...or the time I drove all the way around Cleveland National Forest.
Trail details
Distance: 9.1 miles
Elevation gain: 1,571 ft
Type: Lollipop
Approx. time: 4h 15min
Dogs allowed: Yes
Permit required: Adventure pass is required
Before I get into this post about the actual trail, I need to tell you what happened on my way there. Where I live, I have essentially two options of getting to the trail: I can drive up towards Orange County and from there take Ortega Highway, or I can drive up towards Lake Elsinore (which is on the other side of the Cleveland National Forest) and take Ortega Highway from there. Ortega Highway is pretty much the only road that will cross through Cleveland National Forest.
I decided to drive up towards Orange County. As I was about 10min out from the trailhead, I suddenly see how the road gets closed down right in front of me. They still let a couple of cars through before stopping the driver in front of me and telling us to turn around. As there is no other way to get to the other side besides driving all the way around Cleveland National Forest, I now had to take 1.5h to do so... the moral of the story: when there is only one road leading you to where you need to go, check if there are any road closures!
But I ended up making it there safe and my friend was so nice and waited for me at the trailhead.
And if you're not afraid of this possible inconvenience and looking for a scenic hike with stunning views of waterfalls and rugged terrain, then the Chiquito Falls Trail might be just the adventure you're looking for. The trail is located in the Cleveland National Forest (as already mentioned above) and offers a challenging but rewarding hike through some of the most beautiful terrain in the area.
It's a 9-mile out-and-back hike that turns into a loop (hence lollipop) that starts at the San Juan Loop trailhead. The trail is rated as moderate and is best suited for experienced hikers who are comfortable with rocky terrain.
The hike begins with a steeper climb up the San Juan Loop trail, which offers some beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. As you continue up the trail, you'll pass through some dense forested areas before coming to a junction with the Chiquito Falls Trail. From there, the trail becomes more challenging as you start to descend into the canyon towards the falls. We had to wade through some deeper creek crossings that were due to the heavy rains lately.
The trail offers some stunning views of the falls as you make your way down towards them. You'll cross over several smaller streams and boulder fields along the way, so be prepared for some tricky footwork. The falls themselves are a pretty cool sight, with water cascading down a rocky cliff into a clear pool below.
If you're up for a little extra adventure, you can continue past the falls to the Upper Chiquito Trail, which offers some additional beautiful views of the surrounding landscape. However, this section of the trail is even more challenging and should only be attempted by experienced hikers.
Overall, the Chiquito Falls Trail is a fun hiking experience that offers some of the most beautiful scenery in Southern California. While it can be a challenging hike, the rewards are more than worth it, with stunning views of waterfalls, canyons, and forests. If you're up for the challenge, make sure to add the Chiquito Falls Trail to your hiking bucket list.
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