Sycamore Canyon Falls
This page describes a hike I have taken. The details on this page are not intended as a recommendation for you to take this hike. Hiking has inherent sidks and you must consider these risks and your ability before deciding on a hike. The trail information on this page is approximate and conditions, hazards, and even the location of trails will change over time. Do not rely on the details on this page for the safety of your hike. All information should be verified through other sources.
The hike to Sycamore Canyon Falls in the Santa Monica Mountains takes you through meadows to a windmill, then over a ridge, and down into a canyon which you will follow to the falls which will be flowing if there have been recent rains. You will return through the canyon and rejoin a loop returning to the trailhead.This is a rough description of the path which is not suitable by itself for finding your route. Use this in conjunction with a trail maps that should be available at the trailhead or at the Satwiwa Cultural Center.
When we did this hike we picked up a trail map at the building at the
east end of the parking lot and followed the marked trail East, then
South-East, to the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culural Center.
After a brief visit to the cultural center we followed the Satwiwa
Loop trail (the north branch, i.e. clockwise) east to a windmill.
We turned south at the junction with the windmill and proceeded to the
Hidden Valley Overlook Trail. Having joined that trail a little bit
east of its junction with the Old Boney trail, we headed west a couple
hundred yards to the junction with Old Boney trail (which leads toward
the waterfall.)
We followed Old Boney trail toward the waterfall, past two points
where trails headed off to the south or southwest, but we kept heading
east. At the second of these points the trail took a hairpin turn to
the sountwest. At this point we followed a smaller trail that headed
straight east dropping into a steambed. Here we crossed the streambed
to the north side, then headed east a couple hundred yards further to
the falls.
After spending some time at the falls we retraced our steps to the junction where we orginally joined Old Boney trail from Hidden Valley Overlook Trail, but this time we headed straight (West) on Old Boney Trail until it joined the Satiwa Loop trail, which we followed clockwise to the NorthWest shortly taking the middle fork through a rolling meadow back to the cultural center.
Directions to trailhead:
-
From LA, follow the 101 freeway north to Wendy Drive in Newbury Park
(just a little over the Ventura County line). Drive south to Lynn road
then turn right and proceed to Via Golera. Enter the park and follow
the trail to the main parking. Click here
for directions to the park entrance from Mapquest.
The following sites have more information on this hike:
-
Sycamore Canyon Falls reawakens by John McKinney,
Los Angeles Times, 1/5/2003 (free registration required) - Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa National Park Service Map and trail description.
The Hike to Sycamore Canyon Falls is described in the
following Hiking Guides:
- Day Hikes in Ventura County: 43 of the Best,Robert Stone, 1999..
Other recommended books on hiking in southern california:
- 101 Hikes in Southern California,Jerry Schad, 1996. pp 19-20.
- California WaterfallsAnn Marie Brown, 2000. pp 322-324.