Story:
See more pictures of this hike here: http://amyandxavier.smugmug.com/gallery/7963936_iLkGp#517228557_jbP8U
This hike is hidden on the outskirts of the Clevelend National Forest. The drive out there is a little rough because it is way off the highway on a narrow and partly unpaved road. From Escondido we took the 78 East into Ramona and followed it till we almost reached Julian, then we turned right on Pine Hills Rd. After a mile and a half we turned on Eagle Peak road and then after another mile and a half we turned on Boulder Creek Rd. Up to tihs point the road is paved but after a short while on Boulder Creek the road becomes dirt. if you decide to drive out here take your time driving down this road, because it is very slippery and even my truck was sliding on it a little, but I don't have offroad tires or anything. We traveled down Boulder Creek for about 8 miles, passing through the Inaja Indian Reservation. We were beginning to think that we might have missed it until we came to a 180 degree turn in the road with a gate that was an obvious sign we had reached the trail head.
We started down the trail and found it to be quite leisurely. it had a moderate decline down and around the first hill into a cool and shady valley. Then the trail took us around another hill where we soon found a much more drastic decline. I have read a lot of places say that this decline was difficult and that a lot of people don't actually make it to the falls because of it, but I did not ind it to be very difficult. As long as you are sure of you're footing and you take you're time, you should be OK. However, as you go down this remember that you will have to come back up. After a final short repel down a rope we reached the creek. We began walking upstream and when the trail became less distinguished we had to climb over rocks and find the path of least resistance up the hill. We didn't have to much trouble getting over everything untill we reached the base of the final falls. We tried going up the side of the hills but found that the footing was not safe, and I ended up getting stuck on the side of a hill, which I ended up having to climb up even higher to get down, but we finally made it up to the top by crossing the creek and climbing up that side. Once at the top we found that there was no more trail, so we came back down and found a pool beneath the second fall to relax and cool off in. The water wasn't quite freezing, but it was cold.
We hung out for a while and then headed back. while the treck down was moderately easy, going up was not. The relatively easy decent became a very steep and difficult ascent. But putting one foot in front of the other we finally made it back.
See more pictures of this hike here: http://amyandxavier.smugmug.com/gallery/7963936_iLkGp#517228557_jbP8U
This hike is hidden on the outskirts of the Clevelend National Forest. The drive out there is a little rough because it is way off the highway on a narrow and partly unpaved road. From Escondido we took the 78 East into Ramona and followed it till we almost reached Julian, then we turned right on Pine Hills Rd. After a mile and a half we turned on Eagle Peak road and then after another mile and a half we turned on Boulder Creek Rd. Up to tihs point the road is paved but after a short while on Boulder Creek the road becomes dirt. if you decide to drive out here take your time driving down this road, because it is very slippery and even my truck was sliding on it a little, but I don't have offroad tires or anything. We traveled down Boulder Creek for about 8 miles, passing through the Inaja Indian Reservation. We were beginning to think that we might have missed it until we came to a 180 degree turn in the road with a gate that was an obvious sign we had reached the trail head.
We started down the trail and found it to be quite leisurely. it had a moderate decline down and around the first hill into a cool and shady valley. Then the trail took us around another hill where we soon found a much more drastic decline. I have read a lot of places say that this decline was difficult and that a lot of people don't actually make it to the falls because of it, but I did not ind it to be very difficult. As long as you are sure of you're footing and you take you're time, you should be OK. However, as you go down this remember that you will have to come back up. After a final short repel down a rope we reached the creek. We began walking upstream and when the trail became less distinguished we had to climb over rocks and find the path of least resistance up the hill. We didn't have to much trouble getting over everything untill we reached the base of the final falls. We tried going up the side of the hills but found that the footing was not safe, and I ended up getting stuck on the side of a hill, which I ended up having to climb up even higher to get down, but we finally made it up to the top by crossing the creek and climbing up that side. Once at the top we found that there was no more trail, so we came back down and found a pool beneath the second fall to relax and cool off in. The water wasn't quite freezing, but it was cold.
We hung out for a while and then headed back. while the treck down was moderately easy, going up was not. The relatively easy decent became a very steep and difficult ascent. But putting one foot in front of the other we finally made it back.
Tips:
-
- Make sure the vehicle you take out there is ok to do some moderate off roading.
- Where shoes with good grip.
- Most of hike open so wear a hat.
- Remeber that every step you take down you have to take back up.
Tags:
three sisters, waterfalls, descanso, Julian, boulder creek, San Diego, escondido, cleveland national forest, santa ysabel
three sisters, waterfalls, descanso, Julian, boulder creek, San Diego, escondido, cleveland national forest, santa ysabel
Comments (2)
One of the hardest hikes I've ever done! Getting to the falls isn't to hard but get back was very straining. A lot of people cant make it back out of the canyon due to the steep lose gravel terrain. Bring water and don't go when its to hot out. I'm glad i did this hike but next time i go back ill be better condition and prepared. WORTH IT!
by marciano760 on Oct 04, 2012
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