterfall, located in a room under a giant boulder in the canyon.
POST HIKE optional dinner at Neptune's Net (located at PCH and Yerba Buena Road)
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HOW LONG IS THE HIKE: About 3 miles each way. This is an upside down hike, we go down past 4 waterfalls, then come back up. The last tenth of a mile of the hike requires some climbing over boulders to get to the last waterfall (the grotto--which is the underground waterfall in the picture above). Below the grotto are more waterfalls.
ELEVATION LOSS AND GAIN: We will descend 800 feet to the grotto in around 3 miles. Then take the elevator back to the top. Only the last tenth of a mile at the last waterfall requires some climbing over large boulders.
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BRING: WATER, A HAT, SUNSCREEN, COMFORTABLE SHOES WHICH YOU DON'T MIND GETTING WET, AND FOOD FOR ME.
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LEGAL STUFF: THIS HIKE INVOLVES OPTIONALLY CLIMBING BIG ROCKS THAT ARE NOT IMAGINARY. SO-- 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:
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MY WEBSITES:
RexHikes.blogspot.com videos and my 16 favorite hikes
LAMountainParks.com new hike spots near L.A.
LAMeetuphikes.org calendar of hikes
rexrareearthphotos.blogspot.com/
ConnectingCalifornia.org new hike spots around California
Ballonaplants.blogspot.com how to identify native plants
A Lotta-Waterfalls hike--(one underground) at Circle X Ranch--Canyon View Trail