Elden
Dellanina and Bob Lilley plan to hike on March 27!
Join us at 9:00 AM!
West Fork Cold Springs Trail and
Tangerine Falls
The hike begins at the
main Cold Springs Trail, gently in shade by a creek that almost always
has plenty of water. After a gentle uphill for 3/4 of a mile you reach
a bench by the creek where you can sit and clear your mind with the gentle
sounds of small waterfalls. This bench is at the junction to the West Fork
of Cold Springs. Cross the creek at the bench and continue up the hill
for about 3 more miles to the summit at Gibraltar Rd.
For a variation, there
is a small junction you come to well before the summit at Gibraltar Rd.
Follow this primitive trail along the creek to a waterfall known as Tangerine
Falls. It's quite an adventurous rock-hopping good time of a trail, and
at some places, a challenge.
Also, not far along after
you turn off toward Tangerine falls there is another turnoff to the left.
You can find this one by looking leftwards as you follow the water pipe.
When you see a trail, that's the one. This trail will take you steeply
to a nice rock outcrop at the top of the falls. You can't see the falls
from this outcrop, but you can enjoy the lofty perch just as well. Continuing
along this trail, a little exploration on your part and you might discover
something interesting at the end of this trail�an structure some of us
call the homestead. Or you may find yourself sweating up a steep hill toward
the top of the mountains, cursing the madman who made this illegal trail.
It depends on whether or not you take a wrong turn. (Discovery is most
of the fun!)
The total mileage for
the basic West Fork to Gibraltar Rd. trail is 3.5 miles round trip.
Directions: Take
Cold Springs Road (turn toward the mountains at the fire station on Sycamore
Canyon Road - Rt. 192; it's between Ashley Road and Stoddard Lane), turn
right on Mountain Drive, go 1/2 mile and park near the creek crossing.
Description: Beautiful
trail in lush canyon with creek, small pools, and alder trees. Chaparral
vegetation at the higher elevation section of the trail.
Helpful hints:
Be sure to bring drinking water. Watch out for poison oak. (Elden can spot
it even without its leaves!)
Friends: Bring
'em all!
Cost: None -- unless
you join us for a lunch on-your-own after the hike!
Reservations: None
-- Rain cancels.
More information: http://www.santabarbarahikes.com/hikes/frontcountry/westfork.shtml
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