Upper Hot Spring Canyon Waterfall Hike (Cleveland National Forest)

👀 LATEST GEAR LIST: hikingguy.com/best-hiking-gear/
🌎MAPS & HIKE LINKS: bit.ly/45f2P5w
♥️ SAY THANKS: hikingguy.com/support-hiking-...
Tucked away in a remote corner of Cleveland National Forest, the waterfalls of Upper Hot Spring Canyon are truly wild and beautiful. Luckily it’s a relatively easy hike to the first 15-foot waterfall, then a bit harder to the second, taller 25-foot waterfall, which I cover in this guide. After that point, this hiking guide ends because Lower Hot Spring Canyon lacks a trail and is known as one of the most challenging canyoneering routes in SoCal. But this more leisurely hike in the upper canyon will give you a taste of the beauty without having to mount a major expedition.
🌎 Bucket List Hikes You Should Try:
bit.ly/bucket-list-hikes
✅More In This Area:
hikingguy.com/hike/hiking-tra...
👀Subscribe For New Hike & Guide Videos
/ @hikingguy
👍Monthly Email For New Hike Updates:
hikingguy.com/newsletter/
🎆Instagram For Insider Hike Info:
/ hikingguy_com
#ochikes #orangecounty
#hiking #hike #hikingvlog #hikinggear #hikingtrails #hikingandcamping #hikingandcampingforbeginners #hikingandcampingvlog #hikingandbackpacking #52HikeChallenge #backpacking #healthyliving #trails #outdoors #nature
Immerse yourself in the enchanting beauty of Orange County, California with a hike to the Upper Hot Spring Canyon Waterfall. Nestled deep in the Cleveland National Forest, this trail offers an off-the-beaten-path adventure that rewards hikers with the sight of a remarkable hidden waterfall. The Upper Hot Spring Canyon Waterfall hike provides a diverse and scenic landscape, featuring rich woodland, unique rock formations, and a lush riparian environment. This moderate-to-difficult trail is known for its serene environment, where the only sounds you'll hear are the gentle rustle of leaves and the cascade of the waterfall. Hikers should prepare for creek crossings and navigating over rocks, making this an exciting journey for those who enjoy a bit of challenge. Upon reaching the waterfall, you'll be met with a picturesque scene that encapsulates the tranquil beauty of Orange County's natural landscapes. Perfect for nature lovers and adventure seekers, hiking to the Upper Hot Spring Canyon Waterfall offers a truly rewarding experience and a chance to see a hidden gem in the heart of Southern California's wilderness.

[@onefamilynguyen5262]

Thank you for all that you do.

[@Hikingguy]

You're welcome 👍

[@michaelmatson4748]

I went up there 12/31/21 after watching your video. I made it a little past the 2nd waterfall but it did get sketchy and I turned around. Will attempt to go further another time. The water was flowing and walking on the edge and scrambling a bit got the heart racing! Also ran into 2 girls who were doing the hike because of your video. Thanks for what you do!!!

[@Hikingguy]

Ha nice - glad others are enjoying this gem. And happy to hear that you turned around, there's def potential to get in a pickle here. If you want to go farther, I'd say come back when its a bit drier, it's a tad easier.

[@kaiserkapin1797]

Been wanting to do this one for a while. Thanks for the guide, Cris!

[@michelleshlaen8982]

Thanks for this video and your detailed guide - they helped me so much in navigating to the end of the trail. What a stunning place!

[@jorgem1704]

Thanks for the guide!

[@erict5878]

I truly appreciate your commitment to quality videos! You paid the price but you deliver !

[@anthonymarch532]

I did it today, it was really beautiful.

[@diegofajardo89]

Nice hike and waterfall 👍🏻

[@andrews7911]

Very cool, didn't know about this one... i will add i to my list. I did Chiquito falls yesterday while there was still water flowing and Santa Paula last Sunday... which was more like river crossings than creek crossings. I may have to wait until we get a bit more rain to go here and see it at its best. Thanks for the guide, this one looks great and its relatively close to home.

[@Hikingguy]

Nice, congrats on seeing water at Chiquito - that's a tough one to see flowing. And hoping there's more rain this year. Hoping to get up to Santa Paula - been a while since I've been up in that neck of the woods.

[@AbandonedMines11]

That creek really flows through some rugged territory! I like the ease of the directions - basically take every left at every intersection. It’s a shame to see that graffiti on the rocks in various places. Nice video!

[@brianpowell5082]

Great post! This hike is in one of my favorite areas of Cleveland NF (the Blue Jay CG area!)! I've been wanting to check out this canyon for a bit, as it recently reopened from the Holy Fire closure. I started scouting it out a little a month ago, but I got mixed up on those side trails and ended up looping back to the car by accident!! I wanted to go down canyon a mile or so and find an old overgrown firebreak/use path or cross-country to head up the south face of Los Pinos Peak part way to access a secret grove of Big Cone Douglas-Firs tucked into the gullies that lead down into Hot Springs Cyn!! Maybe, I'll do it when it dries up a bit. Was the rain turning into snow flurries towards the end of the video? I know most, if not all the hike is between 3,000' and 3,380', so it would mean quite low snow levels! I have seen snow at Blue Jay CG twice already, and it is amazing!

[@Hikingguy]

I figured you'd like this area! So lush, especially with all the moisture these days. So I think the trail up to Los Pinos is the one that I briefly show just before the first waterfall in this video. I haven't gone up it, but heading that way is the direction of the peak and follows some gentler contour lines. And yea, it was wet snow at the end. When I got to the parking area, the temp was 36F. It was mostly cold drizzle but then started coming down. I was also watching the Santiago Peak webcam yesterday and there was some snow on the ground. Will be interesting to see how low the snow level is when this blows out today.

[@andrews7911]

What a gem of a hike, big thanks for the heads up. Just got back, water still flowing very nicely. Had the trail to myself until i was 5 min from the truck. I will be headed back Sunday to explore a bit further. I don't recall how many falls i saw, probably 6 or 7 but it was hard to turn back knowing there is more to see. I got a little further than the stated route on alltrails but those extra waterfalls do require careful deliberate movement. It felt like it was a mile or so more but it was only a 1/2 mile once i looked at the route to check.

[@Hikingguy]

Yea, it's def slow going on this one. I remember the first time that I did it, being exhausted and looking at my GPS, which was way less that I thought I had gone. It's a different type of experience on this guy...

[@andrews7911]

@@Hikingguy Soo much flow Sunday, such a great location and hike to do when we get some rain. I cant wait to return this weekend, i am sure it will be epic. My favorite CNF hike!

[@Hikingguy]

@@andrews7911 Great to hear - yea this is the prime time to hit this hike - nothing like the water raging and all the green - glad you got to enjoy it

[@barbaradugan7461]

Hi, we were on Ortega Hwy. on the night of Dec. 10 heading west toward Caspers Park and we were stopped by a major road construction project somewhere around Main Divide. Does this road construction impact the drive to the trailhead?

[@chili1593]

The construction closures and delays are off and on so best to check Caltrains site to see that day

[@Hikingguy]

Yea, there have been rolling closures and intermittent work on the 74 forever and probably will continue forever...

[@michaelm.1825]

I believe the closures are mostly scheduled throughout the night and early hours of the morning as to affect as little traffic as possible.

[@rezaulmiah6438]

Is upstream towards the 'start' of the stream or towards the 'end' of the stream? What is the start and the end?

[@Hikingguy]

Upstream is the spring where it starts, the end is the ocean.

[@invalidusername883]

The worst poison oak I ever got was this trail 😂 sad to see the new graffiti. Even 2 years ago it was pristine.

[@Hikingguy]

Yea, I was pretty sad to see the tags there, wasn't expecting it here.

[@ombligo4]

Is the water at the easier 3 mile hike a hot springs?

[@Hikingguy]

No just regular creek

[@skylorm6056]

Do you have any hiking horror stories if so I would love to see them

[@Hikingguy]

Haha, yea, the mainly involve people with Bluetooth speakers...

[@chili1593]

Interesting terrain had no idea it existed

[@jarold74]

is it safe to swim in the falls?

[@Hikingguy]

the pools aren't really that big

[@888zzz]

Is the hike from the Lazy W Ranch to the 160 ft waterfall dangerous or just difficult? Does the hike from the Lazy W Ranch involve rappelling and hiking along cliffs, or can the hike to the large falls from lower Hot Springs Canyon be done with boulder hopping? I don't mind an arduous hike, but I'm not willing to risk serious injury.

[@Hikingguy]

Dangerous / canyoneering exercise

[@kennyle8640]

I know opinions differ, but I hate hiking in the rain. It just seems miserable to me.

[@Hikingguy]

That's why I moved to SoCal 👍

[@michaelmatson4748]

Definitely different options I love going out in the rain…